Have you had enough of university accommodation? Fancy something off campus and something that isn’t halls? This is where renting private accommodation comes in, as for many this is a new experience here are the do’s and don’ts in relation to the process.

The Do’s…

#Use professional services to find your accommodation:

Reduce your risk. There are lots of adverts looking for student tenants, and while there’s nothing to stop you considering these, you might be best using a professional service to find your accommodation. Have a look at Accommodation for Students (https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/default.asp?gclid=eaiaiqobchmi5uixlq311wivt7xtch33vwaaeaayaiaaegjqq_d_bwe) AFS helps students find their perfect accommodation for a range of budgets.

#Make sure you have your deposit:

Whether you are going it alone or sharing with others, make sure you have the deposit organised before you get serious about going for a property.  Deposits can be anywhere from four to eight weeks rent and will need to be paid on top of the first month’s rent in most cases.

The Don’ts…

#Don’t just sign your tenancy agreement:

Tenancy agreements are hugely important documents and therefore they need to be studied carefully.  If you aren’t up on legal-speak then get someone to read it through for you – there will be student advisors on campus, legal companies often offer free consultations and even someone in the industry will offer advice.

#Don’t leave bills out of your budget:

Renting a property privately doesn’t necessarily work like halls where everything is included in the one price, the rental figure you are quoted might not include your bills. While things like the gas and electric will be the biggest, there are also areas such as TV license, internet access costs and council tax. If you are sharing the bills make sure you work the price out per person, so you can account for your own budget.