Good morning everyone!
This blog is adding to our series to help you on your way to find your accommodation after your first year. Today we focus on finding the right place for the right price.
Prices
- Firstly, take a look at what you can afford and consider what your budget is.
Rent is the first thing you may think of but remember that you will also have to factor in other things such as living costs. These could include furnishings, utility bills and food.
- How much is the rent?
It may seem like an obvious question, but for many of you it will be the first time that you’re asked to pay a monthly rent rather than termly instalments. It is essential to think about this when looking for a place. Aside from making sure that you can all afford it, remember that having signed a private contract, it can be very difficult to make alternative arrangements if you’re having financial issues.
- Are utility bills included?
If the rent does not include utility bills, you’ll need to factor it into your budget. Also discuss with your potential flatmates how you are going to divide up the bills and who is going to take responsibility for ensuring payments are made on time. You could ask how much the current tenants are spending on bills to help with your budgeting. It might also be worth seeking estimates from utility companies for your average water/gas/internet bill in advance.
- Are you being asked to pay a deposit or rent in advance?
There is legislation covering short hold tenancies and the fees and deposits you are allowed to be asked for by landlords and agencies. If you are unsure whether the fees you are being asked to pay are legally permitted, check out the UK Government’s How to Rent guide and also check out these videos for guidance on contracts Housing videos | The University of Exeter Community Law Clinic. Please do read the housing contract fully before signing it. We can’t pretend that it will be the most interesting read of the week, but you never know what may be hidden in the small print.
Places to live
Exeter is such a lovely city, with plenty of housing areas to choose from. Areas closer to the Streatham campus tend to be in higher demand and go quickly; you are also likely to be paying more to live in this location. As Exeter is such a small city, you may want to consider looking a bit further away from the campus to get more for your money. We have narrowed the areas of the city down to those which are close to our university campuses to help you with your search.
Close to the Streatham Campus
- Pennsylvania
- Stoke Hill
- St Davids
- St Thomas
- Mount Pleasant
Close to both the Streatham and St Lukes Campus
- Central Exeter
- St James
- Mount Pleasant
Close to the St Lukes Campus
- Heavitree
- Newtown
- St Leonards
Please see our accommodation distance map for more details.
Thank you for taking the time to read today’s blog. We hope that it has been useful.
Have a lovely week!
Accommodation Shannon