What to look for in a Student House
Choosing where to live when you move out of Halls is mega tricky, you’ve never had to house-hunt before and it’s a totally new experience. Fear not! Just follow our checklist of things to look out for in your search for a house:
1. Safe Neighbourhood
We’re not suggesting you start looking for a boudoir worthy of Made in Chelsea, but you don’t want your Amazon searches to include ‘reinforced bars for windows’.
Do some research and make sure it’s a safe area that’s well lit and well populated. Ask the landlord what the security is like, do the locks look secure? Is there a lock on bedrooms as well as the front door?
2. Good Transport
I don’t know about you, but leaving home in the dark at 7am just to get to my 9am lecture on time in January does not ruffle my feathers. If the house is more than half an hour walk away from campus, start looking for a bus stop!
Northampton has fantastic public transport, especially to and from the University. Students travel free on UNO Buses between Park and Avenue Campuses during the week and receive discounted travel to the town centre as well. Embrace your inner student and take advantage of the freebies!
3. Damp and Mould
This may seem like the least important thing when a room has a double bed and the longed for full-length mirror, but damp can cause some seriously bad juju! Always look into the corners of rooms for mould and damp.
Living in conditions like this can really impact your health and damage your belongings. Have your wits about you when it comes to a damp house, speak to the landlord if you find any and ask if they’re going to deal with it.
4. Storage and Appliances
It’s no good living in a 5 bedroom house when there’s only enough cupboard space for 3 in the kitchen! Nobody should have to choose between their saucepans or their booze. Count the storage spaces in the house and visualise what you could fit into them, double check there’s enough for all of you.
Don’t be afraid to open the fridge to see how big it is or ask how well the washer/dryer works. How are you supposed to impress the ladies if you’ve got pants drying all over your room? If the house description says it comes with all appliances, make sure you ask to see them all!
5. The Landlord
A good, friendly, reliable landlord is key to a happy student house. Ask if any of your friends have heard of them, does this landlord come recommended by the University? There’s nothing worse than a landlord who doesn’t care if you’ve got a mouse living in your wardrobe!
If you get a chance whilst looking around the house, ask the current tenants what the landlord is like. They can let you know if they’re an absolute hero who comes to fix radiators in winter or a stranger who wouldn’t even turn up in a fire.
