Do your research
One of the big things to consider is the location of the property – what are the transport links like? What facilities are in the immediate area? How long is the commute going to take? While you might like a certain area of the city you are studying in, if the commute takes over three hours each way at peak times, this might not be the ideal place.
Do use professional services to find a place
There are lots of adverts looking for student tenants, and while there’s nothing to stop you considering these, you might be best using a professional service to find your accommodation.
Whoever you rent from, ensure they’re part of a professional organisation (like the ARLA) to ensure you’re protected.
Do make sure you have a deposit
Whether you are going it alone or sharing with others, make sure you have the deposit organised before you get serious about going for a property. Deposits can be anywhere from four to eight weeks rent and will need to be paid on top of the first month’s rent in most cases.
Ensure the deposit is put in a government-approved scheme to protect it – this is known as a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme.
Don't just sign the tenancy agreement
Tenancy agreements are hugely important documents and therefore they need to be studied carefully. If you aren’t up on legal-speak then get someone to read it through for you – there will be student advisors on campus, legal companies often offer free consultations and even someone in the industry will offer advice.
Don't forget to account for bills when budgeting
Having your own property is about more than just paying the rent and buying some food – there are other bills to be paid. While things like the gas and electric will be the biggest, there are also areas such as TV license, internet access costs and council tax.
If you’re sharing, work these out split per person and leave room in your personal budget for them.
If that sounds like too much hassle, some accommodation providers do offer all-inclusive options where these luxuries and bills are paid for with your rent.
Don't assume your parents' insurance covers you
Often home insurance will cover your stuff if you live in halls of residence but your own accommodation may be excluded from this. In that case, you would need some insurance for your stuff in case anything happens. Look for specialist student insurance policies if you share the house as normal policies don’t cover this situation.
Need some more information about accommodation? We’ve got the right article for you…