Renting a Student House- what you really need to look for

Having a big bedroom is not the only thing you should have on your check list

Now that I have finished my second year at university, I have lived in one student property and have now started my contract with the third year house. Obviously having a decent sized room and rent which is affordable is important in choosing the right student house where you're going to be spending a whole academic year, but there are several things to look for which I wish I knew before deciding on which house to live in.

This blog will contain a list of factors which should be considered when looking for a student house, including experiences of my own which made me aware that these issues existed.

More than four of you? Big house = cold winters

In second year I lived with 7 others, and for third year I will be living with 6 other people. Sometimes in first year it seems impossible to separate a group of friends into smaller houses, but be warned; usually the student houses which cater for more than four people tend to be older houses. This means drafts from the windows, leaks, and the impossible challenge of heating up the house sufficiently whilst still having enough money left over for food.

In second year after returning from the Christmas holidays I remember never wanting to get up from under my bed covers unless absolutely necessary, because of how cold it was in my bedroom. We used the heating as regularly as any normal household would, but with the sheer size of the 8 bedroomed house you would need to melt a few ice caps in order to heat up the house properly.

My Recommendation

I would first suggest trying to get a 3 to 4 bedroom house to be saved from freezing to death. If living in a larger house is the only option, I would suggest having a look at the properties in the winter months, and taking your coats off whilst in the property to get a true feel of how cold the house will get.

Feel that draft? Then you'll be feeling it all year long

Even my self-bought insulating curtains didn't protect me from the evil draft from my window. In Leicester especially there seemed to be an issue where a very small number of student houses had the luxury of double glazing. Those heating costs will be straight out the window.

The picture on the right was my bedroom window, as you can see it's small but because it was an old single pane window it still caused terrible drafts. To be honest if I had left it open it wouldn't have felt any colder.

My Recommendation

Plan A- Bag a house with double-glazed windows for the bedrooms.
Plan B- If a house you're interested in renting does not have this luxury, then check for drafts by placing your hands in front of the windows (try to do this subtly or your potential house-mates may think you're slightly strange and start looking for houses with one less bedroom).
Plan C- You have no double-glazing and there's drafts galore- when you move in, position your bed away from the window and hope for the best.

How safe is your neighbourhood?

Tucked away in the safety of your student village you may not realise that some areas around your university are quite rough and contain some less than reputable characters. Unfortunately I didn't choose my second year house and it turns out that the area in which I lived was one of the roughest in Leicester, mentioned in the news during the past year for arson, stabbing and gunshots. If any first year Leicester students are reading this, and if you are ever asked to visit places called Evington and Highfields then run far away. How I had the courage to walk through those streets by myself is unknown to me now, and with stories of people being grabbed and robbed around that area I'm surprised students are allowed to live there.

My Recommendation

Usually for most university locations there will be a popular area where most students rent houses, try your best to chose a house in this area as most of the houses will contain students as opposed to criminals and pesky gang members. Try to research the areas you want to live in for crime and have a good walk around the property to get a feel for the location in which you might be living in. However saying that, Highfields seemed like such a pretty place before I realised there was a potential brothel on the end of my street.

That green stuff on the walls will forever haunt you

A common conversation amongst students is that of the M word. Mould. It creeps up your bedroom walls, into your kitchen cupboards and fills up your bathroom. Unfortunately most student properties are not properly looked after by landlords therefore mould is a common occurrence. I have such fond memories of not being able to enter my room as I needed to use so much mould spray to get rid of it that breathing was difficult.

On the right is a picture of my bedroom wall. Not only is it unsightly but it can also cause breathing difficulties and illness. 

My Recommendation

When looking around a property check the walls for signs of mould. Even if the mould has been treated, there will more than likely be discolorations on the walls where it has been. When living in your new house make sure everywhere is suitably ventilated to avoid the green stuff visiting.

So tell me a bit about your landlord

Student landlords are often complained about for their lack of help and lack of care they've put into the student properties. Stained carpets, mould and broken furniture are just a few problems which students have experienced and are expected to be fine with because you know, we're only students and not actual human beings...

My Recommendation

Try visiting the current tenants of the property without the presence of the landlord. Ask them what they think of their landlord and whether he/she is helpful and does what is stated in their contract. In addition to work stress the last thing a student needs is a constant conflict with their landlord.

You should be able to eat, sleep, work and relax in your student house, will you be able to do all four?