First steps for finding student accommodation
If you have never lived away from home before, moving into student accommodation may seem like quite a daunting prospect. However, it needn’t be a scary move. Most universities will have an accommodation office. Ask at the office about what help is available to those looking for somewhere to live for the coming year. (Trust me you will not be the first, and certainly not the last to need help with this!) At the very least they will have a list of lettings who have student properties to let, but potentially they could have details of properties available or of Landlords who have multiple student properties to let. This will give you a starting point as to where to look for properties. All houses should be unipol accredited, to find out more about this you can visit the unipol webesite
When it comes to working out a budget, there are several things to factor in. Firstly, you need to establish the student rental prices in your area for the type of accommodation you are looking at. This can differ between areas so if you are moving away to a University away from home then you will need to ensure you are doing research in the area you will be studying and living rather than your current area. When you have worked out what the average student rental is for a bedroom in a shared house, you will need to look at your finances and work out how this will be payable. A Landlord will want a guarantee that the rent will be paid so be sure that you can afford the amount you agree to or you could end up homeless mid-term! If you will need your parents support to fund your accommodation ensure that you discuss this with them at the earliest opportunity, likewise if you will be relying on income from a job you hope to find, remember that there will be lots of students in your position looking for part time hours at the start of term so the earlier you can get your cv around and perhaps even start working a little over the summer before, the better chance you will have of securing a role.
When you meet with Estate agents ensure that you advise them that you have several properties mind and other viewings arranged – this will prevent them from up selling properties to you as often students will not be aware of how much they should be paying if they have not done much research! View as many properties as possible and take someone with you if you can. It often helps to have a Parent with you who has been in the position of choosing a home before – sometimes you may not be aware of things which they will be looking for and it will help you in the long run if these things can be spotted prior to agreeing on a contract. For example, look for areas of mould, this could suggest that there are damp issues with the property and could potentially affect your health and possible possessions long term.
The Agents I used in Nottingham were Shields Student Homes, I do not mind giving them a free plug as they have been exceptional.
When you have found a property you like, don’t rush in to it, make sure the rent is in line with others that you have considered, thoroughly read the contract and again, ask someone you trust to check through it as well. There may be hidden clauses which are not appropriate and need to be changed before you sign. Consider the length of the contract you will be signing as well – you do not want to commit to a 2 year contract when you will possible want to move back home for the summer holidays and find new accommodation after. Landlords are often flexible but be sure to put your needs across from the beginning as once you have signed the contract they will not be obliged to make amendments.
Then it is off to join the students union and go party!!
When it comes to working out a budget, there are several things to factor in. Firstly, you need to establish the student rental prices in your area for the type of accommodation you are looking at. This can differ between areas so if you are moving away to a University away from home then you will need to ensure you are doing research in the area you will be studying and living rather than your current area. When you have worked out what the average student rental is for a bedroom in a shared house, you will need to look at your finances and work out how this will be payable. A Landlord will want a guarantee that the rent will be paid so be sure that you can afford the amount you agree to or you could end up homeless mid-term! If you will need your parents support to fund your accommodation ensure that you discuss this with them at the earliest opportunity, likewise if you will be relying on income from a job you hope to find, remember that there will be lots of students in your position looking for part time hours at the start of term so the earlier you can get your cv around and perhaps even start working a little over the summer before, the better chance you will have of securing a role.
When you meet with Estate agents ensure that you advise them that you have several properties mind and other viewings arranged – this will prevent them from up selling properties to you as often students will not be aware of how much they should be paying if they have not done much research! View as many properties as possible and take someone with you if you can. It often helps to have a Parent with you who has been in the position of choosing a home before – sometimes you may not be aware of things which they will be looking for and it will help you in the long run if these things can be spotted prior to agreeing on a contract. For example, look for areas of mould, this could suggest that there are damp issues with the property and could potentially affect your health and possible possessions long term.
The Agents I used in Nottingham were Shields Student Homes, I do not mind giving them a free plug as they have been exceptional.
When you have found a property you like, don’t rush in to it, make sure the rent is in line with others that you have considered, thoroughly read the contract and again, ask someone you trust to check through it as well. There may be hidden clauses which are not appropriate and need to be changed before you sign. Consider the length of the contract you will be signing as well – you do not want to commit to a 2 year contract when you will possible want to move back home for the summer holidays and find new accommodation after. Landlords are often flexible but be sure to put your needs across from the beginning as once you have signed the contract they will not be obliged to make amendments.
Then it is off to join the students union and go party!!
My Student Accommodation Budget
This is my first blog, my name is Sasha and I am a student at Nottingham Trent uni.Therefore I live in the student accommodation Nottingham has to offer, so yes my life is truly on a budget. But why the blog?
Well as a student life is tough in terms of finances so I thought hey why not create a blog that helps others, this way I am using up some of my time writing instead of spending and I also often find when you have your creative head on you think of more ideas. SO maybe this will also help me come up with new ways for myself to save a little extra dosh.
As this is my first attempt I am going to give all the newbies and students to be a heads up on getting the perfect student accommodation that suits both your lifestyle and budget. To start it off lets talk about choosing the right house at the right price.
Well as a student life is tough in terms of finances so I thought hey why not create a blog that helps others, this way I am using up some of my time writing instead of spending and I also often find when you have your creative head on you think of more ideas. SO maybe this will also help me come up with new ways for myself to save a little extra dosh.
As this is my first attempt I am going to give all the newbies and students to be a heads up on getting the perfect student accommodation that suits both your lifestyle and budget. To start it off lets talk about choosing the right house at the right price.
Viewing potential student lets
I suggest getting online and hunt out the local letting agencies within your chosen university location. Once you have found three or four have a good long look at the properties and prices. Now me I live quite modestly, I am a tidy girl and a bit of a clean freak but I do not need brand new carpets and the latest decor so I opted for a house that was shall we say a little tired and would have benefited from 4 weeks of a handyman or property maintenance service on site. This approach was great for me because the newly high end student accommodation nottingham has is very expensive. Sure you get a fancy kitchen and bathroom and freshly decorated lounge or tv in your room but at £90 + these were luxuries I could do without. SO I looked at the more worn in properties that were around the £65 mark. I earmarked 6 that i likes to view all close to one another and met the various agents for the viewings. This modest budget approach worked out very well for me because as the agencies rightly explain. All the houses work, they have to if they don't they fix them. So every house no matter what price works the same, fully functioning heating, fridge, cooker etc etc. Its a house, it ain't broken done! This left me choosing my favourite which basicly means decoration. I'ma clean freak so I am not a massive fan of food marks on the walls but natural wear and tear doesnt bother me in fact it probably suits me more because I won't be so paranoid about catching and marking a brand new wall with my photography cases that I will be carrying up and down stairs day in and day out a that is what my course is. |
If I am honest the student lets were all the same in terms of decor, old and off white with n0t very well matched carpets. But once again the agency said if you can look through that, the house will be fully cleaned top to bottom before you move in so it is just wear and tear, not dirt or grime.
So every house works, every house is clean. Every house you move into will soon have yours and your housemates belongings within and this where you really strt to wonder is it worth paying the extra £30 per week for student housing with fresh paint and carpets and a tv in your room. I thought well I have my own t i can take (most tennagers do) and once my stuff is here and there and my posters are on the wall sure its not going to be such a palace as the best student accommodation but it is going to function and serve its purpose well and ultimately feel like home for the next year. |
On the Money
When it comes to student loans many people forget you do pay it back even though it can seem like free money at the time to spend on luxury student accommodation. Nottingham isn't short of luxury houses but they do have plenty of the cheaper houses and these are here to save you money, real money. £30 per week per year is £1560. For my duration of university of three years this amounts to over £4500. Thats a serious amount of money. The best thing is I do not have to feel too guilty about going out in the week and spending a little because I know the choice of student housing I made has let me keep that little extra in my back pocket.
So to get ahead of your budgets, you can start your budget plans before you even start uni by opening your mind and thinking hard about what you want to spend or save on your student accommodation, Nottingham is a great city but i expect they are all much the same so just take your time and shop wisely.
When it comes to student loans many people forget you do pay it back even though it can seem like free money at the time to spend on luxury student accommodation. Nottingham isn't short of luxury houses but they do have plenty of the cheaper houses and these are here to save you money, real money. £30 per week per year is £1560. For my duration of university of three years this amounts to over £4500. Thats a serious amount of money. The best thing is I do not have to feel too guilty about going out in the week and spending a little because I know the choice of student housing I made has let me keep that little extra in my back pocket.
So to get ahead of your budgets, you can start your budget plans before you even start uni by opening your mind and thinking hard about what you want to spend or save on your student accommodation, Nottingham is a great city but i expect they are all much the same so just take your time and shop wisely.