6 Student House Hunting Tips

House hunting can be extremely fun - you and your friends get to view loads of potential houses and envision how you can make them your own! 

Sometimes the process can be a bit stressful as, it might feel like you’re in a race with all the other students to get your dream uni house before all the good ones go. But relax - we’ve got 6 top tips to help streamline the house-hunting process and make sure you get the student home you’ve always wanted. 

1. Know where to look for student housing  

When it comes to your student house hunt, the first step is knowing where to look. One option is to look for local student letting or estate agents in your area. There should be loads to choose from - just make sure you look at the reviews first.  

Alternatively, you can use nationwide sites, such as Rightmove and Zoopla. There’s also Spareroom, which advertises individual rooms in shared houses. However, if you’re looking for stress-free student accommodation with all bills included, the best place to look for student housing is UniHomes. 

2. Don’t leave it to the last minute  

The best way to ensure you’re not rushing to find a house is to start your search as soon as possible. Some students start their house hunting as early as October, and while we’re not saying you have to start this early, it’s always good to be ahead of the game. 

Many landlords start to advertise student properties around October/November. By the time January rolls around, you should have started your search and should ideally be getting things finalised with your chosen house.  

3. Decide what matters most to you and your housemates  

Before you start booking viewings, have a chat with your potential housemates about what’s important in your student house. Maybe you’re keen on living somewhere central, or perhaps you’d like a large communal area; whatever it is, make sure you’re all on the same page!  

4. Set up a budget (and stick to it!) 

It’s also essential that everyone has agreed to a budget that considers how much everyone can pay. Make sure that all your housemates can afford to pay the rent (plus bills), and don’t pressure anyone into increasing their budget.  

Don’t be tempted to start viewing houses you can’t realistically afford - sticking to houses in your budget is the best way to simplify your search.  

5. Have a plan  

Do some research and come up with a list of questions before you view your first house. Don’t be blindsided by a beautiful sofa, a huge TV or cheap rent. Here are a couple of questions you should ask when viewing rental properties: 

• Is there electricity and gas? (electric heaters can sometimes be more expensive)
• Are bills included?
• Is it fully furnished? (some of it might belong to existing tenants)
• What's the water pressure like?
• Are there smoke detectors and fire extinguishers?
• What type of tenancy agreement is it? ( a joint tenancy means everyone is responsible for the whole house)
• Are any services included? (such as lawn mowing or cleaning)

6. Don’t make your decision without a viewing 

Although it can be tempting to make your decision immediately when you find the perfect house (that’s within your budget), don’t sign a contract until you’ve seen it in person. Viewing the property is an essential step. Pictures don’t always tell the whole story; if something seems too good to be true, it’s best to check it out.  

Simplify your student house hunt with UniHomes 

We have an extensive landlord and letting agent network with student properties in cities across the UK. It’s simple to search by city or university to find conveniently located student accommodation. Plus, you can filter by area, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and price to find your dream student house! 

At UniHomes, we want to make things as simple as possible for students. That’s why all the properties on our site come with utility bills, broadband and a TV licence included. So, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of setting up utility accounts, dealing with direct debits and awkward conversations with your housemates about late payments. We’ll handle everything on your behalf.  

Contact us today to learn more about how we work, or check out what properties are available in your student city.