Choosing your first house as a student is a baffling task. How do estate agents even work? Will they rip you off? (Answer: probably).
What makes a good location? Do you need a lounge? Garden? Hot tub?
Knowing what to prioritise - especially given that inevitably, you'll be living with other people, with different preferences - can be the hardest part.
This handy definitive guide will help you wade your way through the swamp of out of date Rightmove listings and ceaselessly euphemistic letting agents. You can thank us later.
Choosing the Ideal Student House: a Definitive Guide
Don't Avoid Areas your Mum Thinks Are Rough(01 of05)
So, you might have grown up in a small village in Buckinghamshire. You might have previously been led to believe that places with Aldis, kebab shops and nail salons are no-go zones.
Unfortunately, what makes your mum hold onto her handbag really tightly when you walk down the high street makes the rent bloody cheap.
And let's be serious - you're in Britain, not a Rio favela - it can't be that rough. These areas can be great value, with plentiful public transport provision as well as cheap bars and shops. Plus, you're free to act like a drunken degenerate if that's your thing; there are plenty of actual degenerates to distract the locals from your antics. (credit:Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Unfortunately, what makes your mum hold onto her handbag really tightly when you walk down the high street makes the rent bloody cheap.
And let's be serious - you're in Britain, not a Rio favela - it can't be that rough. These areas can be great value, with plentiful public transport provision as well as cheap bars and shops. Plus, you're free to act like a drunken degenerate if that's your thing; there are plenty of actual degenerates to distract the locals from your antics. (credit:Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Transport Links are Key(02 of05)
Sounds obvious, but this can't be overstated. It's especially crucial in London.Don't let an estate agent trick you into living somewhere that doesn't have a tube station.'I'll just get buses and trains', you protest. No. The more lines you have access to, the easier your life will be. And if you can get somewhere in Zone 2, you're laughing.
If you're studying outside the capital, just remember that the likelihood of you attending lectures is inversely proportionate to the time your commute takes. A quick, convenient journey = better attendance. Which = better value for money. An extra tenner a week in rent is better than snoozing away half your fees because you can't face the trek. (credit:Sam Edwards via Getty Images)
If you're studying outside the capital, just remember that the likelihood of you attending lectures is inversely proportionate to the time your commute takes. A quick, convenient journey = better attendance. Which = better value for money. An extra tenner a week in rent is better than snoozing away half your fees because you can't face the trek. (credit:Sam Edwards via Getty Images)
Storage is Also Key(03 of05)
You're going to need surprising amounts of miscellaneous stuff that will be jostling for drawer/cupboard space. If you're me this includes an iron, a foam roller, a toolkit, a bike and a blender - none of which are in drawers/cupboards. Big rooms are nice, but not if none of your stuff has a home. A hall/under stairs cupboard where communal stuff like hoovers, ironing boards and nasty cushions kindly provided by the landlord can go is advised. (credit:Donald Iain Smith via Getty Images)
Rent Somewhere with Bills Included(04 of05)
Being able to have guilt free half hour showers is truly a beautiful gift.
Plus having someone else responsible for paying for utilities saves you endless December arguments over whether to turn the heating on or not.
It also allows you to avoid dealing with talking to energy companies, which you should endeavor to do for as long as possible. (credit:Marcin Moryc via Getty Images)
Plus having someone else responsible for paying for utilities saves you endless December arguments over whether to turn the heating on or not.
It also allows you to avoid dealing with talking to energy companies, which you should endeavor to do for as long as possible. (credit:Marcin Moryc via Getty Images)
Live as Close as is Humanly Possible to a Lidl(05 of05)
If you care vaguely about food, drink, money or miscellaneous household items, this is the most important consideration of all.
If you live within walking distance of a Lidl, you'll be able to afford things like smoked salmon, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes - utter luxuries that would screw your budget right up even in Tesco.
Lidl is quite simply the zenith of supermarket shopping. Bonsai trees, laminators, and actual trumpets have all been known to grace the hallowed aisles of my local, while the lengthy queues double as a profoundly effective procrastination tool.In fact, forget all the other tips, you might as well just hone your house search area using the store finder. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Archive)
If you live within walking distance of a Lidl, you'll be able to afford things like smoked salmon, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes - utter luxuries that would screw your budget right up even in Tesco.
Lidl is quite simply the zenith of supermarket shopping. Bonsai trees, laminators, and actual trumpets have all been known to grace the hallowed aisles of my local, while the lengthy queues double as a profoundly effective procrastination tool.In fact, forget all the other tips, you might as well just hone your house search area using the store finder. (credit:Rui Vieira/PA Archive)