What should you look for in private rented accommodation?

When looking for a property there will be certain things that you are looking for. Some important points to consider are:

  • Location, location, location! - where is the property in relation to where your lectures are held? Is it on a Uni-Link bus route? Are there shops/bars/other amenities near by? Have a look at the Accommodation Statistics on the right hand side of every SASSH webpage for up to date average rent levels.
  • Cost - how much is your rent going to be for the entire year? Do you have the finances to cover this amount? You will be signing a legally binding contract to pay rent for the full period, so don't commit yourself if you don't think you can afford it. Are the bills included in the rent? If not, how much are they likely to be? Talk to existing students already in private rented accommodation. Ask how much their bills are. Landlords have to provide you with an Energy Performance Certificate which will give you information as to how energy efficient the property is - if it scores poorly on this certificate your heating bills are likely to be higher.
  • Safety - this is the most important factor of all, you need to be happy in your accommodation, but you also need to be safe. Properties advertised through the SASSH scheme have to adhere to strict codes of safety - have a look at the standards that we ask landlords to adhere to SASSH Standards. Even if you've not found a property through the SASSH lists, the standards are a good measure of what you should expect from a property.

In order to assist you in your search we have produced a Viewing Checklist - print this out and take it with you to viewings to make sure that the property has everything that you need!