As parents its a relief when your children finish all their exams and the summer vacation begins. But with the holiday coming to an end there is always for those with older children the arrival of results day. We wait with baited breath as the GCSE results, A level results are announced and the university offers are secured. We have been there and done all this, so with total relief I can say and this year my daughter has graduated from university with wonderful results, securing a degree in Dentistry.
As parents our journey does not end there, my daughter has received an offer for a job where she will not be able to commute from home daily. Buying a property or renting is a choice everyone has to make at some point in their lives. With so many students graduating and starting out the property market is booming as they look for new housing. It is impossible for them to be able to buy so the next best option is to rent.You can check four things to look out for in student accommodation.
So our search for accommodation began throughout the summer. We researched the town where she will be based, registered with estate agents and booked viewings. We also did lots of research as to the safety of the area, what the going rent was in our chosen area for a flat so that we could negotiate the best deal with the estate agent. Finally we secured a flat to rent and the journey began for my daughter for her next phase of life having completed her studies.
Some of the things that you will need to do before you can move in:
1. Check if you have metered electricity or pay as you go where you either have to feed a meter with pound coins or buy top up credit on a special key that fits into the meter. If you have meter take reading and make a note of it to let the provider know.
2. Check about council tax, TV licence, water bills so you can budget this into your rent.
3. Check how to work the heating and hot water supply.
4. Check you have phone line and set up internet.
5. Make sure you you have the numbers of the maintenance persons and also landlords numbers in case of emergency. Check that the landlord has landlord insurance or some form of insurance cover so you are assured that the building and its contents are covered against damage by the landlord.
6. Check the inventory and make a note of any marks and scruffs or broken items and take photos for proof. Report to landlord immediately.
7. Check how to work oven, hob, washing machine and dishwasher if there is one in the kitchen. Make sure these are in good working order and if you find fault report it immediately.
8. Check where to dispose of rubbish and recycling.
9. Check with the landlord what you are allowed to put up in the flat like nails, fittings etc for pictures some landlords are very strict about this. Read the contract and do not do any thing you are not allowed otherwise you will lose your deposit.
10. Check about your personal house and contents insurance and what it will cover. Finally set up a budget spread sheet with all out goings and expenses so you know exactly how much money you will need to put aside each month.
Is there any other thing else that I have missed? Do share in the comments below.
In my next post I will share how we furnished the flat and our top 10 top packing tips for your move and basic kitchen essentials
**collaborative post
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Laura Dove
Great tips! I would say check out the neighbours, we once had the neighbours from hell in a rented flat but had paid a bond and were stuck there for a year!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
I did not think of this one, its hard as if you are moving into a new area as to how to find out about the neighbours before you move in, any tips on how you would do this???
Lauren
Making a budget is so important! It's easy to see the rent and think you can afford someplace, but factoring in your bills and other costs beforehand is vital to making sure you can actually afford to live there!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Yes definitely, there are so many hidden extras to factor in.
Unknown
I would check if the area is friendly and lots of shops near by
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Yes its important to check that where local amenities are. Not sure how to check area is friendly although you would not want a rough area.
Natalie
Congratulations on your daughter's dentistry degree. Great tips for ensuring you get the best rental deal!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Thank you.
MissPond
Great tips! I think you've covered everything 🙂 renting can seem quite daunting but when you break up the tasks it's a lot more straightforward!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Absolutely its a big step to independence.
Dada
Great advises! We have been moving a couple of times but its not the hard part!. The hard part is to find an apartement! So next time we searching a new one again, I will have your advises in mind! Eapecially the advise to ask the landlord before if we could make holes in the wall ect. Once when moving out we had to pay a lot of money for all the holes we made on the wall!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
I think registering with more than one the estate agents will broaden your search.
Joanna Victoria -x
Great tips i wish when I moved out of my parents house at 18 in knew more of this info. Luckily with that being nearly 9 years ago now ive learnt so much from renting.
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Well lets hope it helps others that read this post.
Sheri
This is really excellent advice as most people only factor in the rent plus maybe an estimated price for electric, not considering all the other stuff.
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
I know you could easily over look some bills and then find you have gone over your budget.
Haute and Comely
these are very hpfuk this. I'm surely passing this on to a few kids I know will benefit from these tips. thank you
Amrita
Excellent tips for all looking to rent a flat.My landlord is very kind .I would suggest check body language of landlord too!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Interesting but why???
Via Bella
I love these practical tips. Can't wait to see how it looks now that you have put forth how to plan for living in a flat on your own.
Simplyfood
Next post is about furnishing, watch this space as they say.
Catvills
Great pieces of advice. I will have to pass this on to my youngest son who is considering an overseas job. He will need this information. Thanks for sharing.
Simplyfood
I hope the list helps him.
LaaLaa
Brilliant tips, definitely a lot to look and remember while renting. Some get caught in traps and bad situations for not checking out things or asking questions. I wish your daughter well.
Simplyfood
Thank you Laa laa
han
Could really have used a list like this when we were looking for a place! The best thing we ever did was set up a budget account to help us with our finances!
han // hxanou.co.uk
Jenni
Definitely check what your neighbours will be like. Ours have been awful in the past and it really effects your life
Simplyfood
A lot of people have said that , need to be vary but its difficult if you don't know anyone living in the area how to find out what the neighbours are like. Estate agent is not going to say anything bad about the neighbours.
Give Me Some Spice
Congratulations on your daughter finishing her degree and getting a job. Getting it right when renting or buying a place is hard You have compiled a good list for when renting a place. When we were renting for my son, we realised that he had to pay extra for car parking space – something he hadn't budgeted for. We used a website called upmystreet (now called Zoopla) to find out a bit more about the area where he was renting. Wishing your daughter lots of happiness in her new place.
Simplyfood
Thank you Mina. Luckily parking is available free but good tip I had not factored that into the expense.
Ickle Pickle
Great tips – my eldest daughter has rented for the last two years whilst in Uni and has been caught out by not checking everything twice. Kaz x
Simplyfood
Yes we have tried to note all the hidden extras.Can you think of any others???
Unknown
Council tax was my biggest one, I completely forgot to counter it into my bills and then ended up needing to budget better! x
Rebecca Smith
Such a handy list, so easy to forget some of these!
Jenny
Your daughter is doing so well! It's a long time since I got my first flat, great tips!
Simplyfood
Thankyou Jenny.
Sarah
These are really great tips! It's definitely important to check out what your outgoing payments will be roughly beforehand!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Yes this is one of the most important factors.Getting into debt can be so easy otherwise.
Aditi
All of these tips are really helpful for anyone (like me) living or planning to live in rentals. Thanks for sharing these!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
I hope you find some of my points useful, do share any of your own I may have missed.
Unknown
For me the most important would be making sure we had internet up and running pretty quickly! I wouldn't mind eating takeaways for a short while xD
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
You have your priorities right!!! lol 🙂
Christopher Mitchell
All good advice here, and it's shocking how much of this stuff isn't really intuitive if you haven't done it before. In light of that, thanks for sharing!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Yes there is so much to think of.
Ana De-Jesus
I rent as well and I always check for property requirements i.e. gas/electric meter. Whether you have to pay council tax and if they can draft up a copy of a contract!
citrusspiceuk@gmail.com
Definitely a contract is a must.
Sarah Kranz
These are all great ideas! The first time I rented an apartment I had no idea to what to ask or do so this post would have been wonderful!
Madeeha Saeed
Great and helpful tips. My priority is always near by shops where I can walk easily. I hate to drive every where and then struggle with parking.
Unknown
Making a budget is very important, you also have to consider the cost of living in the area.
Louise
These are all fantastic tips. I don't think I have any to add 🙂
Louise x
Ruxandra
Great tips! I would say to always double check the contract!
Unknown
So amazing you helped her with her search for the first flat and such useful tips!
crafty teacher
Useful tips for a newbie renter. Especially numbers six, seven and nine…might not seem important when you move in but will be vital when you move out!
Elizabeth
Congratulations to your daughter on her degree! Such a clever woman 🙂 Good luck with the move too!
Hannah Latoya Bond
Some great tips here, especially if you have never rented before
Colette
This took me right back to renting a property as a student on young professional. Having an electricity metre was such a pain! We were never organised enough.
Ashleigh – www.beingashleigh.com
I haven't moved out from my family house yet, but these are great tips to know. Thanks!
Unknown
These are very useful tips.
Nichola – Globalmouse
I'm always surprised how much there is to remember when you're renting, good luck to your daughter!
Hayley
Congratulations to your daughter,iam sure she'll settle down very soon, but I can understand all the anxieties that come with living away from home and family.
Thanks for the useful tips,it will be useful for me aswell
Shobha
Congratulations on your daughter's graduation and completing her degree with flying colours. It is indeed a happy moment for the parents.
Nice post on renting an apartment.
Kara
Great tips. My biggest bit of advice is to take pictures when you move in if the condition of the flat – helps when you need to get the deposit back
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