Monday 23-01-2023 - 14:12

Whether you’re looking for your first student house or finding somewhere new for your third year, it’s important to move for the right reasons. 

Moving away from student halls can come with mixed emotions. On the one hand, you’re leaving the comfort and safety of organised accommodation – on the other, you get to live with people you choose and become fully independent. 

Even if you’ve already lived in a house share, the prospect of searching for another property, or finding different housemates, can feel daunting.  

Whatever your situation, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to student accommodation. Our new guide looks at your rights as a student tenant so you know exactly where you stand. 

In the meantime, walk through the following steps to be sure you’re making the right decision at the right time. 

Step one: Should you stay or should you go? 

Unsure whether it’s the right decision to move on to a new place? Start by asking these questions about your accommodation: 

• Do I feel safe in my current house/area? 
• Is the house warm and comfortable? 
• Does the landlord provide everything we need and respond quickly if there are any issues? 
• Is everything in working order? 
• Can I afford the rent and bills? 
• Is it close to campus, or easy to get there on public transport? 
• Am I happy with the local amenities, like shops, pubs and public transport? 

If you’re coming up with lots of negatives in your answers, it could indicate that you need a change of place. 

Step two: Are you living with the right housemates? 

Next, it’s time to think about who you live with. Ask yourself: 

• Have I had many disagreements with my housemates? 
• Do we manage to sort things out easily when we fall out? 
• Does everyone do their fair share of the housework? 
• Do we have similar lifestyles? 
• Do we make an effort to socialise together? 

If you can’t find many positives about your flatmates, it might be time to look for different people to share with. 

Step three: Where to look 

Bristol SU Lettings is a great place to start your search. It’s based on Bristol University campus and is owned and run by Bristol SU, so you can expect a friendly welcome and a professional service with no tenant fees. 

You can search for properties in great locations across Bristol to suit all budgets, from self-contained studios to house shares. 

There’s also lots of advice on finding private accommodation on the University of Bristol website. This includes a useful map that helps you explore renting in the different areas of Bristol and a list of local student property providers to contact. 

Step four: When to start looking 

Bristol SU Lettings releases properties in two phases:  

• The first set of properties goes live on 1 December 2022 
• The second is released on 25 January 2023 

You can register your interest on the Bristol SU Lettings website. Remember that properties pop up throughout the year, so it’s worth checking with a range of different property providers on a regular basis. 

Step five: Filling an empty room 

The other common scenario in your second or third year is filling an empty room when someone else decides to move out. 

This can be particularly tricky to get right when a few of you have already been sharing and you’re introducing someone new to the mix. In this situation, make sure it’s a joint decision.  

Everybody should meet potential flatmates together and everyone should agree to the person you choose. If one person has to be railroaded into agreeing, it’s a red flag for house-sharing dynamics. 

To help you find your ideal flatmate, ask people the following questions when they come to look around: 

• What appeals to you about this place? 
• Where did you live before and why are you moving? 
• What’s your total budget for rent and bills? 
• Can you provide references? 
• When do you want to move in? 

Step six: Understand Your Rights