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Here are five things you need to know when sorting your student house in Belfast

Put bunting on EVERYTHING


Whether you’re a fresh faced 18-year-old just out of school, or a seasoned second year fleeing the nest from a cushy life at student halls, moving into a student house can be the most exciting yet terrifying thing.

There is always that internal debate as to whether you should celebrate this new found freedom, or panic about leaving your home securities. However, as a veteran of Belfast student living, here’s my top five tips and tricks for sorting that new student house.

1. Decide what area suits you

I mean who wouldn't want to live beside Boojum?!

Belfast has no shortage of student houses, so before you start to look, you should consider what type of area you want to live in. Check where your classes are going to be beforehand.

If you are mainly in the PFC or University Square, the Holylands is your best option. With Botanic Avenue only a five-minute walk away, it is the social hub of the Belfast student areas. Since it's in close proximity to Boojum and Botanic Train Station, you’ll never be bored in the Lands.

If your classes are mainly in and around Riddle Hall or The David Kerr Building, you may find that a house in Stranmillis will allow you an extra few minutes in bed in the morning.

It’s all about personal preference too, so make sure to go explore these places for yourself and get a sense of where you’d feel most at home.

2. Take pictures of everything when you move in

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EVEN THE LIGHT SWITCH

And I mean everything. Crack in a kitchen tile? Picture. Mark on the sofa? Picture.

Make sure they're date-stamped, so you know exactly the condition you got it in. You probably think that’s a bit excessive, but doing this saved me losing over £100 of my deposit in first year.

It’s well known that some letting agents and landlords try to take advantage of students’ lack of knowledge to take as much of your deposit as they can, so having these photos as proof will always work in your favour.

3. Get all your bills and accounts set up ASAP

Is there anything worse than using all your 4G on your hangover social media stalk? At this time of the year it’s almost impossible to get a WiFi set up date for when you move in, so I’d advise you try and get things like this sorted as soon as you get the house.

Make sure you know how all your bills are going to operate: for example, if you have an oil tank that needs filling or if your gas is pay-as-you-go. Mum and dad unfortunately can’t sort these for you anymore.

You and your housemates should divide these up to make sure that all bills are covered and responsibilities are shared. It’s also a good idea to get a house kitty going where you can throw in spare change and use it to get communal items such as toothpaste, washing-up liquid, and toilet roll; you will be surprised how fast it runs out when you’re the one replacing it.

Having all these things sorted from the get-go means that you can settle into your new house and enjoy Freshers' without any added stress.

4. There’s no house a set of fairy-lights can’t fix

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Okay this is a picture of some bunting but you get the idea

A student house is not going to be like your home so if you are expecting a seven bed house with a breakfast bar, heated tiles, and walk-in wardrobes you can think again.

You will find that most student houses just have the basics, which is all you really need. It’s what you do with these basics that make your house your new home.

It's pretty daunting going into your new place for the first time and seeing everything empty and bare, but once you get settled in with all your personal things you will definitely become comfortable.

For me, decorating the house makes all the difference; even if it’s just some bunting draped in the kitchen, or a fluffy throw and pillows on the end of your bed. Making your house your own will make you more house-proud and appreciative of the space you are in, even if it has that trademark yellow walls of a student house.

5. Pick the right housemates

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Houses that pre together slay together

This is a tricky one to know beforehand. It is true what they say, you don’t know someone until you live with them. However, you yourself know the types of people that you will gel or clash with.

If you are a placement student who has to get up at 8am every morning, it probably isn't best to live with second year students who will up partying until the early hours. You want to make sure that you are all on the same page about visitors, parties, rules, and your ideas for the house before you sign anything. Doing so prevents any conflicts or disagreements down the line.

I’ve been lucky in my three years to have had great housemates who rarely ever had any problems with one another. However, if tensions did rise, we always made sure to let them be known to one another, as openness is what makes a happy house.