Guide For Choosing Your Student House

Once you’ve found the group of friends you want to live with, the next step is to go about finding the right student house. You have to be careful with this as there are plenty of rogue landlords out there looking to take advantage of the relatively inexperienced. Don’t sign up for the first house you see, but take your time and consider using a reputable student letting company specialising in homes for students. Find one with excellent testimonials from previous clients and make sure they have been properly certified.

When looking around properties there are certain key things you need to look out for so you should make a checklist of these to take around with you. These include:

Location:

The location of the house will have a lot of bearing on the rental price, convenience and so on. Before you start looking, therefore, you should get to know the city and find out which are the most student-friendly areas. Then talk to other students about their experiences of living in these areas. How close is the house to bus stops, shops, doctors and campus? Would it be safe if you were walking home at night, for example? Does it have a good ‘feel’ to it? There are so many people who make their choice based on the house alone, only to discover that it’s in a shady area or they have to walk for an hour to get to the nearest supermarket.

Safety:

When you’re looking around the property itself, one of your major concerns should be how secure you are your friends will be there. It is a fact that student properties are often targeted by burglars, perhaps because they are seen as ‘easy’ targets – especially in the holidays when a lot of people go home. Check that the house has a functioning burglar alarm system and safety locks on both the doors and windows. If possible, choose a well-lit road and a house that doesn’t join on to any back alleyways. Also, as you’re almost certainly aware, all landlords and letting agents are legally obliged to provide working fire extinguishers and fire blankets.

Damp:

 Another important thing to look out for is the state of the walls as a damp problem can cause serious health issues and can also ruin your possessions. Whilst agencies providing homes for students meet extremely high standards, there are always the rogue landlords who don’t maintain their houses properly. Pay attention to the ceilings and walls when you are viewing the property, particularly in the bathroom, and be wary if it seems to have a slightly musky smell. Some landlords will try to hide damp patches behind wardrobes or other large items of furniture, so look behind those too.

Appliances:

Check that all the appliances in the property are in full working order and are large enough to meet the needs of your group. Any electrical items, gas boilers and so on should have full safety certificates so don’t be afraid to ask to see these as well. Also, look out for unsafe-looking plug sockets or loose cables: these should be attended to before you move in.

Furnishings:

When you look around a house, it might appear to be fully furnished but you should always ask for an inventory of what will be staying so you know what to bring with you. In case you were unaware, all student landlords have to provide a desk and chair in each room as standard so make sure these are all up to scratch. Make sure beds are all clean and hygienic too, and that none of the springs are broken.

Water Supply:

Bear in mind that as a group – unless you are particularly unhygienic – you will likely be using the bath, shower and sinks several times a day. It’s therefore important that you turn on the taps when you go to the house to check the state of the pressure.

Insulation:

Lastly, if you don’t want to paying more than you should for heating bills then find out how well insulated the house is. This means looking for double glazed windows, secure doors, any drafty spots and a good central heating system with fully functioning radiators in each room.