If you’ve been in halls during your first year at university, chances are it was a great introduction to uni life, but you might be now looking to spread your wings and move further afield.
Perhaps you want that little bit more independence, to live only with your mates or no longer have to share a kitchen with a crowd of others. If this is the case and you’ve decided to go into private renting, then there are a few things that you should bear in mind before you do.
Firstly and possibly most importantly, it’s always a good idea to get a look at what student accommodation is available as soon as you can because, not surprisingly, the best properties are often the first to go. Once you’ve made the decision that you want to leave halls and find your own student accommodation, there are a few other things to bear in mind too.
Here is the Westmanor Student Living guide to leaving halls to give you a few ideas…
Things to remember
- Be respectful of your neighbours. It could be that you’re living in an area that has a majority of student housing, however, it’s always a good idea to check who your neighbours are. It could be that they’re young families, elderly people or professionals, all of whom might not appreciate all night parties throughout the week, so do your research before you move.
- Are there any hidden extras? The rent may be affordable, but unlike halls, it might not be all inclusive and you’ll be expected to pay utility bills etc yourself, so, ask the questions you need to before you sign the contract.
- Choose the place wisely. Are there good transport links to university? What are the neighbours like? How will the location affect your normal routine? For example, if some of your lectures are late at night, is this the sort of place that you want to be walking the streets of on your way home?
- Think long and carefully about who you’re going to live with. They may be a great person to go out for a beer with, but could you handle their nasty habits on a regular basis? It’s always a good idea to choose people who have similar routines, interests and tolerance levels.
- Shop around… while it’s good to snap a great place up as soon as you can, make sure it’s absolutely right for you by checking out other places too.
- Set boundaries with your housemates before you sign – this way you will (hopefully) avoid uncomfortable situations arising once you’ve moved in.
- Remember the basics. Now you’re out of halls, you might no longer have someone to clean and tidy or empty your bins. Independence means you’ll have one or two extra jobs on your hands, so make sure you’ve got them well under control!
Enjoy the summer break
It’s always good to go into the holidays knowing that you’ve got somewhere great to go back to once the next year begins. It means you can have a well deserved chance to put your feet up, catch up with friends and do whatever else you’ve been missing while you enjoy the summer break.
If you’ve left finding some great student accommodation to the last minute though, there’s no need to worry, as at Westmanor Student Living we have a huge range of places on our books. Come and take a look through our website at some of the great Leicester student accommodation that’s available and see what takes your fancy.
Enquire Online Today about Leicester Student Accommodation
We’re always on hand to answer any questions you might have about our student accommodation in Leicester and are always more than happy to arrange viewings too. Get in touch with us online today or give us a call to find out more.