► Finding a property

It's tough finding a place to live.  If you lived in Uni accommodation for your first year it can be  quite daunting to then move somewhere with friends, or even worse, strangers.

Are they flatmate material?

 

  Before you take that giant leap to find somewhere to live with friends, think carefully!

 

Tidy flatmate

 

He might be a good laugh after a couple of pints in the pub – but can you tolerate it when he’s ‘up for the crack’ while you’re trying to write your next assignment? 

She may introduce you to some fit looking lads on a Saturday night – but do you want her boyfriends around while you’re trying to study?


 

Starting the search...

 

Once you have your group of tenants, you need to find a property.  The two obvious choices are University or privately rented accomodation.  There are advantages, and disadvantages, to both so you need to look into what suits you best, either individually or as a group.

It is important that you start looking fairly early in term two.  Many landlords begin to advertise by this time and Student Accommodation at the University will hold a Returners' Fair during this term too.


Where do we look?

 

As well as the obvious, the University's Student Accommodation and Letting Agencies, speak to friends and family, look in the local newspaper and take the time to look in shop windows.

Click here to view the Landlord/Estate Agent Contact List 2010/11

 


When you visit a property, ask questions. You can collect a housing checklist booklet from SUAC which should give you ideas of what you need to know.  Any decent landlord won’t mind discussing issues around security, damp and whether or not the property has a smoke alarm.


We’ve chosen the house...

 

Once you have decided on the property you want do not sign the contract immediately.

Make arrangements to bring it in to SUAC and have an advisor go over it. This could save you serious money, and heartache, further down the line.

Read more on contracts here

 

Bookmark and Share