Moving into private accommodation can be a great solution for students who are wanting to have a bit more control of their living situation. Some students will be looking for shared accommodation, while others might prefer solo living. Regardless of what you decide is the best fit for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind when moving into private accommodation.
Make the Location Your Priority
Although you might be debating whether you need to live close to your university, the further you live from it, the harder it will be to travel there and back each day. Particularly in your second and third years, you will likely be at your university for longer hours throughout the week, so adding long travel on top of that will just make your life more difficult.
Sort Out Council Tax
Unlike student halls, when you move into private accommodation like shared houses, you will start receiving council tax bills through your letterbox. The good news is, if you are a full-time student, you are likely exempt from paying council tax. Unfortunately, you still have to prove this to the council.
If you are living solely with other full-time students, as long as each of you can show that you are enrolled at university, you will not have to pay any council tax. If you are living with both students and professionals, you will still get a tax break, and the amount will really only apply to the individual who is not the student.
Check the Inventory at The Start of Your Tenancy
Before moving into any private accommodation, it’s important that you thoroughly look through the inventory for the property and take pictures too. This way, if there are any errors you will find them now, so they don’t cause you grief when you move out. You can also ensure you know what the property looked like when you moved in, which will save you the hassle of fighting with estate agents before you move out in the future.
Be Mindful of The Prices of Bills
Many student studios will have bills already included in the rent, so you might not need to worry about paying extensive amounts for heating. But, if you are moving into a house share, it will likely be your responsibility to handle bills. In the long run, gas central heating will work out cheaper than electric heating, so when looking for properties be mindful of what the heating set up is. All of Unihousing’s studios come with bills included in the rent, while our shared houses come with gas utilities included in rent. This will save students time, effort and money when they move in.
Student Accommodation with Unihousing
Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.
Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.
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