Here is every you need to know before house hunting:

While it may still seem too early to worry about where you will live next year, most students start their house-hunting journey in November, hoping to secure good accommodation before spaces get taken up. 

House hunting can feel stressful and daunting, but it can be smooth sailing with some advice. As students once in the same position, here are some of our top tips to help you through the process!

Choosing your accommodation type 

There are many different accommodation options for students depending on their needs and budget. If you are a more private person who values your personal space, consider private accommodation options such as Studio or Ensuite Apartments. You can usually find more information on the website of your desired property, such as Unite Students, CRM students and Wood Street House.

On the other hand, if you are on a tighter budget or enjoy the idea of sharing a flat with a group of close friends, consider renting a house with a few friends. To do this, you will need to find a housing agency to help you contact the landlord.

What you should know about your flatmates

If you do decide to share a house, the next step you need to do is to find trustworthy flatmates to live with. How many people do you want to live with? And who would you want to live with? When considering who would be a good flatmate, take into account the following factors:

• Lifestyle differences: Are you a morning person while your bestie is a night owl? Do you find yourself studying frequently at home and disruptive if flatmates are partying? If your lifestyle differences will disrupt your daily routines, it would perhaps be wise to reconsider living together.

• Cleanliness habits: What levels of cleanliness do you expect to be maintained? Do these standards align with your flatmates? Even if there are differences, establishing a cleaning rota or expectations can be a good way to prevent future disagreements.

• Friendship Dynamics: Living with close friends can be great, but it’s important to consider whether spending so much time together might cause strain. On the other hand, living with strangers who you have nothing in common with could also not be ideal. Make sure everyone is comfortable having personal space and time apart when needed. 

• Living habits: Do your flatmates smoke? Do they consume alcohol quite frequently? Any pets they are bringing? Consider if these can be a dealbreaker for you

• Committment to tenancy: Make sure that your flatmates are committed to the full duration of the tenancy. Otherwise it could be up to you to sort out the extra payments if a replacement cannot be found.
• Other considerations: Allergies and dietary requirements, personalities, responsibility, financial stability, bringing guests

Finding a Housing Agent 

Now that you have decided on your flatmates and group size, it is time to do some research on housing agencies. The amount of options is plenty, but make sure to go through the terms that each housing agency offers. For example, how is rent collected (via debit/cheques, monthly or one-off, via the agency or directly to landlord?), is a deposit required, what types of houses do they offer and other key matters. If you still cannot decide, ask for advice and anecdotes from previous students. Going the extra mile to do research ensures that you understand what you are getting into, and reduces the chance of any unpleasant surprises ahead.

Example Housing Agencies:

Cardiff Student Letting

CPS Homes Student Letting Agency

John Winter Student Houses

Kingstons

The Living Room Letting Agency

Budgeting 

Congratulations! You are officially starting your house-hunting process. Now that you have your housing agency the first thing you need to do is to let them know what you are looking for. This will depend on your budget and other needs. During this process, make sure there is close communication between you, your flatmates and the housing agency. Make a group chat and make sure to do house viewings together.

Area of property

There are several areas populated with student houses in Cardiff. Most notably Cathays, Roath and Adamsdown. Besides considering the prices, also think of the proximity of the letting to other places such as your school and supermarkets.

Before signing the contract

You have found your perfect house with a group of committed flatmates. But wait! Just before signing the contract, take your time to review the contract and double check if everything is in place. It is always better to take your time rather than rushing into a decision.

Final tips

While it may seem frustrating to see people around you starting to find flats and make progress in their house hunt, it is also important that you take your time to slowly evaluate the pros and cons of every flat you view. Remember that this is the place you are going to stay in for the next year, so be patient and consdier all the tiny details before making your decision and putting down that deposit!