University students: What’s the best time of year to rent a tenant room?

As a student, that first year in residential halls can seem like a blast – but wait until you move into your first rented house with your friends. Shopping around for your first pad can seem like an exciting but overwhelming experience, and depending on your university, student private rented houses can get snapped up in a matter of hours if you’re not on the ball!

At this point, it’s vital to be clued up on your rights and what to look for when searching for private digs, this will help to make sure landlords don’t end up taking advantage.

Going into a private rented property or a tenant room, you’ll need to pay a deposit, which is usually about one month’s rent upfront. You’ll also need to take into account that you might be asked to pay rent over the summer to secure the property, even if you’re not planning on staying in it.

When is the right time to begin your search?

Landlords tend to put their properties on the market when tenant enquiries are high to ensure they get snapped up as fast as possible. When students are thinking about moving into their second year housing, they can start looking up to almost a year in advance in some cities.

According to research from OpenRent, the best month to advertise a property is in August and with this in mind, we would suggest you begin your search a little bit before as some of the better properties may come onto the market earlier. Despite supply being high in the summer months, demand skyrockets in July and then hits a high in August. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that it’s a little more tolerable moving your belongings from the van to your new digs in the sun rather than in the rain!

As a student, what do I need to secure a property fast?

To find your dream first home with friends you may need to go via a letting agent who will rent the properties on the landlords behalf. When going through an agent, before you sign on the dotted line, don’t forget to check for any additional fees you may have been charged. These can be things like admin fees, credit check fees and deposit release fees. All will need factoring in to your overall moving in costs.

Read your contract carefully before signing and sit down together to ensure you are all happy. Check it includes how much your deposit and rent are, the date it’s due each month and if it covers things like council tax, utility bills, insurance and whether you are allowed to smoke or have pets.

Outgoings such as insurance are often covered by your landlord so it’s important to check whether they have organised this. Companies such as Homelet provide comprehensive Tenants Liability Insurance in case accidents do happen.

Once you’re all happy and any amendments have been made (make sure you check this has been done and have seen proof), you can sign on the dotted line and enjoy your first student house together.