House Hunting: best tips for viewing a property

Emma Seton·5 May 2021·5 min read
House Hunting: best tips for viewing a property

As many students already know, finding the perfect student house can be a challenge. You’ll think you’ve found an ideal property, only to move in and find a few surprises. Whether you’re a student property veteran or whether you’re looking for your first student house for the next academic year, there are a few things you might want to look out for when your searching for your new home. Luckily for you, you’ve come to the right place. At accommodation for students, we’ve put together some handy tips and tricks to help you master your property search.

So, what should you be looking out for?

Furnishings and appliances:

One of the things you might want to look out for is what’s included in the inventory. So, check does your property come with a television? An iron? A Kettle? If not, are you willing to buy these things? For students, it’s also important to check that your flat will come with a suitable desk and chair. When you’re viewing a fully furnished flat, it’s easy to forget that not all of these furnishings will be included in your contract. So, when viewing a property, check the inventory and know what you’re getting and what you’re not.

Security and safety:

As many students unfortunately know, student houses can often be a target for burglars. Security is something that you need to consider. Does your student home come with a burglar alarm? If you’re viewing a flat, is there a security guard? What is the protocol for if someone loses their keys? Will your landlord replace the locks, or will this be down to you? All these things are important to know in advance so you can make sure that you’ll feel safe within your property when you move in. It’s also important to check that there are working fire alarms, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.

Water supply:

If you’re viewing a property for multiple people, then it’s likely that the shower will be used multiple times in a day. It’s therefore important that you have a good water supply. A good way to check this is to turn on the taps and ensure that the toilet still flushes. It’s also important to look out for leaks. Leaks can easily rack up your water bill. So, if you spot one during your viewing, speak to your landlord about having this fixed before you move into the property.

Phone signal:

This is something students usually forget about, but it’s important to check that you have phone signal in your new property. If you’re viewing a property in a rural location, then you might not have a connection there. Even if you’re willing to rent the property irrespective of this, it’s good to have all the facts. If you don’t have signal, then you can consider switching providers or just relying on Wi-Fi.

Damp:

Unfortunately, damp commonly occurs in a lot of rental properties and it can often exacerbate existing health issues. Checking for damp when viewing your student property is vital. You can check for damp by looking at the walls, ceilings and especially checking around the windows. Look out for wallpaper that’s peeling off or for any general dark patches on the walls. If you do spot any damp, then speak to your landlord and hopefully they’ll be able to clean it before you move in.

Insulation:

Before you sign a tenancy agreement, it’s important to check that the property is fully insulated. Make sure that all the windows are double glazed, that doors are fitted properly and that there are no holes in the wall (or in the roof) that would cause wind to come through. There should also be at least one radiator or heater in each room. Making sure that your property is fully insulated will stop you from racking up a massive heating bill.

Although it’s hard to really get a feel for a property from a viewing (either in person or virtual) looking out for these things can really help to differentiate which home will be right for you.

For our detailed tips and advice on finding the perfect property visit our guides section here https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/student-guides