As Lent term is the term Freshers are usually beginning to think about next year’s accommodation, I thought I’d write a quick blog with some information, tips and advice on moving out of halls and into a student house. In the first term, those who have just arrived at Lancaster University, fresh out of sixth form, usually only know a couple of people. By term two, however, you have to make a decision about who to live with in the following year. This is not a decision to rush into! It is best to take your time reviewing all of the housing possibilities and carefully deciding who you want your next year’s housemates to be.
There are many different accommodation types for second years and many students choose to move out of their first year University halls on campus and into a rented student house. LUSU Living, is the estate agent firm which is partnered with Lancaster University and has branches both on campus and in the Lancaster town centre. If you are worried about being ripped off by private landlords or unscrupulous estate agents, then LUSU Living is a good first port of call to check out what sort of rents you should be being charged and what kind of properties are out there.
It is often best to rent with an estate agent that has an `all bills included` contract so that you do not have to worry about racking up costly gas and electricity bills. Particularly in the winter time, it is a relief to know that you can stick the heating on whenever you want, instead of huddling under a blanket with about a billion jumpers on because you are worried about your gas bill at the end of the month!
Another top tip, is to ensure that you thoroughly read your rent contract before you sign it. You may have viewed a property that you instantly fell in love with- double bed in a nicely decorated bedroom, large television in the lounge, spacious kitchen and charming garden, but always make sure you give the papers a read before you sign. On the whole, most landlords offer reasonable terms to their tenants, but it is always good to be wary just in case. Make sure you check for clauses in the contract which stipulate the amount of notice that you have to give before you are allowed to leave- if it is three months notice then you want to be clued up on this so that you can notify your landlord three months before the end of Summer term, otherwise you might be looped into staying the whole Summer!
Further to this, make sure that you find out if payments are monthly or termly. Termly payments are quite nice as they generally tie in with student finance payments. That’s not to say that there is anything wrong with paying your rent in monthly instalments- it just means that you have to be good at budgeting! You don’t want to have blown your student loan if you still have rent payments to make!