Choosing where to live is one of the hardest decisions you will have to make when you first start university. There is a myriad of options but one of the most popular choices has to be purpose built student accommodation - similar to halls and managed by the university or private operator, a purpose built pad usually offers more services and is better equipped. However, even when choosing this type of accommodation there can be difficult decisions to make, that’s why we thought we’d help you make that choice by giving you our top tips…
Property Database
You need to shop around a lot when choosing the right student accommodation but this doesn’t mean trawling through hundreds of different websites. Instead you could simply use the City Room Rentals property database which will allow you to compare all the different features of many different properties, best of all it’s a completely free service.
Price
As a student, money is tight which means you can’t just waste it on poor accommodation each month. You need to choose accommodation that comfortably fits your budget. Make sure it includes hidden extras like utilities and Wi-Fi. If it doesn’t include these in the price, then staying there could prove to be very expensive.
People
Moving to university usually means you won’t know anyone in the city but fear not – however hard you think it will be, you will get to know a lot of people quickly. However, you don’t want to be the only undergraduate student living with postgraduates or vice versa. It is therefore worth checking out the other types of students renting and what year of studies they are in, so you can be assured of having neighbours around the same age and at the same stage of their university journey.
Amenities
The features of the flat probably won’t be your prime concern but you definitely need to know what is actually included. For instance, is there a place to do your laundry? Is the kitchen equipped? Is there furniture? All of these questions are really important because if the flat doesn’t have these included, the hidden costs will quickly mount up.
Location
Your accommodation needs to be close to university but also be close to supermarkets, nightlife and other local services. Having to travel any real distance for any of these things will quickly wear you down and could leave you hating where you live. Research the area where the accommodation is located and look at what is nearby, how close the bus / train / tram stop is and how long it takes to get to campus and the town centre.
Are you looking for student accommodation for next year? Take a look at City Rooms Rentals for an excellent selection of purpose built student accommodation at affordable prices throughout the UK.
