Managing exam season and house hunting
One minute it’s the holidays and you’re tucking into Christmas dinner without a care in the world. The next minute, you’re back at university, with a million different deadlines alongside the pressure to try and find student accommodation for next year. If this sounds like you right now, don’t worry – we’ve all been there! Here are some tips to help you find the perfect accommodation while still giving yourself plenty of time to revise for those all-important exams.
Number 1: If you’re already in a flat you like, stay in it.
In other words, “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it". Although no accommodation is perfect, if you’re getting on well with your flatmates, like the location of your flat and feel like it suits your needs quite well then, it’s worth considering staying there again next year. Obviously, this means you won’t have to spend time and energy trying to find somewhere new. It also has the added benefit that you won’t have to worry about moving your stuff later in the year. This might allow you to spend some time in your university city during the summer holidays and enjoy it without having to worry about studying. If you’re wondering whether staying in your flat might be a good option for you, then feel free to check out our blog for more info.
However, if you aren’t happy in your flat, don’t feel you have to stay. Similarly, if you’re in first year, this probably won’t apply to you, so here are some other tips.
Number 2: If you are planning to move, start looking early!
Depending on which city you study in, the housing market and demand for student accommodation will vary. Those such as Durham, Manchester and Glasgow are renown for having a housing shortage, whilst in others, such as London, it may be easier to find a place. Either way, starting early will make the process less stressful and hopefully give you time to find a place you really like. This should also allow you to do a lot of your searching and book in a few flat viewings before university works starts to ramp up. Try not to worry if you don’t find your perfect flat right away. Lots come up in April/ May leave so you should still have another chance to find a place.
Here's why you shouldn’t panic about finding student accommodation.
Number 3: Know exactly who you want to live with.
Having a clear idea of the people you want to live with will save you a huge amount of time in the long run. It will enable you to narrow your search and only look at properties which have the amount of rooms you need. Whilst it can feel awkward to put yourself out there and ask people about their living arrangements for next year, they’re probably wondering the same about your plans! Similarly, if you know that you want to live by yourself, you can start looking anytime. The earlier the better!
Number 4: Define your search criteria.
Think about what your ideal flat would look like. Is it close to the university campus or a bit further out? Does it need to have parking or be close to transport links? Do you want to have an en-suite or a shared bathroom? How much can you afford to pay for rent each month? Narrowing down on these things should help you quickly eliminate properties which are not suitable and avoid wasting precious time. Once you have booked a viewing, here are some things we think it is quite important to consider.
Although it is unlikely that a flat will meet all your criteria, having a good idea of what you’re looking for and what you might be willing to compromise on should mean you find the right accommodation a lot quicker. If you don’t manage to find anything, there is always the possibility to widen your search criteria later.
Number 5: Use search engines such as Accommodation for Students.
Once you have completed all the other steps, you should have a good idea of the type of accommodation you are looking for. Websites such as Accommodation for Students can help you quickly find properties which meet your criteria and save you having to spend hours searching for them yourself. It enables you to enter your budget, the number of rooms you’re looking for and the type of property you wish to stay in. Once you’ve found a property you like, it’s very simple to make an enquiry.
Click here to start searching for your dream flat today!
Finding accommodation during exam season is no easy feat. By following this advice, you should be able to narrow your search down and avoid wasting time on properties which are not suitable. Hopefully you found these tips useful, and we wish you the best of luck for finding accommodation and nailing those upcoming exams!
