A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Dream Student Accommodation
Most students opt to move off-campus for their second year of university - choosing to live in their local town, in rented student accommodation with friends. Without proper guidance, the process of finding your perfect student house can feel intimidating.
Where can you find student properties? How do you book a viewing? What do you need to look for in a shared house? How much rent should you be paying?
It can all feel a little overwhelming. Don’t worry, HYBR has got your back! We’re here to break down the process - from booking a viewing, to signing the contract. Here’s our step-by-step ultimate guide for picking your dream student home.
Check your budget
First things first, it’s time to consider exactly what you can afford. Before you jump online to look at student houses in your local area, get your chosen flatmates together for an honest discussion about your budget. Everyone is likely to have varying levels of income - consider your student loan, as well as income from family or part-time work.
Remember, you’ll need to set aside a reasonable amount of money for food, travel and your social life too! For a good idea of how much you can afford to pay per month, try out this rent calculator. For general budgeting tips, check out our top 6 financial hacks for students.
Once you’ve figured out your monthly rental budget, you can move on to the fun bit… finding your dream home!
Get browsing
Once you know how much you can afford to spend on rent per month, it’s time to consider other factors.
Your student house will need to be within your budget, but close to your university too (on foot, or via bus or car). You’ll need to consider space, the number of bedrooms and whether you need extra amenities (like parking). Here is our quick guide on what to look for in a student home.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend hours scrolling down housing websites. At HYBR, we offer expert property scouting, meaning we’ll do the hard work and help you find your perfect student home! Plus, we’re tailored to the student market, so you’ll only be shown properties relevant to you.
We offer a free consultation, where you can tell us your budget, location preference and how many of you will be living together… plus any specifics you’re looking for!
We’ll put together a selection of properties we think are perfect for you. You can also browse and filter through the available properties on our website too, if you would prefer to look yourself. We have a huge range of properties and prices available… go take a look!
Book a viewing
Found a property you like? Book a viewing. It’s a great way to get a feel for the house and ask any questions you might have. Don’t be afraid to visit a few different houses before making your final decision!
You can request viewings on the HYBR website. You can add in when’s best for you to visit and anything important to your group.
Below are some questions you might want to ask on the day of the viewing:
- Are bills included?
- Is there a Gas Certificate? What about the Energy Performance Certificate?
- Is there a discount for renting during the summer?
- Do you have an inventory list? What furniture and appliances are included?
- Is there a car park or bike storage available?
At HYBR, we pride ourselves on our caring and transparent customer service - we’ll be happy to answer any questions for you before or after the viewing (at no extra cost).
Relax… you’re in good hands.
Once you’re happy with your chosen property, we’ll be there to help you with the paperwork! We’ll send you a clear breakdown of your bills - so you don’t have to worry about going over budget. You won’t have to deal with the hassle of contracts - we will arrange those, references and your deposit for you.
We background check all of our listed landlords and agents, but if you did have any concerns or problems throughout the year, we would be there to answer your questions and support you through any disputes.
Housemate dropping out? Not sure how to phrase an email to a landlord? We will always be there to help you and make your student experience the best there is.
Time to move in…
Unsure what to pack? Check out our blog on packing for university. For some affordable decor inspiration, read our guide on decorating your student house. Need help finding maintenance or cleaning professionals? Drop us a line and we’ll help you free of charge.
Moving into student accommodation that you love is a great feeling… you’ll make some fantastic memories with your friends during your stay!
