There are a few things you need to be thinking about before you commit to signing a contract and renting a property.
Moving in to your first private sector house with your friends can be a really exciting time – you get the excitement of searching around for the best house and then, when you finally find the right place, you get to turn it in to your own home. However, there are a few things you need to be thinking about before you commit to signing a contract and renting a property. I faced a number of issues with my landlord and my housemates throughout my time as a student and they caused me a lot of stress – here are my top tips for making sure that your time in the private sector is the best that it can be:
- Don’t be pressured in to committing to a property – landlords and agents will tell you that properties are being occupied fast in order to scare you in to signing a contract as quickly as possible. Only sign a contract when the time is right for you – despite what landlords may make you believe, you will not be left without a house if you don’t sign a contract right away.
- Know what you’re looking for – think about what campus you study on and what your contact hours at university are like and whether the location of the property is suitable to your needs – is it nearby to the bus stops etc.?
- Make sure the property suits your needs – are there enough bedrooms to go around and what furniture is included in each room? What are the sizes of the communal areas like in comparison to the number of people living there – is there enough cupboard/fridge/freezer space for you all in the kitchen?
- Know what the property offers – does it have bills included (e.g. gas, water, electricity, internet, TV license) or do you have to pay for those on top of your rent?
- Work out a budget to suit you – how much is the rent and bills per week/month and can you afford it?
- Make sure you’re certain on who you want to live with – within the first month of living in private accommodation a few of my housemates fell out and it meant that we had the worst experience living together for the whole year. Make sure you’re 100% certain that you’re happy to commit to living with each other for at least a year.
- Know what you’re signing up for – make sure to thoroughly read through the contract to know exactly what is expected of you during your tenancy and check how long the tenancy goes on for. Don’t be afraid to question anything that you don’t like the sound of, and if you’re not sure about anything then you should seek advice before you sign. We have an advisor here in the Students’ Union that will happily read over your contract with you to make sure that everything is fair.
- Extra things to consider – remember that most landlords/agencies will require you to pay a deposit and to get a guarantor in order to live in their property.
- Ask your peers – chances are you’re bound to know plenty of second or third years that already live in private accommodation – ask them for advice on their experiences and see if there are any landlords/agencies that they would recommend.
- Most importantly, don’t sign until you’re ready. There are plenty of housing options out there and there is no rush to find somewhere to live.
From Naomi, your Aber SU Welfare Officer