Moving Into Student Accommodation? Here are a Few Things You Need to Know

 As summer draws to a close, and your move-in date for the fall term approaches, it’s good to know what to expect from the moving-in process. Whether you will be living in a studio or a shared house, our team will do all we can to make the process as smooth as possible.

Depending on the kind of property you are moving into, there are a few variables you need to consider, including the contract, whether the property is furnished, the location, and any extra costs that you will need to pay.

Location:

Where is Your New Property Located?

Before you sign the contract, pick up the keys and move in, it’s a good idea to understand the general location of both your property and the estate agent’s office. By visiting a few days before you move in, or do some research online, you can then discover all that the local area has to offer.

As all of our student properties are located in the student hub of Selly Oak, you will have plenty of amenities to choose from, including a plethora of shops, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment. Exploring your local area beforehand will also help you locate the Estate Agents office, which means you will know exactly where to go to pick up your keys on move-in day.

  

Thoroughly Look Over the Contract

Before moving in, it’s really important that you read the rental contract without skipping through it. It could also be a good idea to have a relative, guardian or teacher look through it for you, just to make sure everything looks straightforward, without any hidden clauses.

Reading through the rental agreement in full will also help you understand any relevant information regarding your stay at the property. Any details of the condition of the property along with an itemised list of items that need to stay in the property when you move out should all be included in your rental agreement. If you notice any damages in the property that are not stated in the agreement, it’s crucial that you report them ASAP, so that you are not held accountable later down the line.

What is the Deposit Amount?

When you are getting your budget ready ahead of time, it is quite easy to forget to factor in the deposit. Although you may receive the deposit back at the end of your tenancy, this is never a guarantee. It all depends on how the accommodation is left, and whether it is taken care of properly. Most properties will have the deposit amount written on the online description, but it is always a good idea to ask the lettings agent so that you are not caught off guard by an amount you weren’t expecting to pay.

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.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

Top Tips for Saving Money on Your Student Shopping

As both the cost of living and inflation continues to rise, it's getting harder and harder to live on a student budget. Because of this, many students are doing all they can to be cash-savvy, by saving as much as possible, wherever possible. In this blog, we look at some top tips for saving money on your regular student shopping.

1. Make a Plan

Many people enjoy spontaneous shopping to get the ingredients for a meal, but this often leads to spending more than you would if you had made a plan. Instead, try making a plan each week for what you're going to eat, and what you need to buy. This way, you can prepare several meals throughout the week which use the same ingredients, or you could food prep by making a big batch of something early in the week, and reheating the leftovers.

Making a plan for your meals and reusing ingredients means you can purchase bigger packs, which are often cheaper relative to the weight. You will also avoid wasting food, as anything that is left can be used in future meals. Don't forget to make use of your freezer for any leftovers as well!

2. Choose Your Shop Well

It's important to pick the right shop to get the best prices. Student favourites (due to having great prices) include Asda, Lidl and Tesco. If you're particularly well prepared, you can shop around for the best price of each ingredient, and make a separate shopping list for each supermarket, allowing you to get the best deals.

If you don't have an affordable supermarket near you, it may be worth having a long walk to do your shopping, or you may even find that the cost of public transport is covered by going to the cheaper shop. Don't miss out on any special benefits of shopping at your chosen supermarket; Tesco's Clubcard and Nectar cards can get you discounts in the future, or other special bonuses.

3. Pick the Best Time

The time you go shopping may sound irrelevant, but it can give you some serious discounts. Visiting the supermarket when it's near to closing means you can buy some discounted food that they need to shift. While these may be close to their sell-by-date, if you're going to be making a big batch of something later that night, or freezing the item, it'll end up being much cheaper. Make sure to always check the bargain box at your supermarket!

4. Batch Cook

As previously touched upon, cooking a large batch of food will be much cheaper than cooking individual meals. You can do this by yourself and freeze the extra portions, or cook together with housemates, to feed all of you in one cooking session. Remember that you'll save on ingredients due to the economy of scale, but also on energy as you'll be using the oven less. It can also be an enjoyable social experience to have each person cook on separate nights.

5. Spice it Up

If your meals end up tasting bland, you're going to want to spend more on pre-cooked meals or takeout. Investing in spices means you can make your meals much tastier, which means you'll be more likely to want to cook yourself. Even when cooking something basic, some basic herbs and spices can give it a much-needed kick, making it enjoyable. Garlic, chilli, basil, thyme, rosemary and cinnamon are all great things to have available in your cupboard.

6. Don't Worry About Quality

It's easy to think that spending more on your ingredients when you cook will make the meal that much better. While this isn't incorrect, you don't need all your ingredients to be of the highest quality, and by using the previous tip, you can make basic ingredients taste great. By doing this, you'll be saving yourself a lot of money.

Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!

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.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!