Deploy the 20-Minute Rule
Any place you visit regularly should be within 20 minutes. This could be a 20-minute walk, bus or bike ride. Ideally, find a house that is within a 20-minute walk to both university and town which will save you money on bus fares. The £2-£3 bus fares may not seem like much but over the whole year this can add up to over £500 for just going to uni and add to that what you spend going to town. Keep an eye out for student bus passes at your university as this may reduce your cost.
Make It Rain
When selecting a house, one of the easiest things to forget to check is the water pressure. Turn the taps and shower on when viewing a house to check the water pressure. It may be wise to also check the shower pressure while the taps are running as in some houses it can drop drastically!
Get Cautious of Bills Included
In my personal experience bills included is the way to go. I found that chasing housemates for money can be a large burden on the person in charge. However, keep an eye out for unnecessarily high bill add-ons. Sometimes landlords include bills to make money by charging a higher all-in rate. On average you should be looking at around £5 extra each per week for gas, electricity, WIFI and water included for a 6-bedroom place. Smaller houses may cost a bit more per person. Remember to check the fair-use policy on your contract is “fair” if you opt for bills included.
Get a Key Box
One of the most useful features to have on a student house is a key box outside the front door. Keys are one of the easiest things to lose on a night out and having a key box means you never have to take your key with you on a night out. Proper key boxes are approved by insurers so you can have peace of mind that they are safe. If the house does not already have a key box, it may be worth suggesting that your landlord provides one.
Stay Insulated
Insulation may sound boring, but it helps to keep you warm in the winter and more importantly, keep the heating costs down. A useful tool for this is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which every landlord needs to have in order to rent the house. From April 1st, 2020 the minimum rating should be “E” or above. The higher the EPC rating the lower your bills will be and cheaper for you to stay warm during the winter. Another key feature to look for is double glazed windows. These can make a massive difference during those cold winter days. As always when looking for a house be prepared with a list of your requirements and questions and where things are not obvious ask for clarifications. As a matter of best practice, before signing the rental agreement, follow up with an email to the landlord or agent confirming your understanding of the discussion to avoid future misunderstandings that can lead to disputes.
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