Finding Accommodation For Students & First Time Renters

One of the best things about going to university is living away from home, and having the freedom to do what you want without your parents constantly on your back.

However like all good things in life, eventually your time at university will come to an end and you will either have to return back home, or if you can afford to do so, get a place of your own.

This is what we shall be looking at in this article. How you can find a place of your own to live, and do so in a way that is economically viable for you.

Renting Accommodation

Renting a flat is one of the first forms of accommodation ex-students go for. Usually there are lots of flats available, loads of different sizes and in a wide variety of prices which makes them an ideal starter home.

With all these choices available (whether it’s a flat or a house), it’s important that you choose something which is right for you and which meets your needs.

Although in general, some of the things you should take into consideration include; the price range and whether you can afford to live there, the safety of the surrounding neighborhood and how close it is to things such as work, shops, friends and entertainment venues.

Let’s now have a look at some of these in more detail, so that you can find a home in which you both enjoy and can afford living in.

Location

One of the most important factors to take into consideration when finding a place to live is where you want to live.

Some areas will be much more expensive than others. For example, if you want to live in a very posh neighborhood then obviously the rent is going to be a lot higher than other neighborhoods which are not so glamorous.

Or if you want to live in or close to the city center centre, then again you can expect higher rates.

So whether or not you are flexible on where you want to live can make a big difference in how much your rented accommodation is going to cost.

But whatever you choose, always take into consideration how close that property is to your work.

If you get something that is too far away, not only will you have to leave earlier in the morning to get to work on time, but you will also end up spending more money on getting there.

So even though you may be able to find a good deal some distance away from where you work, it might not turn out to be such a great deal once you factor transportation costs into it.

How Do I Find A Place To Live?

There are lots of different ways you can find a place to live, here are some of them.

Ask Someone You Know

This is one of best ways to find a place to live, because if they are able to tell you their experience of living in a particular area then you will have firsthand knowledge of its pros and cons.

Since that person has lived there before, they may also be able to give you some contact details so you can find out for yourself is there is anything available to rent.

Classified Ads

When it comes to classified ads, it’s really a bit of pot luck as to whether you will be able to find something suitable for you.

Although generally you should find a wide variety of properties being advertised, so you can always pick and choose what interests you and then arrange a viewing later on.

Real Estate Agent

One of the easiest and most common ways to find a place to live is with an estate agent.

The main advantage is that you don’t have to do any of the hard work, as the estate agent will be able to provide you with a list of available properties that are within your price range, and will take you to those properties so you can see them for yourself.

However be aware that if you do choose to go through an estate agent, you will most likely end up paying a slightly higher rent than if you were to find a place privately. This is because they charge landlords a fee to manage their property for them.

Drive Around

Not every landlord chooses to list their property with an estate agent, so by driving around yourself you can see what else is available to you.

University Housing

If you are still at university, then your university will most likely have a housing department where you can rent properties through the university.

This is similar to going through an estate agent, so again expect to pay slightly higher fees than if you were renting privately.

Also because other students will be looking for a place to live, the accommodations the university has to offer are likely to fill up fast. So if you choose this option, make sure you start looking early.