Red flags when student house hunting in 2025

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When you’re looking for a new student home, it can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of it all. Ooh an en-suite! Yay a garden! It’s so close to campus!

While uni house hunting can be a lot of fun, it’s important to know what to look out for to stop turn it from housing heaven, into housing hell. We’ve rounded up the biggest red flags to avoid in your search... 

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Damp 

Damp can form on external walls and around windows if there’s a lack of ventilation. Not only does it look ugly, but it can also be a serious problem for your health. If left untreated, damp can turn into black mould which is a definite no-no when it comes to your lungs, and can cause significant damage to the walls and foundation of the building.  

When viewing a property, check for signs of discolouration on walls and ceilings, and touch the surfaces to see if they feel cold or moist. Another thing worth looking out for is new paint. While a lot of student landlords will redecorate between tenants, new paint can also cover up all kinds of damp problems, which will soon come back once the paint has dried. 

If in doubt - ask. It’s always better to find out now than in a few months’ time.

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Old windows 

Ah, double glazing. It’s a thing you never really appreciate when you live with your family, but as soon as you move out you realise how much of a game changer it is. Old windows tend to be single glazed, which means more cold air can get in and more heat can escape. Not only will that make winter nights a bit chilly, but it’ll also do a worse job at preventing noise, meaning traffic sounds and the drunken singing of your coursemates on their way home is sure to wake you up.  

But how can you tell if a window is old? The frames are always a giveaway. Double glazed windows will usually have PVC frames, which is a kind of strong plastic that holds the glass in place. Older windows tend to be in wooden frames, so keep your eyes peeled and don’t be scared to do a bit of tapping.

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Badly fitted doors 

This one might sound a bit niche, but trust us, it matters. A door that is well fitted will close properly at night, keeping the sound of the TV or your housemate’s music to a minimum. It will also give you more security, stop any drafts getting in, and do a better job at keeping the smell of anyone’s cooking out of your room.  

You’ll really appreciate a quality door when you’re up late studying, or when you’re just trying to get some sleep. Go around and open a few, see how they feel, see how they shut. People might look at you funny, but it’ll be totally worth it. 

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Low water pressure 

Low water pressure is no fun for anyone, especially the last person to use the shower in the morning. If you turn a tap on and the water comes out in a trickle, it could be a sign that the pressure is low, and that there’s something else going on in the house. Common causes of low water pressure include blocked pipes, faulty plumbing or leaks, all of which you want to avoid. You might also want to check out the boiler. A faulty boiler can be a real headache, so ask when it was installed and when it was last serviced to save yourself problems in the future. 

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Slow WiFi

Some people might say that good WiFi is the most important thing to look for of all, but we’ll leave that for you to decide. A weak WiFi signal, especially if you’re sharing a house with a few people, can really mess with your student experience. It’ll be harder to get online to study, harder to chat with your friends back home, and vitally, much harder to watch anything on Netflix, play games or stream content.  

Sometimes you can solve a weak signal just by moving the router, but if it’s a bigger problem than that, it’s worth chatting with the landlord to see if they’ll improve it before you move in.  

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Springy mattresses  

If you’re looking at furnished properties, you’ll want to make sure the furniture you’re inheriting is in good condition. While you might expect the odd bit of wear and tear, everything should still work as advertised. This is especially key when it comes to mattresses, as they’ll be what you sleep on after a hard day of studying (and a long night of partying). Old mattresses can be very uncomfortable and even cause problems for your back, so give them a good prod as you look around. If a spring pops out of place, it’s time for the landlord to pop out and replace it.  

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Noisy neighbours 

Finally, have a look at the street around you. A lot of student housing is situated together, so the odd house party won’t come as a surprise. But if you can see freezers and washing machines lying out in the front garden, cars with smashed windows and a police car pulled up at the side of the road, you might be better off looking elsewhere. It’s important you feel safe when you’re in your student house. Try and get a feel for the vibe of the area - if it feels dodgy, trust your gut and leave it. 

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Looking for student housing with green flags all over? 

We work with a huge range of letting agents and landlords across the UK to showcase the best student accommodation from across the market in one convenient place. What’s more, every property featured on our site is all-inclusive, meaning the costs of utility bills are already factored in. This means with our uncapped energy, you can keep the heating on to stay cosy all winter - and with our Superfast Broadband fitted as standard*, you're guaranteed fast internet speeds.

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