It’s often said that the best thing about moving to university is the independence. Getting up when you want, cooking for yourself and living away from your family; sounds rather exciting. But it can be a little stressful living in university halls or private accommodation. What happens if you don’t like your housemates, or don’t know what to do if there’s a fault with your boiler? Here’s our guide to surviving and getting on in halls, to make your time at uni stress free!
Paying Bills:
For students in university halls of residence, your bills will be covered for. For those in private accommodation, you might have to pay for your bills separately. This could include anything from electric and water bills to your TV licence and internet connection. Check your contract and search online for the best deals.
Student Tenant Top Tip: If you watch live TV, you will need to pay for a TV licence. However, if you’re patient enough to wait for your favourite shows to appear on BBC iPlayer, you don’t need to pay one. Catch up services don’t require a licence, saving you over £100 a year.
Getting on with your housemates:
It’s always daunting having to live with someone you don’t know. Will they be polite and clean, or rude and untidy? Make an effort to meet them and find out a bit about their personality. If there are problems, raise an issue with them politely before seeking further action.
Student Tenant Top Tip: In the first week, organise a house meal so that all your house mates can sit down and talk together. It’s a great way to socialise and make everyone in the house feel comfortable.
Cleaning:
One of the biggest problems at university is cleaning. Let’s face it, students are quite lazy and tend to forget about cleaning and washing the dishes. Unless you’re in halls where a cleaner comes in once a week, you’re on your own. Cleaning your stuff not only ensures your things remain in good condition, but it’s healthier for you and cheaper in the long run. Student halls and landlords will charge you for untidiness and damage to the house once you leave, so protect your deposits by keeping the house spik and span.
Student Tenant Top Tip: Create a rota for your flat or house, where each housemate contributes to the cleaning. Take it in turns as to who does what. That way you know who’s pulling their weight and who’s not helping.
Cooking:
The lure of takeaways and 2-for-1 at Dominos might be tempting, but eating out and buying food from university cafes and bars is expensive. One of the best things about being in your own house and having your own kitchen is learning how to cook. With a few simple ingredients and a couple of student-friendly recipe books, you’ll be serving restaurant-quality food for half the price in no time!
Student Tenant Top Tip: Shop around for deals on food. Don’t do all your shopping in one shop, or go to the local convenience store for all your groceries. Corner shops might be convenient, but they’re expensive. Markets and discount shops on the other hand are great!
Dealing with landlords:
If you’re moving in to a house or university halls, make sure you keep a log of any faults and damage. Some universities call this an inventory, and this should be completed as soon as you move in. If anything breaks or there is a problem, make sure you tell your landlord or accommodation provider. They’ll fix it straight away in most cases, and it saves you from being charged and losing your deposit at the end of your tenancy.
Student Tenant Top Tip: Take photos of damage and/ or marks in your room and in the house when you move in. If the landlord demands money from you at the end of your tenancy, you’ll be able to prove that it wasn’t you and get your money back.
Tenancy disputes:
If problems between your tenancy and landlord arise when you leave the property, you can always raise a dispute with a tenancy deposit protection scheme. These schemes are often costly for landlords, so in most cases tenants won’t have to resort here. But they are helpful, and if your landlord is being unfair, it’s likely the schemes will rule in your favour.
Student Tenant Top Tip: Read more information on deposits and tenancy schemes here.
Paying rent on time:
Most students will be relying on their student loan to cover their accommodation costs. If there’s a delay to your loan and you’re not sure if your loan will arrive on time to pay for your accommodation, make sure you contact your landlord or halls provider straight away. In most cases, landlords will understand and are happy to wait. Sometimes you might have to pay a smaller amount up front, and pay for the rest later. But it’s best to warn them rather than sit there and do nothing.
Student Tenant Top Tip: If your loan is delayed or you’re not sure when you’re going to receive it, ring Student Finance. They’ll be able to deal with any inquiry and tell you when you’ll receive your loan.
How to work your central heating:
When it gets to the winter months, there’s nothing worse than waking up in a cold house. Make sure you know how to turn your heating on and off. Either ask your landlord to show you, or get your parents to show you when you move in. For students living in halls, it will just be a case of switching your radiator on or off, but for houses its different.
Student Tenant Top Tip: If you’ve got no hot water or no heating, phone your landlord immediately. Broken boilers can be dangerous. Don’ try to play or tinker with the boiler controls unless you know what you’re doing.
Keep your belongings safe:
Students have a lot of stuff, and that makes them attractive to conmen and thieves. Protect your belongings by always being vigilant. Don’t show off your belongings. Keep your room locked at all times, to ensure nothing is stolen. Anything valuable should be insured.
Student Tenant Top Tip: Look at getting content insurance. Some hall providers might already offer contents insurance as part of your tenancy, so check your contract. Your parents might also be able to insure your stuff on their own insurance.
Receiving post/ packages:
Many students will be ordering items online or receiving post and food parcels from family. Remember to check your address and make sure you’re in the house for when a parcel is scheduled to deliver. Parcels can sometimes go missing.
Student Tenant Top Tip: Use the Royal Mail redirection service when moving out of your flat or house, so that your mail can still be sent to you. Otherwise, your private and personal post could be lying unopened or worse, in the hands of someone else.
Written By: Kieran Watkins