We advise that you not to rush into a contract as there is a surplus of accommodation locally. If you take your time and choose your housemates carefully, you’ll be more likely to have fewer problems in the long run, and get a better deal.
Every year we hear rumours that students are told that all the best houses will be gone by Christmas. This is not the case. If you start to look in late November/December this will help you to get a good idea of what’s around, but we urge you not to sign in Term 1. It's nearly impossible to get out of contracts once they are signed and we want you to make the best decision for the coming year.
We also host a Housing Fair each year in the SU main hall, where you’ll get the opportunity to chat to a number of different estate agents and landlords as well as the Advice Centre staff. Use this event to give you get a feel for the local market, look at the websites of agencies and landlords there and discuss it with your friends and family over Christmas. Remember that many properties will not be advertised until after February.
BEFORE LOOKING
- Decide how long you want the contract to be. Base this on what your income will be and whether you will be liable for council tax after the last day of term.
- Decide which area you want to live in. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find something to suit your budget. Keep your travel time and costs in mind though!
- Locate all the documents you’ll need. Landlords have to confirm your identity, immigration status (even if you’re British), credit history and student status.
- Most landlords/agencies require students to have a UK guarantor.
- Those without a guarantor, including international/EU students, are usually asked to pay 3-6 months’ rent in advance instead. Email us to ask for advice if this is a problem for you.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
- Online ads are not properly regulated and can have fraudulent users and scams.
- Avoid going to a viewing alone. If you don’t have a good feeling, don’t go and get advice instead.
- When your group attends a viewing, let someone know where you’ll be.
- Never pay for anything in cash or under pressure. Pressure sales is illegal.
- Don’t sign or pay anything before having your contract checked by the Students’ Union Advice Centre. Just email your contract over to us with the subject ‘contract check’.
HouseSearch is your free portal to hundreds of local properties, run by the Students’ Union. You can use it to search for accommodation, post ads for rooms, and find housemates.
Online: You can find lots of accommodation advertised online. If you’re not part of a group yet, we’ve created a Facebook group called RHSUHouseMating. to help you find housemates or spare rooms.
Letting Agents: You can find local letting agencies’ websites and their ratings on Google. If you call each agency and tell them what area you’re looking in and your budget, they’ll tell you what they have available.