There are lots of different types of accommodations available in the private sector. From private halls of residence, landlord rented properties to lodging. Wherever you choose to live, make sure to check with the Students' Union Letting Agency to ensure you are moving somewhere with a reputable landlord or management.

Things to consider:

• Price: This obviously depends on the size, condition and location of the property. Prices of accommodation has risen in recent years but as a rough guide; a shared private rented house usually starts at around £450 per month excluding any bills.
• Location: Cathays and Roath are very popular areas for students to live in Cardiff. Consider your course and which buildings you are frequently in - are they within walking distance or are there good transport links to get to them? Some schools a little further out - e.g. Journalism, so you may want to look for accommodation closer to town in the Riverside or Adamsdown areas.
• Viewings: Have you been able to view the property? If so, is it in a good state of repair? What are the neighbours like? What is parking like? Make sure to ask all the questions that would be important for you to know about living there.

Once you have found a property, you will sign a Standard Occupation Contract. You will also then need to pay a security deposit and be asked to provide a UK guarantor. Student Advice at the SU offers a contract checking service so be sure to email them a copy before signing: advice@cardiff.ac.uk.

For more in depth advice and some FAQs, make sure to visit the Students Union page on finding accommodation. 

There are a few things you should do before unpacking when moving into your new property.

1. Arrange a time with the Letting Agent/Landlord to collect your keys. Make sure there are enough copies for each tenant.
2. If you have been provided with an inventory, check this very thoroughly. Inspect all the items in the property and make a note of any damage, faults, damp or mould. If some things are not satisfactory, report this to the Landlord immediately  - it is helpful to take photos and videos too - to ensure you are not held liable for any repair costs.
3. As soon as you move in, take a meter reading. To do this, find your meter (normally located outside in a metal box) and take a picture of the numbers shown. You should then send this to the energy supplier to ensure you only pay for energy used from the date you moved in. 
4. Check bin collection dates - there is a robust recycling scheme in Cardiff and so it is important you understand which items go in which bins. You can be fined if this is not followed correctly.
5. Most students are exempt from Council Tax but you must still notify Cardiff Council that you have moved in. You can download a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from your SIMS account.

For more advice, head to the Students' Union page.

Once you are all settled in to your new property, it's time to get stuck in! In the private sector, you are generally responsible for bills, bins, cleaning etc. so here are some tips for managing these.

Bills

• If you are paying bills in a shared house, it is usually possible to have more than one name on utility bills. Whoever is named will be deemed liable to pay the bills. It is good idea to have a discussion with your housemates that means different tenants take on different utilities and add multiple names where possible.  Some students like to use apps such as Splitwise, Fused, Split the Bills etc. to manage these shared payments. Bills generally include: electric, water, wifi, TV license (if you watch live TV), contents insurance.

Property Condition and Repairs

• Your landlord has a legal obligation to ensure the property is fit for human habitation. This includes: freedom from damp, appropriate drainage, sanitary conveniences and facilities for the prep and cooking of food. The property should also be free from hazards like damp, mould, fire risks or faulty boilers. If an issue arises, inform your landlord immediately. They then have to repair it within a reasonable time frame.

Living in the local community

• It is important to care for the area you live in and respect your neighbours. Members of the public can make reports to your landlord or even the police if they are impacted by things happening in/at your property.
• Make sure to put the rubbish out on time and in the correct way to ensure it can be taken away efficiently.
• Keep your gardens tidy and free from litter.

Housemates

• Building and maintaining relationships with your housemates is an important factor in ensuring you can live harmoniously. It can be common for disputes to arise between housemates due to things like: cleaning, noise, guests etc. Make sure you are all on the same page by having house meeting to discuss expectations and agree to some shared rules. Read our article for having conversations with housemates for further advice.

For further advice on living in the private sector, head to the Students' Union page.

Nobody likes the moving process but there are some things you can do that will make this as smooth as possible and ensure you can get all or most of your deposit back.

1.  Plan your move out date with your housemates. If people are moving out on different days, you need to organize a cleaning schedule so this is not all left the last person present.
2. Check any requirements of the landlord or letting agent and look back on your inventory to ensure you leave the property in the same condition.
3. Make sure you have each housemates forwarding address, in case there are any problems.
4. Clean the property thoroughly. This includes things like: skirting boards, windows, bathroom tiles, oven and defrosting and cleaning fridge freezers.
5. The last person in the property should take detailed photos of all cleaning done and the condition of the property and send to everyone immediately so you all have a record of the time and date of these.
6. Make sure all waste has been disposed of properly - this includes in the garden!
7. Read the meters before you leave and inform the companies you use that you have now moved out. It's good to take photos of the meter reading as proof. Some companies may ask for notice to cancel so you should look into this a month or so before leaving.
8. Each tenant needs to return their key to the landlord or letting agent and ask for a receipt of this.
9. Send proof of all final bills being paid to the landlord or letting agent.
10. Update your individual postal address - this includes: GP, bank, mobile provider, DVLA, employer and more.
11. Request a return of your deposit.
12. If you are refused your deposit and you feel this is unfair, speak to your landlord or letting agent. If you can't come to an agreement, you can raise a formal dispute with the tenancy deposit protections scheme within 3 months of the tenancy ending.

For further advice, head to the Students' Union page.