Renting

Renting private accommodation can be the most risky of the accommodation options, as well as the most attractive to students looking for extra independence and responsibility now they are all grown up and going to college. Students looking at possible flats and houses should keep their wits about them, and make the decision carefully. If you decide to rent, then make sure that you don’t become a pig in a poke.

It is always handier to find somewhere suitable if you are moving in with some friends. Three or four people getting a house or flat together is easier than moving in with strangers. Having said that you won’t be strangers for long, and many people become lifelong friends after spending time living together at college. It is generally best to find a house in a “studenty” area, where you will have better relations with neighbours and shouldn’t be too far from your college.

Some student housing can be towards the lower quality end of the rental market. It is important to find a trustworthy landlord. The landlord should never enter the house without your permission. It is also his or her responsibility to ensure that all appliances are working, that there are solid locks on all doors and that the heating and hot water systems are up to scratch. Inspect the house thoroughly before handing over any money, and bring someone along (such as a parent or friend) who knows how to see warning signs of damp and other structural problems.

You should insist on a rent book and proper written lease, and it is generally best, though not always possible, to pay rent by direct debit. Renters generally pay a month’s deposit down and give each month’s rent in advance. You should also make sure everybody involved knows who will pay bills such as gas, waste collection, insurance and connection fees for phone and NTL.
Most students end up living in rented accommodation at some stage of their college lives, even if they choose on campus or digs at first. Renting offers the most freedom, but with freedom comes responsibilities, and it is up to the individual students themselves to work out which accommodation option is best for them at this particular moment.