BOSHA is a charitable housing association providing accommodation for postgraduate students and their spouse/partner and/or children from overseas and the UK whilst they study in the United Kingdom. It is not intended to provide permanent family accommodation. The Tenancy is not an assured Tenancy because the Tenant is a person pursuing a course of study.
Tenants must be full-time postgraduate students registered for a postgraduate degree in a recognized British higher education institution, with a spouse/partner and/or children living with them. There is no accommodation suitable for single occupancy. Only the named people on the tenancy agreement will be allowed to reside in the premises for the duration of the lease. Visitors are allowed for a maximum of two weeks at a time and tenants must inform the office of their stay.
BOSHA aims to house students who would find it difficult to afford private rented accommodation, so income will be taken into account when making allocations.
Leases will be for one year initially.
Masters degrees are generally for one year. A lease will be granted for that year and in exceptional circumstances only up to a maximum of two years.
PhD students will be granted an initial lease of one year. Subsequently up to three annual renewals will be granted subject to evidence from the tenant's supervisor of satisfactory progress and continuing full time university enrolment.
All students will be expected to vacate the property no later than one month after their viva examination. The lease will become void after this period expires. Documentary proof will be expected.
No tenancy will continue beyond four years in the case of PhD students unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Leases will not be extended for a student who fails his/her examination.
The property is rented to students and their families whilst they are studying in London. The accommodation is not for single occupancy. The ethos of this organization is to keep families together. If the leaseholder or a member of the family intends to be absent from the property written notice must be given to the office. Students who leave London for extended periods of field work (over six weeks) are expected to vacate the property and reapply to return. The maximum holiday period at any one time is 6 weeks.
BOSHA aims to maintain a balanced community so usually no more than five leaseholders from any one country will be housed at any one time.
Priority is given to applicants new to the UK and/or students at the beginning of their degree course.
Preference is given to families with children under five years old. Applications from those with cildren not older than 11 year old may be considered under exceptional circumstances. There is no housing suitable for families with three or more children.
Applications are approved and signed by two members of the Tenancy Committee, using the criteria attached regardless of the date of application. Offers are made to prospective tenants by office staff from the list of approved applicants
In urgent cases, accommodation may be offered by office staff to applicants not yet vetted by the Tenancy Committee, provided that signed approval is given by two Committee members within one month of the offer being made.
The flats and bungalows are suitable for family sizes as follows:-
If a tenant is offered a unit of an inappropriate size on first arrival they must agree in writing to move to a suitable unit when one becomes available.
A one-bedroom flat cannot be guaranteed to tenants of studios expecting a baby; Priority for a one-bedroom flat will be given to existing tenants expecting a baby.
Tenants may be able to move to different accommodation within Nansen Village but will be charged an administration fee of £125 unless the Committee considers the move is justified.
Transfer of the tenancy to a spouse or partner may be considered but the total length of stay for a couple or family will be limited to 4 years.
BOSHA will endeavor to ensure equality of treatment to all applicants. No-one will be treated less favorably than anyone else because of ethnic origin, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age.
Applicants will be contacted once a year in January to see if they still wish to be considered for housing. In the case of PhD applicants, application forms are retained until 1 year prior to the finish date of the course, after which the applicant falls below the minimum 1 year lease requirement of new tenants. In the case of Master degrees applicants, when there is less than 6 months remaining on the course the applicant's form will be removed from consideration. All inactive applications are moved to a secondary file
BOSHA Ltd is a secular organization therefore acts of religious worship are not allowed in any of the communal areas of the Village.
In exceptional circumstances the Tenancy Committee may call upon another Board member to adjudicate.
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