The big jump from uni halls to finding your own student house can feel very daunting, so here’s some first-hand advice, anecdotes, tips and tricks from students who have been through it all before!

Freya’s top tips:

Calling all first years! You will often hear whispers of the second-year curse and not believe it to be true, but it’s worth taking very seriously. The pressure of getting a second-year uni house is inescapable and feels like the only thing people can talk about. All of a sudden conversations sound like a collection of, “Where are you living next year? With whom? Fixed or non-fixed bills?!”It all gets a bit too much, resulting in many (and I mean many) students rushing into housing contracts with people they barely know. This often ends in disaster. 

My friend isn’t a clubber but moved into a party house, where her housemates played loud music at 3am and would keep her awake all night. Let’s just say she didn’t sign with them again for her third-year house. 

This is a very confusing time for friendships and first-time renters. Uni friendships are in their early stages and housing contracts are not the easiest to understand. From my own experience, I can honestly say the curse can be real. But don’t worry too much, just remember these easy tips and red flags. 

Tips and advice:

• Do NOT rush or panic sign – there are many houses available past November, unlike what the housing myths suggest.
• Understand who you want to live with – discuss your wants and needs as a housemate, such as cleanliness, noise tolerance or study habits
• Be clear on what you want from a uni house – like a dishwasher or multiple bathrooms or a larger kitchen.
• Think about the commute when discussing location – such as how accessible your location is for different housemates and how you would get to lectures
• Set a budget – discuss how much you are able to spend on a property and only look for houses within that price range to avoid any awkward discussions later on.
• Do your own research beforehand – look into areas you’d like to live in, the reliability of a letting agency and the number of rooms needed
• Don’t go with the first bills company you find – understand the terms and prices of different companies to find which ones support your needs the most (e.g. fixed or non-fixed bills, bill-splitting companies or bills included in the rent etc.)

Red flags of an accommodation or letting agency:

• Visible mould or serious damage – some houses have poor maintenance which may lead to health issues or uncomfortable smells
• Being pressured to sign on the day of seeing the property – think the decision through and look at a range of properties, don’t give in to the competitive spirit of house signing
• Being asked to pay fees or a holding deposit before viewing – you shouldn’t pay anything before viewing the property.

Living in a uni house is SO much fun, whatever house you end up with I’m sure you’ll have a blast! Good luck!

Catrina’s words of wisdom:

There’s something quite strange about being expected to decide where you’ll live next year when you’ve barely had time to settle into where you’re living this year. Having just moved to Cardiff, I was confused to see flyers around my accommodation advertising an “early bird discount” for rebooking my room for next year. Instead of living in the present, suddenly you’re forced to worry about the uncertain future. You don’t know where life will take you in a year. Maybe the people you’re living with will no longer be your friends, or maybe you’ll decide to go on a placement, or continue your degree elsewhere. Visiting friends’ halls also gives you a glimpse of what other options could look like. Maybe you’ll want to move in with them next year. Maybe you haven’t even met those friends yet. But you can almost guarantee that you will after you sign that contract for the place you no longer want, and by then it’s too late to live with them.

With all this pressure, it’s easy to rush into an arrangement that might not be right for you. One of the biggest things to consider is who you’re choosing to live with. Sometimes, your friend might not be the right person to share a house with. You enjoy their company, but what happens when they study late and you can’t sleep with the lights on? When they move around at night but you wake up at the slightest noise? When they don’t do their dishes or take out the rubbish?

Finding a house isn’t just about finding somewhere that looks nice in the pictures. Before signing anything, make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to. Check the rent, deposit, bills, contract length and additional fees. Also, understand whether you’re signing an individual or joint tenancy, and what that means if a housemate moves out or stops paying their share.

There are red flags to look out for when viewing properties. Mould, poor ventilation and questionable heating are NOT things you should overlook. Take pictures of any damage when you move in, so you won’t be held responsible for it later. Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to point out things that don’t look right. If a landlord or letting agent avoids basic questions, or pressures you into signing before you’ve had time to think, that’s reason enough to slow down.

Ultimately, finding your next uni home should be exciting, not something you feel you have to get over with as quickly as possible. You don’t need to commit to the first house you view or the first group of people who ask you to live with them. Take your time, and remember that you’ll have to live with the decisions you make. There’s no point securing your dream student house if you spend the entire year dreaming of moving out.

Words by Freya Baker and Catrina Essey

Featured image courtesy of Samantha Lam on Unsplash. Image license: https://unsplash.com/license