Finding the right student or professional house isn’t easy. There are lots of things to consider and it’s not just your opinion that counts, you have to find a place your housemates like too. It can be helpful to sit down with your housemates and write down the key things you want from your student house. That way you can all agree on what you want, and when you find the right house that ticks all your boxes then you know you have made the right decision. Here are 10 things factors that most students will look for in their student house.

LIST OF 10 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN SHARING A HOUSE

SHARING HOUSE #1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Perhaps one of the most important factors is location. Do you want to be closer to town or your University campus (this is another thing to discuss with your housemates)? What are you looking for? Living in a nice area out of the City Centre, with a number amenities or entertainment for when you are not in classes, possibilities to park your car or City Centre, where you are closer to lectures (depending on campus).  This will also influence budgeting accommodation fees. Why not make a list, comparing what both have to offer then decide.

SHARING HOUSE #2. ROOM SIZE

Within your budget, it is important to compare the size of the rooms that you are being offered, considering how much stuff you have. Additionally, it can also be important to have similar size rooms, deciding who gets which rooms in a student house can be super awkward. It’s even more difficult if the rooms in your house vary in size a lot. Some people will feel they are getting a very raw deal. The best way to decide is to pick names out of a hat or toss a coin for rooms to be fair. If you do really want a house with rooms that have different sizes make sure you discuss whether the people in the bigger rooms have to pay more or not. 

SHARING HOUSE #3. A DECENT LANDLORD

This is pretty difficult to determine as you can’t always tell what a landlord is like the first time you meet them. The best thing to do is choose a reputable landlord or estate agent to rent your student house from. Do your research (Google, Facebook, Twittter), talk to the previous tenants, and find out about their reputation before signing on the dotted line.

SHARING HOUSE #4. FAIRLY MODERN

If you like older style properties or properties with the character that’s fair enough, but just ensure everything is in working order. With modern properties usually, there is less of a chance that things will go wrong. If everything starts breaking, your showers don’t work and your heating keeps going off then you won’t have a very enjoyable experience.

SHARING HOUSE #5. NO SIGNS OF DAMPNESS OR MOULD

Check all prospective properties for signs of dampness or mould. Living in a mouldy house can be harmful to your health and it’s just not very nice. Make sure you check every property properly and look for any warning signs.

SHARING HOUSE #6. ESSENTIAL APPLIANCES

If you are sharing a house with more than one other student then it can be very handy to have some trusty appliances. Dishwashers for example can help to prevent arguments over washing up and (might) stop your housemates leaving plates and cutlery everywhere. A washing machine and drying machines are also very useful and will save you money and time having to go to a launderette to do your washing.

SHARING HOUSE #7. ENOUGH BATHROOMS

A lot of students don’t realise just how important having enough bathrooms is. It’s extremely frustrating having to wait to use the shower or toilet in the morning when you are in a rush to get to a lecture. Sharing one bathroom with eight other students will be extremely testing. Where possible, try and get a house with two bathrooms, or that has a separate toilet if there are more than two or three of you.

SHARING HOUSE #8. EASY TO SPLIT BILLS

Bills are another thing that can cause major arguments in a student house. Try and find a house where the bills are easy to split and organise. As previous tenants how they found it. The last thing you want is to be stressing about paying lots of different bills and constantly chasing your housemates for money. Recommended app to use to organise group bills is SplitWise

SHARING HOUSE #9. GARDEN

Not necessarily an essential but definitely something you should aim for. It’s nice to have a garden so that you can revise outside in the summer and get some fresh air when writing essays gets too much. If you have a garden you can also do a number of activities from outdoor Yoga, to hosting PIMMS or beer BBQ’s when the weather permits.

SHARING HOUSE #10. UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURS

Most people will not be thrilled to learn that they have students living next door. You may want to try and meet your neighbours to see what they are like and show them you are not all that bad. The best neighbours to have are fellow students or young professionals as they will be in the same situation as you.