Do’s and Don’t’s of Student House Hunting

Amelia Newman gives student house hunters some great advice


Still haven’t sorted out your house for next year? Starting to panic? Don’t worry, The Tab is here to guide you through the mother of all ordeals. 

DON’T RUSH

As soon as mid-November hits, it seems as though every conversation revolves around houses for next year. FOMO takes over and you begin to think that if you don’t sort it now, all the people you want to live with will have left you behind and all of the nice houses will be taken.

It’s a tough balance between doing it early enough to get the pick of the houses and the people you want to live with, and not doing it so early that you regret your choices.  There isn’t a solid answer to this as everyone’s situation is different, but this guide aims to help you out a little bit.

DO FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR WORKLOAD TO YOU 

Somebody who can’t stop working

Are you on similar courses? Do you have similar deadlines? Are you going to be slaving away at your desk all day whilst your housemates are out having a good time? The answers to these questions will affect your experience of living together, so it’s important that you consider them. You also need to think about how often everyone is going to be out of the house. Are you going to be left on your own for long periods, and will you mind this?

DO BE SURE YOU CAN SEE YOUR FRIENDSHIP LASTING

Two housemates getting into the Christmas spirit together

It doesn’t even matter if they’re not your best friends. Some people like having friends in different houses; you can go and visit them, you’re not spending all of your time with the same people and it probably means that you end up with a bigger circle of close friends.

However, you are going to be spending a significant amount of time with the people you live with. Make sure that they’re the people you want to see when you come home after a bad day.

DO MAKE SURE YOUR BUDGETS MATCH

This is important not only when finding a house to live in but also while you’re living with each other. Are you going to want to scrimp on the heating to save money? Are you going to leave lights on and not worry about the electricity bill? It will save on a lot of awkwardness and potential disagreements if everyone’s clear from the outset how much they are willing to spend.

DO LIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AS OFTEN AS YOU  

A household having a smashing time on a night out (Photo: Jamie Corbin)

There’s nothing worse than trying to have a fun pre while your friend is trying to sleep in the next room. They get irritated and you’re left feeling guilty. Bare in mind that most second years go out less than they did in first year, but the best scenario is when you live with people who go out as often as you do.

DON’T SIGN FOR THE FIRST HOUSE THAT YOU SEE

….Unless it’s legendary local landlord Rob Ho

It seems as though houses are going quickly and if you don’t sign straight away you’ll lose out. In 90% of cases, this isn’t true. You need to compare to be sure that it’s the one you want. It’s a good idea to book to see a few houses in one afternoon, and then make a decision.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

What area do you want to live in? Do you want to have a direct relationship with your landlord or do you want to deal with a letting agent for the duration of your tenancy? Will having single glazing be an issue? If you answer these questions before you start viewing houses you’ll find it a lot easier and waste a lot less time.

DO TALK TO THE CURRENT RESIDENTS

They’re your best source for getting an honest first-hand account of what your experience could be like. It’s a good idea to find out roughly how much they’re paying in bills, ask them how long it takes them to get into uni and get their opinion on the landlord.

DON’T LEAVE IT ALL UP TO ONE PERSON

It’s not fair to rely on one housemate to plan everything. After all, you’re all going to be living there, so you all need to be happy about it.

DON’T PANIC

A man panicking over student houses

Lastly and most importantly: don’t panic. Everyone’s in the same boat. Take time to consolidate everything and be sure before you sign. But, even if the worst comes to the worst and you think you’ve made the wrong decision, remember that it’s only a place to stay. It doesn’t stop you seeing your other friends and it’s not the end of the world. There will be a positive which you can find. University goes by so quickly, make sure you enjoy yourself.