Housing
Finding a house
If you're house hunting for the first time, it can be difficult to decide exactly where you should go! There can be pressure from friends, family and even some of the less reputable letting agents to get you to sign contracts and commit to a new house as soon as possible, but that's not always the best way to go about it. Remember that wherever you choose to live, you are going to be there for anything between 9 months to a year and you should take some time to make the right decision – so don't rush!
The best thing you can do is get in touch with the University's Student Housing department – they've got a load of great advice about finding the perfect place, and even have a list of University accredited landlords, so you can be sure you are going to get the best deal. A list of these properties can be found on the University's Studentpad website.
If you don't want to use Student Housing then there are a few things you are going to have to consider while you're looking;
Not all landlords and letting agents are out to give you the best deal – make sure you look through contracts thoroughly before you sign anything
Check that any deposit you pay is part of a registered Deposit Protection Scheme.
Be careful about entering tenancy agreements where no deposit is involved – you can be hit by large charges at the end of your tenancy!
Living in private accommodation
Moving out into a proper house with all of your mates for the first time can be one of the best things you do, but it doesn't always work out exactly as you plan. If you sign contracts in January, it will probably be somewhere between 6 and 8 months before you actually move into your property. This is plenty of time to fall out with friends, and one of the main reasons we would recommend that you don't rush into any contracts too soon. Even if you've lived in halls with someone before, it can be very different when you have to share bills and cleaning, so keep this in mind when you're deciding who to live with!
Things can get more serious than this though, and if you need help sorting out a household dispute then you can always get in touch with Stephen Roberts, your Welfare and Community officer at the Union, or visit our advice pages on bullying and harrassment
