Having spent over three years living in varying states of student housing, I’m a pretty seasoned digs-hunter. It’s that time of year again when everyone begins panicking about accommodation for September, and it’s easy to get caught up in simply going along with whatever your friends/landlord/letting agents are telling you to do. Most of us are massively effected by our environments, and somewhere you feel at home can make a huge difference to your social and academic success. So whether you’re a fresher looking for the first place to call your own, or a final year deciding you need to move out of the rowdy hovel you’ve inhabited for the last year or so, here are our tips for finding a place to call home.
Know What You Want From Your Housemates
- The first step for most of us is deciding who we want to live with. Living with friends can be so much fun and it’s something you should do at least once in your life. But just remember that living with a social group can be distracting, so you might need to set some boundaries if you want to knuckle down on your work – when living with your best friends every night can be a sleepover, but I’ve seen plenty of people fall down the marking scheme because they’ve spent days on end Netflix binging with their buddies. Find the balance!
- If you’ve decided to move in with others who you don’t know for whatever reason, try and get to know them as people before signing any contracts. Compatibility with your housemates will make you more comfortable. Even if you aren’t planning on spending time with them, you don’t want to come to blows over something which could have been avoided by a real chat when you decided to live together.
- It also might be tempting to move in with that cutie in your group who you’ve been deftly flirting with for the last few months, but new relationships in a confined space are risky. I’ve seen the fallout, and I’d avoid it if possible.
Do Your Research
- Don’t be tempted to jump in to the first okay-looking contract that presents itself to you. Check out online reviews of individual letting agencies and ask around – other students are the best place to find out about real life experiences in certain areas and with certain landlords. FXU also has a huge amount of information available to help you find out about your rights, just check out their website (https://www.fxu.org.uk/advice_welfare/housing/) or pop in to see them. You can also get any contracts checked by an FXU Advisor before you sign them.
Make Sure Your Viewing Is Thorough
- Don’t just follow a letting agent around the house nervously – you’re well within your rights to test things. Look out for damaged sockets, check that taps work and that there is a good hot water supply. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for that suspicious mould that seems to infest every student house in the world.
- Remember things which will make a difference every day too: Is there enough cupboard space for everyone? Are the furnishings in good condition? Have you been supplied with all the appliances that you will need? How warm does it feel? Don’t be afraid to speak to the current tenants as well. They’re moving out for a reason, so are they simply moving on or is there a problem here?
Getting the Best Deal
- Everyone has fallen for a classic letting agent line at some point. My first student letting experience had an agent tricking us with “another party are very interested” and getting us to sign a contract on the first house we viewed within a day; we spent the next year dealing with a never ending succession of maintenance problems which they didn’t care about fixing. Again, the FXU can advise you on the most reliable places to look at within Falmouth, including places which offer utilities as a package and will waver agency fees (which can be a hefty addition) for students.
- If utilities won’t be included, get a copy of the energy performance certificate and remember to budget for your bills. Shop around, and view plenty of options before you settle.
Moving In
- Remember to take meter readings and your own inventory (including photographs) when you move in – these can save you a lot of hassle and a security deposit in the long run. Also make a list of anything that isn’t working and tell your landlord or agent straight away.
Whatever you end up doing, enjoy yourself! Living in digs is a lot of fun (even with the drama, the cleaning rota bust-ups and the maintenance nightmares), and it’s possibly the best lesson in independence that you’ll ever get!
Some more helpful tips:
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/29/students-read-this-before-moving-into-new-house
http://www.savethestudent.org/accommodation/guide-viewing-student-accommodation.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationadvice/10305180/Student-housing-an-expert-guide.html