Moving Into Student Accommodation: Essential Information l StudyFlats

You’ve been accepted into university, you’ve picked out your course, and you’re ready for a new chapter of your life to begin. But first thing’s first – moving into student accommodation.

Before you head off to university, you need somewhere to live. Most students opt for student accommodation when they head off to uni, and this often means living in student halls. But you can’t just rock up and unpack, there are a few things you need to prepare for beforehand.

Read on for 5 important things you need to know before moving into student accommodation.

1. Can You Afford It?

First things first – can you actually afford the accommodation you want? There are a lot of amazing private student halls that have every amenity and bougie extra you could possibly imagine, but some can cost a fortune.

Take a look at your student loan, grants and any savings you may have and factor in the cost of the rent. Make sure that once the rent payment is taken out, you have enough to live on for the rest of the semester.

Some halls are a lot more affordable than others, so make sure to do your research beforehand.

2. Read Your Contract

When you’ve found somewhere you like and you can afford, it’s time to sign the contract. But before you sign anything, make sure to read the contract in full.

Make sure you aren’t choosing somewhere with too long or short a tenancy. See what is covered in your rent – lots of private student halls include bills and WiFi so you won’t need to spend extra on these, but some don’t so make sure to check.

It’s also important to be aware of any and all rules for your student halls to make sure you don’t land yourself in any trouble during your stay.

3. Buying Extras

Before you move in, you should try and find out what the accommodation already has. Does your room have a quilt, or will you need to buy one? Does it come with pots and pans? Plates and bowls? A toaster or kettle?

When you know what it does and doesn’t have, you can make a packing list of the things you can bring with you. This will save you time in the long run and make living there a lot more convenient from day one.

It might be the most perfect student accommodation you’ve ever seen, but it’s important to consider the location before you make the move. If it’s miles and miles from the university or the city centre, you may have a problem.

Make sure that it has good public transport links and that you can be within walking distance to uni if needs be. Also, consider local amenities – is there a shop nearby? Cafes? Bars? If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you’ll get bored fast.

If you get the chance to, try to speak to former tenants of the student accommodation and get their feedback on what it is like to live there. They can give you insider tips that will help make living there much easier.

5. Connect With Your Flatmates

When you’ve got everything signed and paid your deposit, all that’s left is to move in. But you might have a whole summer before your move-in date arrives, so what do you do in the meantime?

Try to use social media to connect with your future flatmates. Lots of student accommodation providers have Facebook pages for tenants to connect with their flatmates and get to know them before they arrive.

It’s a good chance to make friends online and get familiar with each other to help avoid the initial awkwardness on moving day.

Now You're Ready to Start Moving Into Student Accommodation

These 5 tips are the essential things you need to bear in mind before moving into student accommodation. When you do these things, you will help ensure that your experience in student halls is the best one possible.

Looking for student accommodation? Get in touch and we can help you find the perfect place to call home.

You’ve been accepted into university, you’ve picked out your course, and you’re ready for a new chapter of your life to begin. But first thing’s first – moving into student accommodation.

1. Can You Afford It?

2. Read Your Contract

3. Buying Extras

5. Connect With Your Flatmates

Now You're Ready to Start Moving Into Student Accommodation

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