HOUSING AND SHARED ACCOMMODATION
Mountview does not currently have a student accommodation partnership in Belfast.
- Housing in the local area ranges from £530 – £600 per calendar month
- Online sources for finding rental properties include Spare Room, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Rightmove, Zoopla, OpenRent and AccommodationForStudents
- The Mountview Student Union runs a Facebook group to help new students find housing
- Estate agencies based in the area include Campbell & Co, Reeds Rains, Property People and Piney
NORTHERN IRELAND RATES
Rates are an annual charge to help fund public services in Northern Ireland and are a property tax based on the value and location of a property. In Northern Ireland, rates (like UK council tax) are usually paid by the tenant in private rented housing, either as part of the rent or separately.
Full-time students may be exempt if the property is occupied only by students. If you’re a part-time student, you’re usually not exempt and may have to pay some or all of the rates. In HMOs (houses in multiple occupation), the landlord is often responsible. Always check your tenancy agreement to see who pays the rates and how. Some tenants may also qualify for rate rebates to help with costs. For more details, visit the NI Direct or Land & Property Services (LPS) websites.
QUESTIONS AND ADVICE ABOUT ACCOMMODATION
Mountview can support you with general enquiries, but we may not be aware of the latest rules around renting or housing. For more information on renting and regulations, check online resources like Housing Rights who offer free, specialist advice on housing other related issues in Northern Ireland. You can also seek help from Advice Space (formerly known as ‘Citizens Advice’) relating to matters such as welfare benefits, consumer rights, housing, employment, debt, and health.
Tenancy Agreement: A legally binding document that states how long you will stay at the property and outlines the specific rules and regulations. Some contracts are singular (each individual living in the house has a separate contract) and others are joint (all housemates sign the same contract). Joint contracts mean that all occupants share responsibility for rent and bills.
Guarantor: An individual who guarantees the contract by taking responsibility for payment of the rent should you not be able to pay it.
Deposit: In accordance with Northern Ireland legislation, this cannot be for more than one month’s rent and is returned if the property is left undamaged.
