So you've made it through your first year at halls, and now you want to settle into a good old student house with your new found friends. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it? Well the reality is that signing away a year of your life (and your money!) to a house can be quite a stressful process. There's the making sure that you find a trust-worthy landlord, or agency, agreeing how much you and your friends are willing to spend on rent and that's all before you look through the contracts for potential problems.

Don't rush into a contract

"Don't be pressured by pushy techniques"

Many landlords and agencies are renowned for using pressure and scare tactics to force students into contracts with them. They will try and convince you that all best houses will go first, that the number of rooms you are looking for are scarce so they'll be nothing left if you don't sign now, and even that they must have an answer right now or it'll be gone by the end of the day. DON'T BE PRESSURED BY THEIR PUSHY TECHNIQUES! You need to be sure that you are comfortable with the rent agreement, and the state of the property, you also need to be aware that if you put down a deposit and then change your mind, your deposit won't be returned.

Chosen a house and signed a contract?

You've checked the contract and you've fallen in love with the house and now here you are standing in it, waiting to make it your own! A few things to get out of the way to make your stay hassle-free, are to take a meter reading on the day you move into the property. This means you will not be charged for anyone else's use of gas and electricity when you have chosen a company to provide you with services.

Check please!

"If there is damage to the property that's not on the inventory, you will be blamed for it!"

Ask the landlord/agency for an inventory as soon as possible. This will state exactly what is in the property and what damage may already exist. It is important to check these facts and add any problems you may see to the inventory. Though this is not the most exciting pastime, it is important if you want to see your bond again. The landlord/agency will walk around the property once you've moved out and check through the inventory. If there is damage to the property that's not on the inventory, you will be blamed for it!

Ok, that's enough for now!

So finally, let's remind you that it can be a really fun experience living in a student house. There's the decorating (kitsch posters are a must), the Christmas meal (where you burn all the food, order in a chinese and get drunk) and the flopping into a comfy couch around the TV after a hard day of lectures (not to mention the house-warming parties).
The key to enjoying your first year in a student house is make sure you are clued-up before you even begin looking, that way you can guarantee a fun and memorable year.