When making preparations for university life, new students are often faced with many important decisions to make. So, once you have decided on a place to study, the next big question on your list is, "Where will I live?"
There are many factors to consider when deciding which student housing is right for you. Most students believe that finding the right housing to live in is a challenging task. To make your search for accommodation and help you decide, here we have given the top six tips that will help you to choose the perfect place to live.
Stay connected
The top requirement that students should look for while deciding upon accommodation is a strong and reliable internet connection. This is especially important if you want to study from the comfort of your own room. Therefore, it is very important that you can rely on your housing to provide a reliable internet connection. You should always opt for student accommodation that employs a dedicated managed internet service, Student Com, providing an award-winning online experience with 24/7 support specifically for students.
Location
Another key factor that needs to be taken into consideration is location. 86% of all students indicated that location is very important to them when it comes to where they want to live. It is important to think about the convenience of your housing: Can you walk to everything? Are university facilities as well as local stores and nightlife nearby? Although properties that are not centrally located often seem cheaper, they can be more expensive when transportation costs are taken into account.
Safe and healthy
The third tip that you need to follow when choosing your housing is to consider the security of your home - a crucial factor often forgotten in the excitement of starting university. Students should look into the safety of their student residence as an important factor to their study experience. It may be worth doing some research on the accommodation, such as the security systems and whether there are staff on hand to make you feel safe.
A friendly smile
The nest thing that you should consider is that the housing community should have staff who are friendly and approachable. The team at your accommodation plays an important role in making you feel comfortable and satisfied during your stay there. Take the time to have a quick conversation with the staff when you visit a flat or ask an existing tenant for their opinion of the staff. The friendly staff can go a long way toward helping you settle into your new housing quickly. Plus, it\'s the staff who organise events and icebreakers - so be sure to ask about the social calendar, too!
Work, rest and play
The availability of communal facilities is a very important factor when choosing a housing. Having a common area, such as a common room, gym, or cinema room, can be a great way to socialise and make new friends. If you have the opportunity, take the time to look at all the common areas of your accommodation, such as the laundry room, and make sure they are well maintained.
Budget
It is one of the most important factors that you need to take into consideration while choosing an accommodation to live in. There are different housing options such as shared rooms, furnished student apartments, unfurnished rooms, studios, etc. If you want a furnished apartment then you should be prepared to pay a higher rent. Every accommodation comes with its own expenses and you should choose smartly as per your budget. It is always better to choose the accommodation that comes with an inclusive bill.