Pre-House Hunting Tips
Moving into university and searching for a house with people you’ve only known for a couple of months can be daunting. To help ease the process, here are some key things to consider before you begin looking for houses.
1. Finding Housemates
The most important step before you start house hunting is choosing your housemates. Living with current flatmates can be an advantage since you already know what it's like to live together, but don’t limit yourself to just them. Feel free to ask coursemates or friends from societies.
It’s crucial to only live with people you truly want to live with. Don’t wait for others to invite you into their group—take the initiative and ask first.
Also, don’t feel obligated to include that one flatmate who hasn’t found housemates yet just out of guilt. It’s important to be selfish in this situation since you’ll be living with these people for an entire year. Take your time and find the right fit for you. However, be open and honest about your plans—if someone asks, let them know you’re already set with a group.
Ensure that you and your future housemates are on the same page about key aspects like housework responsibilities, social habits, and lifestyle preferences. Aligning on these things beforehand can prevent tension later. For example, if one person prefers an early night but the rest want to party, it’s important to discuss this in advance.
Finally, certain numbers of bedrooms, such as 4-bedroom houses, may be more available than others (like 5-bedroom places). Sometimes, adding a couple more people can give you more options, but only do this if you genuinely want to live with those individuals.
It’s also important not to rush just to secure a better house. Take a couple of months to get to know the people around you. Don’t feel pressured to form a group quickly—focus on finding the right people.
2. What If I Don’t Find Housemates?
If you don’t find housemates or if your friends have already sorted their accommodation, don’t panic!
Things can change between now and next year—people might drop out or switch houses. You may meet new friends who haven’t found a house yet. If you do end up without housemates, there are plenty of Facebook groups for finding housemates, websites for finding spare rooms, or you can always return to halls and experience freshers’ week again. It can be a great opportunity to meet even more people!
3. Assess Everyone’s Needs
Before you start searching for houses, it’s essential to assess everyone’s needs. Make sure your group agrees on a budget and considers everyone’s requirements. For instance, does anyone need a driveway for a car? Does anyone want a garden? Can everyone tolerate sharing one bathroom? This will save time searching for houses that don’t meet everyone’s needs. If some of these points can’t be agreed upon, it may be necessary to split the group or find new housemates.
Be prepared to make compromises—no one is likely to get everything they want, and that’s a normal part of the process.
4. Get to Know the City
It’s worth familiarizing yourself with the city before you start house hunting. Take a walk around and ask older students about the best locations for student housing. Some areas might be closer to the university, the library, supermarkets, or nightlife. It’s important to get a feel for the city and decide which areas suit your lifestyle best.
The Key Takeaway: Don’t Panic!
The most important thing to remember is don’t panic! It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but making impulsive decisions in haste might lead to regret later on. Enjoy the process of searching for your house—it’s a fun experience that you might not get to enjoy again once university is over!
