Top tips for securing a student house
Although it probably feels like you’ve just moved in, check out Red Ridge’s Top Tips for finding your perfect student home for next year!
- Choose your housemates carefully
In your first year of University, you quickly establish new friendships which are exciting and care-free and you agree to move in together. But remember, a best friend is not always a great housemate! Do they tidy up after themselves? Are they reliable? Are they good with money, or do they go out partying every night? All these qualities seem like simple things, but after a few months will get annoying when you find yourself cleaning up after them and covering their share of the water bill. Be ruthless – you won’t regret it!
- Figure out what’s important
Create a checklist and prioritise it with your housemates. Do you want en- suites, double-beds, bike storage space and a shared living room? Rank your requirements 1-5 before you begin to look for a property, to avoid going to look at places that don’t meet your needs. If Red Ridge know what you want, we can fine-tune the shortlist.
- Check locations in relation to your campus
Often different housemates will be travelling to different University campuses. When viewing a property, use Google Maps to check the distance from each campus to avoid fights further down the line, when your housemate realises its an hours walk to and from Uni every day.
- Talk to the current house occupants
Students are typically brutally honest, and if they are moving out of a property for a certain reason, they will definitely let you know about it. When viewing a property make sure you ask crucial questions (What have you enjoyed about living here? Why are you moving out? Is there anything we should know about?). This will be the most vital information you can get on deciding if you should live there.
- Go to viewings promptly
If you see a property online that you like the look of, don’t hang about! There will be a number of other groups watching the same property as you, so get your viewing booked in as soon as possible. If you can’t go as an entire group, make sure somebody goes to check it out firstly – if it suits, book a full group viewing, and if not, move on to the next! Red Ridge can keep you updated if we know you’re interested in a property, but are waiting for the rest of your group to see it before signing.
- Work out utilities costs
Remember that you’ll need to factor in the cost of gas, electricity, water, TV license and broadband into your monthly rent. Red Ridge can help you estimate your bills costs, or to make it even easier, ask us for a bills-inclusive package through Unihomes.
Red Ridge has a dedicated team to look after our tenants needs. Don’t forget to call us if you have any questions on securing a home – we would love to hear from you. It’s never to late to start looking!