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Best Pranks to Play on your Housemate (2008)

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Playing pranks on housemates can be fun, so we thought that we would put together some of the funnier house share prank clips we saw in 2008, maybe you could use them as ideas but be careful if you do as we can’t be held responsible if anything goes wrong!

Feel free to let us know about your best flatshare pranks also…

Enjoy…

Putting Talc in your Flatmates Hair Dryer

Butter the Floor

Newspaper Room Prank

1,000 Balloons

;

These are just a couple of our favourite housemate pranks from last year.  Let us know what you think or if you have any other great (and funny) ideas!

10 Stupid Things Housemates Have Done When Drunk

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For some reason, when people get drunk, it is the ideal time to try those things that you never would sober, or just generally do the most insane and crazy (but sometimes funny, or cringe-worthy)  things.  Here’s our top ten of true drunken incidents in no particular order…

Sleeping in the Wrong Room

One drunken student living in halls of residence got the lift to the wrong floor (in fairness, most university halls do look very similar floor to floor) but they  went to what they though was their room only to be woken up in the morning by several individuals asking who they hell they were!

Apologising to the Dogs

After one too many drinks, a housemate decided to get into the dog cage with their beloved canines to be later found by a more sober roommate, apologising to the dogs for their being drunk.

Stair Surfing

A team of drunken housemates found that the best way to entertain themselves was by removing the legs of an ironing board and to use it to slide down the stairs, only for the fun to end prematurely when they went straight into the front and pretty much ruined it.

Wetting the Bed

One very intoxicated flatmate, was sharing their single bed with their girlfriend only to be woken a few hours later by their girlfriend punching them to wake them up.  The poor culprit had passed out and wet themselves, their girlfriend and the bed… nice!

Brought Home Traffic Cones, Road Signs

Not to sure if this is exempt to housemates, but there have been many incidents of people walking home from the nightclub and picked up some souvenirs en route, namely traffic cones and roads signs, only for other housemates to wake up in the morning to find their house decorated like a road works site.

Large Water Bombs

One considerate roommate in halls decided to fill bin liners with water and throw them out of their window on other drunks walking past, nothing like a cold shower to sober you up!

Called an Ex

Needs no explaining, we’ve all been there!

Anything Round’s a Toilet

Rubbish bins, laundry baskets… they’ve been mistaken for urinals by many a housemate.

Snorting… Absinthe

A group of flatmates decided to have a party in their flatshare, nothing unusual here until they got out the Absinthe and decided to start snorting it.

Drunk Cinema Antics

A group of housemates thought that it would be nice to go out together to the cinema, however one over indulged with the alcohol in a nearby bar before they went into the cinema.  Whilst they were in there, this unfortunate housemate fell asleep, only to wake up (well, still in a daze) during the film and walked down a few rows and began pushing the wall as if it were a door, much to the amusement of those in the cinema.

Tenancy Deposits and the Tenant Deposit Scheme

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When you move into a property, you will be required to pay a deposit so that that the landlord has a safety net just in case something should occur such as damages or unpaid rent at the end of the occupancy.  Many tenants will be unsure of their rights when it comes to getting their deposit back, so it is worth finding out when the landlord has the legal right to use all or some of your deposit.

Cleaning Costs

In your tenancy agreement it may ask that the curtains and carpet are cleaned to a specific standard prior to you moving out, this doesn’t mean that you have to pay over the odds to have them cleaned as it takes into account general wear and tear, but if there are in a mess the landlord has the right to get them cleaned themselves and the bill can be deducted from the deposit.

Damages to Content or Property

Any damage to the property or its contents will have to be paid for or replaced by you.  If you break an old TV you don’t have to replace it with a brand new flat screen – just with a product with similar features and cost.  Once again, you can account for general wear and tear on items if it applies to such as sofas and beds.

When you move in you are best to go through the property with the landlord and create an inventory and the condition the items are in, this way you can review that when you move out to make sure everything is there and in the same condition.

Unpaid Rent

If you decide to skip the last month’s rent the landlord is within their rights to take it from the deposit, if the amount does not cover the rent then you could be taken to court and pay the outstanding fees plus any other costs this process incurs.

From 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and letting agents for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales, must be protected by a Tenancy Deposit Scheme.


What is the Tenancy Deposit Scheme?

Tenancy Deposit Protection is designed to ensure:

  • you get all or part of your deposit back, when you are entitled to it.
  • any disputes between you and your landlord or agent will be easier to resolve.
  • landlords and letting agents who do not protect tenancy deposits will have to pay their tenant back three times the deposit.

How Does it Work?

At the beginning of a new tenancy agreement, pay your deposit to your landlord or agent as usual.

Within 14 days, the landlord or agent is required to give you details about how your deposit is protected including:

  • the contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme.
  • how to apply for the release of the deposit.
  • information explaining the purpose of the deposit.
  • what to do if there is a dispute about the deposit.

If you don’t get this information, ask your landlord or agent the simple question – ‘how is my deposit protected?’

You have a responsibility to return the property in the same condition that it was let to you, allowing for fair wear and tear.

Listing Your Room for Rent

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So, you’ve got a spare room to rent, but not sure what to include in the advert to promote it?  There are certain things which you can include in the advert to make it more appealing to those looking for available rooms.

Be Descriptive, Clear and Honest

When writing about the property, be descriptive and try to paint a picture in the head of the reader of what it is like, in addition, you can add a picture or multiple pictures, so that they can see for themselves.

To save your time and other people’s time in viewing the property, be honest as it will be clear within minutes whether have been or not.  Give a truthful appraisal of the room, flat or house, tell them what the rent covers and whether bills will be charged on top of this and so on, there is a difference to up selling and lying!

Include a Picture

If you incorporate a picture into your advert for the flatshare or houseshare, it will automatically remove any people that are not keen on how it looks.  Someone looking for somewhere to live will be drawn to the advert because of the picture initially and when they are there it is for you to sell the property as well as you can to get them to contact you.

If Shared Accommodation, Tell People About the Existing Tenants

If the property that you are listing is a flatshare or houseshare with existing tenants, tell the reader about them.  This is an important factor for many as getting on with flatmates or housemates can be high on people’s list of priorities when they are looking for somewhere to live.  Don’t go overboard with their details, but elaborate on what their hobbies are, their age and what they do for a living.

Up Sell the Location

Regardless of where the property is located, the area should have key points and nearby amenities that will attract people, for example tell them if it is near to shops, bus or train stations, the town centre or any other places of interests.  They could be looking for somewhere that has certain service nearby and you telling them could be the difference between them contacting you or not.

Arrange for a House Viewing

Once you have people interested in viewing the property, take the time to offer and show them around the property.  People will be able to get a feel for the place and see whether they could live there.  If it is in shared housing or flats, try to get as many of the other tenants to be there so that they can be introduced too.

Rights as a Tenant

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When you are a tenant you should take the time to be aware of the rights that you have, as this will avoid any contention should a problem occur, it could also save you from being taken advantage of by the landlord.  Some examples of your rights, are:

Living in Peace

The landlord is not allowed to surprise visit the property and demand entry to the premises, they must always give at least 24 hours notice prior to their visit if they intend on inspecting or performing any repairs.

A landlord is also not allowed to change any of the locks, open post address to that property, cut off or change any of your utilities without prior notice, so don’t be afraid to let them know where they stand if they should try something that you’re not happy about.

Living Safely

It is the landlords job to ensure that the property itself if safe and secure and this includes checking that all of the locks and alarms are in good working order; that all utilities such as gas and electric are safe and meet standard regulations; that all furnishing are in good condition and adhere to legal requirements.

If there is anything which is in need of repair prior to you moving in, you must inform the landlord and it is then up to them to repair or replace the problem.

Tenancy Deposit

When you are living in the property you have to be careful not to cause any damage to items in the property, if you don’t cause any financial loss to the landlord then you are entitled to 100% of the deposit you gave when you first moved in.  If the landlord tries to deduct money from the deposit which you don’t agree with you should consult professional advice to see where you stand, this is free of charge with the Government’s Tenancy Deposit Scheme for those living in Shorthold Assured Tenancies.

The best way to avoid being stung for unnecessary repairs by the landlord when you move out, is to make a detailed itinerary with the landlord of the contents when you move in along with their condition.

Ideas to Make Money from your Property

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If you are a homeowner with spare room but do not want a permanent lodger, you may want to think about alternative letting ideas to bring in some extra money during certain times of the year.  This will dominantly be dependant upon the location of the premises, as you will see from the examples below:

Edinburgh Festival

Having a spare room in the vicinity of Edinburgh in August and September could be a great money earner.  The Edinburgh festival is a three week extravaganza that attracts thousands of people from all corners of the globe to see and perform in dance, theatre, opera and other musical presentations.  As hotels get fully booked months in advance prior to the event, advertising your room to rent could mean than you can benefit from the festival being in town.

Wimbledon

The Wimbledon tennis Championships take place every year in June and July, attracting nearly 500,000 tennis fans to London.  Some of which will stay for the duration of the tournament or just a few days and be looking for somewhere to live, whilst there are hotels a plenty in London, they fill quickly and so having a room for rent during this period could earn you extra money.

Music Festivals

There are literally hundreds of music festivals nationwide and while there are thousands that don’t mind sleeping rough, there are still many that like their creature comforts too much and would rather rent a room or property for a couple of days.

Know Your Rights as a Landlord

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As a landlord, if you are renting out a property it is essential that you know your rights, especially if anything goes wrong.  Plus, if you know your rights then a tenant cannot accuse you of doing anything wrong or wriggle out having to pay for something as a result of you doing something wrong.

The main rights which you have as a landlord are:

To Be Paid

As a landlord, the tenant must pay you rent on the day that is stipulated in the tenancy agreement.  You may allow a few days leniency, but if the rent isn’t paid after 14 days, you can begin the process of repossessing the property through the correct legal channels.

Access to the Property

Although you are renting out the property, it is classed as the tenants home so there is a compromise between the landlords and tenants rights.  As a landlord, you cannot turn up on the doorstep and expect to be let in; you have to give at least 24 hours notice.

Repairs to the Property

As a landlord, you are expected repair any damage to the property within a reasonable amount of time, sometimes it is in your interest to fix the problem before it gets worse.  You do have the right to enter the property but depending on the severity of the repair required, will depend on how much access you are entitled to and how much notice that has to be given.

Regular Inspections

As a landlord it is your responsibility to maintain the property ensuring that everything is satisfactory for the tenants, but you may also want to check that the tenant is doing their bit to ensure that the house or flat isn’t being poorly looked after.  The best way to resolve this is by agreeing with the tenant a periodic inspection prior to them moving in, this is more than enough to ensure that the property is being kept in good condition.

If Refused Entry

If at any time you get refused entry by the tenant, providing you have not just turned up without them knowing you should always seek legal advice.  Never take actions into your own hands and force entry as it could end up with you being liable for any damages and have to repair them yourself.

Disposing of Tenants Property

If the tenant chooses to leave or is evicted, they have a defined time frame to remove all of their possessions, otherwise you are legally allowed to dispose of it yourself.  Consult legal advice prior to doing this though.

Thinking about Subletting?

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Subletting has become fairly popular in recent years as the cost of living has gone up and is when an existing tenant rents a room in the property that they are living in, or in some cases, rent out the whole property.

There are two types of subletting:

  • Subletting the whole property.  This could be due to finding another place to live prior to the tenancy agreement expiring or deciding to take a long holiday without the risk of losing the property.
  • Subletting individual rooms.  This could be due to a change of circumstances and not being able to afford the rent and needing someone to supplement the rent and bills or if someone moves out leaving a spare room to rent.

The problem with subletting is that the tenant is solely responsible for any damages or unpaid rent, so the best way to avoid this is by getting the new tenant added to the tenancy agreement with the landlord so that they are then responsible to deal with the new tenants actions.  In addition, if a subtenant moves into a property, there is no legal agreement, so the landlord can evict them instantly  if they choose to.

If you are moving into a new house or flat share, you should always check with the landlord or letting agency as they may prohibit subtenants.

What is a Buy to Let Mortgage?

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Buy to Let mortgages have been very popular since they were released in the late 1990’s, this is simply because the property market is very lucrative, if done correctly.  A Buy to Let mortgage is when you take out a mortgage to buy a house or flat with the sole intention of renting it out.  If you have the money to get into this industry then you can make a full time living out of it, but beware that the housing market has taken a harsh impact with the recent credit crunch.

The amount that a potential landlord can borrow for a Buy to Let mortgage depends on the value of the property and the estimated amount of rent that a tenant will pay.  The rent should comfortably cover a percentage of the monthly instalments as well as covering any other costs such as maintenance.

Prior to the recession, a bank would expect a 10 – 15% deposit be paid, however currently this figure has shot up to 20 – 25% but this is dependant upon the person’s credit status among other factors.  The best advice would be to speak to the bank or building society as they may be able to do something based on other incomes.

The interest rate that is paid back is slightly higher than that of a tradition mortgage, and this is solely down to the fact there is greater risk involved.   For example, when renting out a property, there is a chance that there could be a period of the time when it is inhabited during the change over of housemates but the mortgage on it will still have to be paid.

Being a landlord and having several Buy to Let properties out there can be very lucrative, as mentioned earlier, but you have to be prepared to put the work, effort and money into it or you could lose everything.

What to Know About Landlord Insurance

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Being a landlord entails a lot of responsibilities and risks.  Therefore it is advised that landlords insurance is taken out in the event that problems arise.  There are various insurances on the market which ranging in what is covered from loss of rent to damage to contents or the building itself, which are the most common claims by landlords.

Building & Contents Insurance

The most common types of insurance that is taken out by landlords.  It covers both the property and content in the event of any damages such as fire and smoke damage, water damage and vandalism, just to name a few.

Contents Only

Similar to Building and Contents Insurance, but only covers the contents of the property.  A landlord can opt to be protected against accidental damage too for an additional cost, depending on how confident they are on the tenants.

Items which are covered by contents insurance include any furniture, appliances and property which is included in the property when a tenant moves in, but check with the insurer of what is covered and what isn’t when taking out the policy.

Rent Guarantee

One of the most important factors that landlords worry about is any late or missed payments.  If a landlord relies upon the income from the tenant, then they have to be confident that they will receive their payment every and each month on time, which is why insurers offer insurance cover in case a tenant refuses to pay their rent.  Generally, an insurer will offer 50% of rent for up to three months whilst the tenant is being evicted.

Prior to choosing the best cover, it is advised to contact different insurers to see what they will cover and for how much, it may also be an idea to contact the National Landlord Association to offer advice on the matter.