12.10.23

What To Look For When Renting a Student House

If you’re looking for your first student house, it’s only natural that you might find the whole thing overwhelming. There’s so much choice. And as you attend viewing after viewing after viewing, you might find yourself wondering if you’ll ever find a place that’s right for you.

But it doesn’t have to be difficult! If you take the time to define your needs, then you’ll know exactly what to look for when renting a student house.

So in this post we’ll explore some of the things you should think about when choosing your new student home.

Be Aware of Red Flags

Some things suggest that a house won’t just be unpleasant to live in – it could be actively harmful to your health.

So look out for:

Patches of mould on the walls and ceiling – particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.
Condensation on the windows.
Bug traps and mousetraps on the floor (as this could mean a pest problem!)
Any signs of structural damage – such as cracks in the walls, inside or out.

Also be sure to read our list of essential questions to ask when viewing student houses.

Location, Location, Location

The most important thing when it comes to location is that you live somewhere you feel safe. So take a look at the crime statistics for the area the house is in. And ask yourself – would I feel alright walking these streets alone, and at night?

Beyond this, think about the following:

How far is the student house from campus? Will you be able to walk to your lectures and seminars, or will you have to take a bus or train?
What are the public transport links like in general? Even if you intend to walk everywhere, there will be times when you want or need to take public transport.
Is the student house in a “student area”? This is a double edged sword, as it means that there’ll likely be lots of friendly and affordable shops and bars about. But also, student areas tend to be high-crime areas, as burglars often target student houses. Read our guide to keeping your student house safe and secure.
What are the amenities like in the area? Think about the things that matter to you, whether that’s a good pub, a well-stocked supermarket, a corner shop within walking distance, or a nearby park, gym, or leisure centre.

Studying in Nottingham? Be sure to check out our guide to the best places for students to live in Nottingham.

Party House or Study Hub?

Think about what sort of student house you want to live in – in terms of your personal needs, and the people you’re living with.

If you’re planning on moving in with your friends, and you aim to spend lots of time with them, you’ll need to pick somewhere with good, sizable communal areas.

But if you’re doing an intensive course, such as medicine or law, then you’ll probably spend more time studying than socialising. In which case, it’s important that you pick somewhere with a comfortable bedroom in which you could happily spend many productive hours studying. And above all, you’ll need to live somewhere that’s quiet enough to let you study in peace!

If your studies must come above all else, then you might think about living alone. Take a look at our guide to studio flats for students, and think about whether this is a good choice for you.

What’s Your Budget?

Finally, when choosing your student house, it’s vital that you pick somewhere you can actually afford to live.

Don’t just think about the rent. Think about the bills too. And also consider your transport costs – if you’ll have to pay to get to uni every day, you’ll have to budget accordingly.

We have a couple of guides that might help you here:

Moving to Nottingham? We specialise in high quality affordable student accommodation, and we always include bills in the rental price. Find your perfect student house today.