Choosing student accommodation is a big decision. After all, you’ll be living there for the next year or two, so you want somewhere where you’ll feel safe, comfortable and of course, happy. But with so many options available, it can be pretty overwhelming when whittling it down to a select few.
Here’s a round-up of the top 5 things you need to consider when choosing your student accommodation:
- Location, Location, Location
- Type of Room
- Budget
- Facilities
- Environment
1. Location, Location, Location
Location is one of the most important things to consider when looking for student accommodation, so make sure you do your research and consider how far you’ll be from everything else. Do you want to be walking distance from your university? How close would you be to the town centre and amenities such as cafes, retail shops and restaurants? How close to public transport links is the accommodation - for example, train stations or bus stops?
As a student, it’s only natural to want to live in a student-dominated area to give you more opportunities to socialise. For this reason, make sure that the accommodation you choose is known for its ‘student community’. It’s also important that the location you choose is safe, especially as you’ll be living away from home, probably in a completely new city. You want as much peace of mind as possible (especially for your parents).
2. Type of Room
You should also consider the type of bedroom you want. There are generally 3 different types of rooms when it comes to student accommodation:
Shared Room
In a shared room, you’d share a bedroom with another person and all other facilities are also shared. This is usually the most affordable option, but will also offer less privacy. In the UK, this is a less common option than the US for example.
Private Room
A private room is pretty self explanatory - you have a bedroom to yourself, and in some cases, an en-suite included. Other facilities such as a lounge and kitchen will be shared. Private rooms are seen as a sort of ‘medium choice’ for both privacy and price and the majority of UK students choose private rooms.
Studio Apartment
A studio apartment is basically all your own space. You don’t have to share anything, which is the best choice if you’re looking for complete privacy. This option is however considerably more expensive than those above, which brings us nicely onto our third point…
3. Budget
Like all aspects of life, determining your budget is one of the first things you need to establish. How much can you afford to spend, and how much are you willing to pay per month on rent? As mentioned above, choosing shared accommodation is a much more affordable option, however, if you can afford to pay more and personal privacy is a main priority, a studio apartment might be your best option.
It's also worth keeping in mind that you might be required to pay a deposit of one month's rent, for example, before you move in. So you’ll want to factor this into your budget and ensure you can afford this prior to moving in.
4. What Facilities Does the Accommodation Have To Offer?
Another important factor to consider are the facilities. Here are some of the most important facilities you need to do your research on:
- Catered or Self Catered - Catered student accommodation means that your breakfast and dinners are provided, whereas self-catered accommodation means you have to provide food yourself. Having food made for you of course has its benefits, like not having to go to the supermarket as often or do the washing up, but catered gives you more flexibility and allows you to cook the foods you like.
- Bathrooms - Are bathrooms shared or will you have an en-suite? How important is bathroom privacy to you? Everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to this, so make sure you make the right decision for you.
- Kitchen Facilities - Are kitchen accessories like kettles or toasters included or do you need to provide them yourself? Make sure you find out what facilities come with your accommodation before arriving to ensure you pack only what is needed.
5. What is the Accommodation Actually Like?
Have you seen the room or the building in person? If you can, make sure to go and view it on one of their open days. However, if you won't be able to do so, it’s especially important that you review all images or videos of the room and the building in detail.
Many accommodation providers now offer virtual tours, which can help you get a strong idea of the accommodation, and how it all looks beyond just photos online or in brochures.
Written by Kate, on behalf of Host - a private student accommodation company based in the UK & Ireland.
