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High five for managing to pick your perfect housemates. Phew, at least the hardest part is out the way. After all, it doesn’t matter where you are, but who you’re with.

(Just joking, of course it matters where you are otherwise you wouldn’t be here right now).

So, you have the friends but now the next big question on your mind is: “Where are we going to live?” There’s a lot to think about when choosing your house…

What type of property are you all looking for?

Do you want somewhere you can all have your own privacy?

Or do you want more open living and communal spaces?

Not to stress, this is the fun part. It’s also the most important because you’re going to be living in this place for at least 12 months. We want to help you make the right decision so here’s our guide to choosing the right type of student house.

How many people do you want to live with?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start by knowing how many people you’re dealing with before searching for the house.

Do you want to go solo? Living on your own won’t be the most sociable but it will give you the independence and freedom from the rules of sharing. If you can afford to pay rent on your own, then a studio would suit your needs perfectly.

The most popular option is to live with 2-3 people. This is the middle ground. You get the best of both worlds having people around always but without the chaos of living with a large group.

As soon as you’re dealing with numbers beyond four, you may need a house with more space so you can escape when you need to, but still have all your besties under one roof.

Size matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would be ideal to live with all of your friends but this is not always the most realistic and easiest plan to put into action. It’s one of those things we see only working out in the movies.

The bigger the house, the bigger the chance of something going wrong and the longer the wait for the bathroom. If you’re a group of 10, it’ll be more practical to get two houses – that way you have more space and choice when you’re throwing a party.

When you start to talk about your expectation for the size of the house with your potential housemates, you will find out if you are in fact on the same wavelength.

It’s all about the convenience (location)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll need to consider exactly where you want to live.

Do you want to be able to walk everywhere? Are you near local shops and nightlife? How far do you want to be from uni?

Your location will be heavily influenced by your budget, too. If you want to be closer to the town centre, it’ll be more expensive. Go further out and you’ll find cheaper and bigger properties with the bonus of staying fit from cycling or walking to campus more.

On a side note: if you stay further out of the city centre, make sure you’re living around other student houses rather than living next door to a family, unless you want your curfew to be at 8pm too.

Apartment vs house living

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the hyped apartment buildings in the city centre place you in the heart of the activity, they can often be overrated for the amount of rent you’ll be paying.

Yes, living close to campus means you can stumble out of bed five minutes before a lecture and still make it on time. It also means you don’t need to worry about catching night buses because everything you need to survive and recover is on your doorstep.

Downside, the rooms can be the equivalent of a shoe box and if there’s 4-6 of you, it could get a tad claustrophobic. Less space also means less privacy. You’ll sometimes feel as if you have people around you 24/7. A flat will be a better option for 2-3 people.

But what’s a 15-20 minute walk or a short bus trip when you have more space and at a cheaper price? When you move out of the hustle and bustle of it all, you can get bigger and better houses. If there’s a big group of you, we definitely recommend getting a house.

Again, we’re all different people with different needs so sit down and weigh up your options together. Then prioritise what will work for the entire house.

Hopefully you now have a solid idea of what type of student house you want.

What to do next? Well you’re in the right place. We have the largest selection of high quality student accommodation to rent in Huddersfield. Check out our latest listings here and if you have any questions or want to arrange a viewing, give us a call.

Leaving the safety bubble of campus living to renting your first home can be a confusing and scary venture.

It feels as if you’re stepping into the unknown, especially when you hear of the many scare stories about dodgy landlords ripping off unsuspecting students. Not to panic, we’re here to make this move go smoothly by giving you the knowledge you need to make the right choice.

Here’s 5 questions you need to ask your landlord before you move in so you can avoid any unnecessary problems:

1.) Are you accredited by my university?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just because someone has a house to rent, doesn’t necessarily mean they know what they’re doing (shock).

A good way to check if the landlord is legit is by asking if they’re accredited by your university and signed up to the code of standards.

2.) Are bills included?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most students find it easier to have bills included, especially if there’s eight of you in a house. However, this is not always the case so be sure to check with the landlord.

No one wants to be hit with unexpected costs at the end of the month, especially when you’re on a tight budget already. Combining gas, water and electricity into one monthly payment is convenient and will save you from running after that one housemate who’s always late paying their share.

This way, you can just split it between the housemates, add it to the rent and pay one lump sum to your landlord each month. Extra bonus: you won’t have to worry about skimping on gas during winter to avoid a hefty bill (walking around the house in three layers of clothing is no fun).

3.) What is the fair usage policy/do you have a fair usage policy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s more important than cheap beer? Duh, fast WiFi.

From assignment research to streaming Spotify and Netflix, internet connection and student life go together like cheap beer and greasy pizza. We would hate for you to catch a case of FOMO because of a dodgy internet connection.

Be sure to ask your landlord if there is a fair usage policy regarding the internet and how it works.

It’s also important to note, if you spend the entire weekend binge-watching and downloading 10 movies every hour, it’ll be your fault your internet has slowed down to the pace of a snail. We’re not here to tell you what to do (OK, maybe just a little) but download responsibly kiddos.

4.) Do I need a guarantor?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, the good ol’ guarantor. Your last hope. The only person left who can save you from the brink of homelessness.

The purpose of a guarantor is to basically guarantee the landlord will get paid if you and your housemates who are renting the property cannot pay. It’s a serious undertaking because the guarantor will be liable for any payments if the tenants fail to pay. It’s a perfectly normal situation and almost all properties will require a guarantor.

Chat to the landlord to see if you’ll need a guarantor. If the answer is yes, then between you and your housemates, there has to be at least one person who will lend you a hand and trust you to be the (responsible) adult you are now.

5.) What do you reasonably expect in terms of keeping the house and garden in good shape?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re one of the lucky few to have a garden (imagine the parties you will throw in the summer) you need to remember this: even gardens need some TLC from time to time. They’re not on the list of things you can just ignore and hope for the best.

If you don’t envision any of you getting down and dirty to prevent your backyard from transforming into an overgrown jungle, it’s worth asking the landlord who’s responsible for general maintenance and upkeep. This also applies to any repairs needed in the house.

If you have any more questions about landlords, please feel free to call us and we’d be happy to help.

Ready to find your haven? Check out our latest properties and if there’s a place that catches your eye, let us know and we can arrange a viewing. Happy searching!