Student Accommodation | Property Classifieds - Rent, Sell Or Buy For Free

Most Universities and colleges today provide student accommodation only for the first year of the course. After this initial year it is often the student's responsibility to find a place to live for the remainder of their time at the university. Unfortunately many landlords know how desperate for a room and short of money students can be and so take advantage of youngsters, renting them substandard rooms in run-down houses. There are a number of things that students should look for when finding their second year accommodation so that they are safe from any unscrupulous landlords!

Research the local area
Most students choose to live close to the University for obvious reasons. However this isn't always possible and so you may find yourself having to look for accommodation in an unfamiliar area. It is important that you research the area thoroughly as a pleasant looking street in the day time can turn into crime central during the night! A quick search on the internet will provide you with the crime statistics for the area as well as a list of available facilities close by such as bus services, laundrettes, supermarkets and take-away restaurants. Once you have found a suitable area you can start to look at what kind of student accommodation is available there.

Choosing your house
As already mentioned, many privately owned houses available for rent by students are not adequately maintained and if a building inspector were to visit they would often condemn the house within minutes of entering! Private landlords have a number of regulations that their houses have to meet before they can rent them out for money and it is important that you ask to see things like gas certificates and electrical appliance certificates before you sign anything. The house should also have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and overall it should be in a good state of repair. Any furnishings provided by the landlord also need to meet current fire safety regulations.

When you first look around the house you should check things such as the locks on the doors and windows, the walls for any signs of damp and you should check to see that the heating facilities are adequate to heat the entire house, especially if you are sharing with others and the whole house will be in use. Once you have found a house that meets all the requirements in a suitable area then it is time to sign on the dotted line.

Tenancy agreements
There are a number of different types of tenancy agreement however landlords renting to students generally have 6 to 12 month agreements. In some cases there is no written document on offer, however you should ask for a written agreement to cover yourself in case of a dispute in the future.

Most landlords will ask for a returnable deposit to cover the cost of any damage you may cause during your time in the house. If you are sharing with other students then you should all pitch in for the deposit and each of you should sign the tenancy agreement so that you aren't left to face the music if the others leave without paying the rent or bills. Check with the landlord what kind of things the deposit covers i.e. what things may cause him or her to deduct money from the deposit and ask how the deposit will be returned when you move on so that there is no confusion when it is time to reclaim it. You should keep a copy of the tenancy agreement and deposit receipt safe and if you decide to leave early then be sure to have your name removed from the agreement so that you are no longer liable for the rent and bills.

Where to find student accommodation
Most universities have notice boards where rooms and student houses are advertised at the end of each academic year. It is important to keep an eye on these boards for a number of months because good accommodation is snapped up quickly and you don't want to miss out on a great house through leaving it too late. You should decide early on who you are going to share with, if you are going to share, and search for suitable houses together.

Another option is by word of mouth. Many students who are in their final year hand their student house over to friends they have made in lower years and this is a good way to get good quality accommodation before others in the same year. You may end up sharing with others in different years and on different courses but this is a great way to make new friends. Most students turn to the internet to find their student accommodation however and there are plenty of websites that advertise student houses available for rent. Most are arranged by city so you can easily find a house close to your university, either sharing with the present tenants or with your friends at the start if the following academic year.

Conclusion
There are literally thousands of houses available for rent by students and with the right research, good quality accommodation should be relatively easy to find. Once you do find a suitable house make sure you have at least the first month's rent and a deposit available to secure it and remember to budget for the extra bills and council tax payments as well. Do some background research on the area where the house is located and take time to look around and ask some questions about the house and the neighbourhood. The last thing you want is to move in, sign an agreement and find out at a later date that the house or the area is not for you.