5 Things I Wish I had known about Private Renting

Private Renting at UON

Whether you’re a second or final year student, an international student, or a postgraduate student, there are many reasons why you may be considering privately renting your accommodation for the upcoming academic year.

While it may seem like a great option for many who cannot or choose not to live at home while attending university, I’ve identified some things from my experience that I would have really helped me had I known about them prior to signing up. So, here’s 5 things I wish I had known about private renting.

Get in Early

To put it straight, you have a much better chance of securing the kind of place you’d like, if you get in early. The question then is – how early? I’d personally suggest beginning as early as the end of the first semester, as some places do get fully booked up come second semester. So if you want a wide range of places to choose from, start shopping early.

Tour before Signature

It’s extremely important to tour your potential private accommodation in person preferably, before you sign any kind of contract. It can be difficult to get out of a contract once you sign it, so you’d want to be sure you are ready to commit to it for the length of the contract – usually the full academic year. Request a tour, ask lots of questions, so you ensure you’re fully covered.

Accessibility over Luxury

One thing I’ve definitely learned is that it’s much better to choose accommodation within reach of the university – whatever that looks like for you, than to choose your dream apartment a couple of towns away. There’s a big difference between a 25 minute drive, and a 25 minute walk. Your future self will thank you when you can avail of the extra few minutes in bed in the morning, and avoid a lengthy walk home after class in the darkness of winter.

Friends, now Family

You might rather live in a house with your friends than have strangers as housemates – maybe. With private renting, you have the option of renting a whole property for you and your friends to share and live together! This can be a great option for those who would just feel more comfortable sharing facilities with familiar people. You could build your home away from home with your uni family!

Full-Time status

This one applies much more to postgraduate students, as undergraduate courses are typically all full-time. The majority of privately rented student houses require tenants to prove their full-time student status. This is due to the council tax exemption on houses for full time students. If your course is part-time, and you sign a contract for a full-time student house, you will be liable to paying the council tax for the whole house – which can be expensive. Best to dodge that bullet.

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Destine Mbala

Destine is a 21 year old Irish student who is studying for her Master’s degree in Counselling Children & Young People at the University of Northampton.