What to Look for in Student Accommodation

Your college and university experience can be massively influenced by where you live and who with. Given that there are so many different options available, especially in major student cities, the struggle of settling on a place to call home for the next year at least can be a daunting undertaking.

It’s all too common for students to not bother giving much thought to where they’re going to be living, and often students will book whatever’s left at the very last minute. Whilst this approach can work, it’s very risky and you may end up somewhere far from perfect. Whilst there are quality student accommodation providers out there, there are just as many bad apples.

To make your life easier, here are some of the things you should look for in student accommodation.

#1: An Ideal Location

Depending on your university, it could either be in the middle of the city or a few miles out in its own campus ecosystem. When choosing accommodation, especially as a first year, whilst you don’t want to be too far away from the city, it’s always preferable to be close to campus. This will help you get to know it organically over the next academic year, get involved in events organised by the Students’ Union and get a more authentic university experience when you are just starting out. You can always go ahead and live off-campus in your second year and beyond.

#2: The Small Print

It’s common for students to throw caution to the wind and ignore the small print when signing accommodation contracts. Remember, you are committing to something huge and you are tied into your accommodation contract for the entirety of its period, and this means you must pay all rent due.

You should always read everything on the contract as this can often include information such as additional fees, charges and conditions which were not advertised but must be paid and adhered to, and these can cause massive headaches further down the line.

#3: Its Facilities

Will you be able to cope with sharing a bathroom, or do you want an en-suite? Do you want a studio or a shared kitchen? Do you want there to be a communal lounge or study area where you are living? What about maintenance and cleaning – who takes care of that? Some places have cleaners whereas others leave it up to the tenants.

Be very careful in this regard and ensure any building you are looking at covers all bases. This way you won’t be getting any nasty surprises when it comes to moving day. The last thing you want is to be living somewhere you hate because it’s not suitable for you and doesn’t have the things you want or need.

If you are looking for luxury student accommodation, Collegiate boast some of the best facilities which include things such as a private cinema, gym and beautifully designed rooms which will make your time at university even more memorable.

Choosing student accommodation seems like an easy enough task, but it isn’t always the case. Keep in mind that you are going to be spending close to a year of your life living there full-time and therefore it is important that you know what you are getting into.