Renting for the first time as a student can be quite overwhelming, and with so many different things you have to consider, it becomes difficult to get into your desired accommodation quickly and at a good price. To help you find the best deal on your student accommodation, here are some pointers from the StudentTenant lettings team:
1. Make a list of accommodation you want to view.
Start looking for student accommodation as soon as you can - the sooner you start, the more you will be able to choose from. Deciding on exactly what type of accommodation you're looking for will also speed the process for you. Pick the most essential features of the property for you, maximum rental price, location and type of accommodation, e.g. a shared student house, a room in private halls of residence or a self-contained flat and start your search online. Search engines such as Rightmove, Zoopla and Nestoria all provide a wide range of search options making the process of discovering the right properties much more efficient.
2. Understand all the different costs.
This is one the most important things to remember while trying to get the best deal for your student accommodation. If you have already started looking for student accommodation, you will have surely encountered such terms as 'holding deposit', 'administration fee', 'referencing fee' and others. Make sure you ask for a breakdown of all the costs involved before you attend the viewing in to help you decide whether it fits your budget.
3. Be quick and efficient.
Call as many accommodation providers and try to arrange all your viewings for the same day, saving yourself time and money in the process, especially if you are making a trip from home. Always arrange viewings at least 24 hours in advance as any period shorter than that is less likely to get you a viewing.
Landlords and letting agents will be keen to get their properties let quickly, so the quicker you come to a decision, the more likely they will be open to negotiations. If there is nothing that takes your fancy, ask the letting agent or the landlord whether they have any other suitable properties they can show the same day.
4. Negotiate.
After weighing up all of the prices for every property, you can propose a deal to the landlord or letting agent. Ask if you can get your rental prices slightly discounted if you pay all the fees and deposit in one go and get everything signed straight away. Landlords are interested in getting their properties let quickly and a lot of them will be willing to drop the price a little bit if it means they can finish the process faster.
Negotiate on your moving in fees. Ask your accommodation provider if they will be willing to give you a discount on your deposit and/or referencing or administration fee if you get everything signed and paid within a short period of time.
Finally, you can negotiate the rent for your vacation periods - a lot of student accommodation contracts run for 12 months including the summer holidays. Ask your landlord if they are willing to give you a discounted rental rate for the summer months or any other holidays.
You can use the 'Make an Offer' option on StudentTenant.com to give your best offer on the price to the landlord of the property based on the amount that you've budgeted and see if the landlord accepts your offer.