Refuse to take things lightly and err on the side of caution when renting student accommodation in Birmingham
side of caution when renting student accommodation in Birmingham
Choosing the right student accommodation can be a daunting task. There are many official boxes to tick and practicalities to consider but, in reality, the place you live will be where the majority of your life takes place during your university years. It’s therefore important to make sure that the property you are renting is safe, well-maintained and meets your needs. It also pays to be a bit cynical and look out for any warning signs that the landlord or agent may not be taking things seriously.
shared student accommodation birmingham are likely to have a lot of expensive possessions that they will need to safeguard and keep safe. It is a good idea to ask about contents insurance and to get this sorted early on. This will cover against theft of items from the property but will also protect any damage to furniture or fittings that may be caused by other tenants.
Another thing to look out for is the quality of locks. A property with high-quality, strong and secure door locks is likely to be more expensive but worth the investment in terms of peace of mind and a lower risk of burglary. If a property has been recently renovated it is a good idea to ask about the security features that have been included, such as alarms and CCTV.
Refuse to take things lightly and err on the side of caution when renting student accommodation in Birmingham
student apartments in birmingham often involves shared living arrangements so you’ll want to find out who is responsible for dealing with any issues that might arise. You can usually check this by reading the tenancy agreement carefully and asking any questions that you might have, but it’s also worth considering whether you would be happy to move in with people you don’t know that well.
One of the most important factors to consider is how close the property is to your university. Depending on the course you’re doing, it can be essential to have easy access to the library and to be surrounded by other students to help with study. You’ll also need to think about transport costs and what facilities are nearby.
It’s always worth checking out the local area by visiting it and looking around. This will give you a sense of the type of property that you’re looking at and, for example, the number and size of bedrooms. It’s also a good idea to ask the locals about how safe they feel and whether any crime issues have been reported.
Finally, remember that you will need to take out a legally binding tenancy agreement and that the rent is likely to include electricity, gas and water. You will also need to be clear about what is and isn’t permitted, such as bringing pets or painting the walls. You should be given a copy of this before you sign and it’s a good idea to have someone who has experience of renting property check it for you too, just to be sure that it is fair. A good university will have an advice service to help you with this, too.