Posted on Mon 29 Nov 2021 at 10:25 by
Meg Crossman Over the past couple of weeks, The SU Advice & Support Centre, alongside university accommodation team, have hosted sessions all around finding private sector accommodation.
These sessions were really comprehensive, covering everything from finding accommodation, finding housemates, house viewings, contracts, deposits, bills and utilities, maintenance/repairs, safety, and support available to you. If you weren't able to attend any of the housing forums, please get in touch with The SU Advice & Support team through suadvice@bath.ac.uk who will be able to provide you more information!
I thought I'd write a little blog post as a follow up, with a few more personal tips and guidance.
When to Find Accommodation:
I'd highly recommend not signing any housing contracts until January 2022. Some of the best properties won't go online until the new year. However, it's worth starting to think about who you want to live with and where you want to live in November/December 2021. Aim to have your accommodation secured by June 2022.
Where to Find Accommodation:
StudentPad is my number one recommendation. StudentPad is (clues in the name) specific for students, so it's the best place to look. The site launches on 1st December 2021. As well as this, there are a number of other websites which are great for searching for properties, such as Rightmove, Zoopla, Gumtree, and Spare Room.
Where to Live:
Most students tend to live in Oldfield Park. Other popular student locations include Twerton, Odd Down, South Down, Newbridge Road, City Centre, and Widcombe. The main things you want to look for in the location of your house is routes to university campus (near a university bus stop or easily accessible by bike/walking) and proximity to anything you may need e.g. supermarket, green space, cafes/study space.
Choosing Who to Live With:
- Live alone: more flexibility and independence but typically more expensive
- Live with friends: requires more organisation but typically most affordable
- Live with strangers (who may become friends): can be a risk but can definitely pay off!
When choosing housemates, you may want to ensure you and your housemates have similar:
- Budgets for rent and utilities
- Social lives and sleeping patterns
- Cleanliness and organisation
If you're looking for housemates for accommodation next year, come along to our Housemate Finder events or take a look at the StudentPad message board. I found an ideal house in my final year through posting on the StudentPad message board so I'd really recommend!
Living in the Local Community:
Living in the private sector is very different to living in university-managed campus. You'll be surrounded by couples, families, and elderly residents, so it's really important to be extra aware of noise, particularly at night, and keep the exterior of your property tidy. I'd recommend introducing yourself to your neighbours when you move in and giving them advance notice of any potential late night noise throughout the year.
Additionally, make sure you're aware of all the safety provisions in place for you in the local community, including university security, The SU Safe Taxi Scheme, and Nightline.
Other Top Tips:
- Avoid bringing a car if you can because parking can be difficult
- Make sure to view the property in person before committing to the contract, if possible
- If allowed, take TONS of photos of the property at the viewing so you know what to expect when you move in - this includes any marks or damage on walls, doors, windows, furniture etc.
- Ask questions at the viewings; things like the average price of bills/utilities, the protocol for maintenance issues/average response time, whether any part of the house is being changed between the viewing and the start of the contract
- Make a cleaning rota with you and your housemates when you move in - it might seem pedantic but it'll make sure your house gets cleaned regularly
More Information:
Please get in touch with The SU Advice & Support team if you have any questions or need any more information, through emailing suadvice@bath.ac.uk. I'd also recommend checking out the Student Community Partnership website for tons of information on living in the local community. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for StudentPad to launch on 1st December!