How To Guide On Choosing Leicester Student Accommodation

The process of choosing a student residence can feel daunting.

If it’s your first student home, it’s likely be the first time you’ve lived away from home, maybe in a city that you don’t know and may include living with people you’ve never met before. You may also be new to paying bills, dealing with tenancy agreements and maintaining your property.

All of this can make picking the perfect home quite overwhelming!

Even if this isn’t your first residence as a student it could it be your first experience that you are renting privately rather than staying in halls. And for those of you who have been renting for a while, you can still feel there are a lot of things to think about.

It doesn’t have become difficult. Learning what to be looking for when the list of options comes to you is a good way to begin.

What To Find

What are the factors you must look for when picking your student accommodation? Having the following checklist to hand can assure you that you’ve covered the basics and can help you narrow in on the property that’s right for you.

Location

It’s a good idea to be flexible on where you live, particularly in a small city like Norwich where everything is not too far away. This lets you have more flexibility to prioritise other factors that you want to include in your home wish list.

Choose one or two location factors that are important for you and your householdmates. Do you want to live near to where you study or near to the social activities? Are you planning on walking, cycling, driving or using public transport for travel? Do you wish to be next to a grocery store?

One of the factors that every person must include on their list is whether the location provides you with a sense of safety even on your own in the dark.

The House

Is there central heating , and is it in the entire property?
Are the windows in your home double-glazed? (It can help keep the cost of heating low if it is)
Does the property look well maintained? Watch out any signs of damp or mould, check furniture and decor conditions Also, make sure appliances and lights function.
Do the bathrooms have good shower pressure, running hot water, and sufficient facilities to accommodate the amount of tenants.
Are your bedrooms adequate in dimensions with enough storage? You should be happy to live in every bedroom. Someone in your group will end up with the smallest room and it might be yours!
Are there any energy performance certificate (epc)? The higher the band the higher, the less expensive it will be to keep warm.
How many rooms for communal use are there?
Is there adequate cooking and storage facilities?
Are there enough facilities to accommodate the number of sharing?
Do you have enough furniture? If so, is it fire resistant (check labels)?

The Tenancy Agreement

It could mark the very first time you must sign an enormous legal document of this type and can appear like a jargon-filled document, that is designed to catch you. It is actually intended to protect everyone in the world, including you.

Be sure to read your tenancy agreement. After you’ve done that, you should take the time to read it over. A lot of University and College housing support teams are available to review your tenancy agreement before you sign it.

Some checklist points for the tenancy agreement

Is it a single or joint lease?
What’s the duration of the contract for?
Do tenants require guarantors? If so, can you limit their liability to just your rent?
What happens if the tenant wants to go home before the end of the fixed term?

Safety

Have you looked at you’ve seen the Gas Safety Certificate? (there must be one issued within the last 12 months)
Does the property have functioning fire and carbon monoxide detection equipment?
Has the landlord carried out an assessment of risk from fire?
Have you had your gas appliances checked over the last 12 months?
When was the wiring last been checked?
Are there safe locks for the doors and windows?
Are frames and window panes free of cracks?
Are there enough external lights and any alarms?

The Rent

What is the rental amount and are there bills included?
How much is the damage deposit?
Are the landlord or the agent part or a part of Tenancy Deposit Scheme which protects you and the cash you’ve paid?
Are you aware of all the fees that could be imposed during the lease?
Have you got the landlord’s or letting agent’s contact details in case in an emergency?

Cleaning and repairs

Will any repairs be done prior to moving in? If yes, have you had this written down?
How will the house be decorated prior to your move into it?
Does the house look tidy?
If you have a garden do you have responsibility for maintenance? (if you are, make sure that you have the right tools)

Talk to the Tenants in the Current Tenancy

The current tenant have a problem, it’s important to know the experience of those who reside in the property, as well as what the landlord is like and the pros and cons of the property. Find out what the typical cost has been.

Is the landlord or letting agent professional and responsive to maintenance and repairs?
Does the house have the ability to be cheap and easy to heat?
What amount do they have to pay for bills?
Are they concerned about security questions?
Do you have any issues that remain regarding the property?

Conclusion

This is it this handy guide to help you pick the right Leicester student studio.