Miranda and I have (finally) found where we are staying for next year! We couldn’t be happier with the place we found and I think that definitely underlines the importance of waiting until you find something you like. Next weekend most Freshers will move in to halls and I’m sure that by October you will start hearing about housing, thinking about housemates etc., so this is why I wanted to dedicate this blog post to student housing.
Although this might be most ‘relevant’ in January/February, I think all year around is ‘housing season’ for students. Why? Because the student housing is a huge business in Southampton and you will meet all sorts of people trying to convince you to look for next year’s houses very early, in September or October.
I think I’m already proof that you definitely don’t need to start looking for anything until after Christmas (at the earliest!). So, here are a couple of things I think you should be aware of in this jungle of house hunting:
Don’t rush!
SUSU, the Students' Union, and the University of Southampton run campaigns every year about how important it is to be sure who you want to live with before looking for houses, while letting agencies tell students how important it is to find a house early, because ‘all the good stuff will go first’. I think SUSU put it very nicely last year when I read an article from them saying that it was important to remember that there is no shortage of student housing in Southampton. Hence, you won’t live on the street if you don’t find a house by January.
As said by SUSU: “Get to know the people you want to live with before you commit to a contract. Second years will say “Housemates are more important than the house!””. Therefore, it is a good idea to visit the SUSU pages on housing and stick to what they say and also go to the housing day in January/February organised by SUSU. You can read the article I've quoted here.
To be fair, when considering accommodation it is always a good idea to listen to the University and SUSU. We were told this week by multiple letting agencies that September is a really busy month for them, mostly because the international students arrive to find houses for this academic year, so I hope I’ve made my point about waiting with the house hunting!
Civic Centre in Southampton with Mayflower Halls!
Be aware of the landlords and/or letting agents.
As I mentioned, student housing is a huge business in Southampton (as it probably is in every major UK student city), so you are bound to meet a few dodgy landlords and/or letting agents. Again, SUSU has done surveys amongst the students about the different letting agents, and identified the ones which are worth your time.
The number of people who were shocked and almost concerned we waited this long to find a house was surprising. I do agree, we probably waited a bit longer than we should have, but we ended up finding an apartment we really liked with a very desirable location for us and therefore it was definitely worth the wait! We have tried to be very conscious about everything in the process.
I would be lying if I didn’t say we have had a couple of viewings where things weren’t quite right – for example, lack of communication, professionalism and customer service. This is so important to remember in the whole house hunting process. It is perfectly OK to expect certain things from your potential landlord. For example, if you like a house/apartment, but it hasn’t been cleaned properly you are fully entitled to say you expect it to be cleaned thoroughly before you move in. Most students will rent furnished houses/apartments, but if you end up with a bed that isn’t OK, you are allowed tell your landlord this, or negotiate about getting a new desk.
During your viewings you will be told how amazing the place is, but if you don’t agree, you shouldn’t be afraid to say so and hear what can be done to change the things you don’t like.
Highfield campus with its local inhabitants, the ducks
The condition of the house is important!
This is not to argue against that housemates are more important than the house, but don’t forget that the condition of the house is important. After all, it will be your new home for a year (maybe more), so even if we know a student house will have its quirks, it still needs to be in a bearable condition.
You would never buy a house with mould in it, so if you see mould on the viewing you shouldn’t think that it is acceptable, even if the house looks nice. The location of the house is also important, so this is something all future housemates should discuss and agree on before starting to look at houses.
This post is not intended to scare anyone into thinking house hunting as a student is a nightmare - after all, most of the ‘horror stories’ you hear are minimal compared to all the positive experiences people have when renting. Just remember to be aware and determined (without not being open to new or different ideas). Just because you are a student doesn’t mean you any less important than any other tenant, so think about what is important to you in the process of finding a house and don’t settle for something you are not happy with. I hope you find this advice helpful!
I just had to post a picture from my trip to London
Bye for now, England – see you again soon! I can’t wait to move into my new apartment - it was well worth the wait.
Alexandra
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