Every year the Students’ Union Advice Centre deals with a huge number of cases where students have rushed into signing for properties without properly thinking it all through or making any checks and then live to regret it because the property is unaffordable, they’ve fallen out with their housemates or the property is unsuitable. And what they don’t realise is that once you’ve signed a housing contract, it is virtually impossible to get out of it before the end of the tenancy!
It’s November and some of you are already thinking about housing for next year! Some of you have even sorted a house out already! Woahhhhh!
What we don’t want you to do is to rush into something you’ll regret later.
We want you to take your time, and make the right choices and not feel rushed or pressured into it. We at the Students’ Union are completely independent and are here solely to HELP YOU!
EVERY YEAR THERE ARE MORE HOUSES THAN STUDENTS!
The myth is that ‘all the good houses go in November and December’ – it’s so far from the truth!
In my first year I signed up for a house that I hadn’t even seen yet because I thought there was a huge panic. There is no need to make panic decisions! Take your time and make sure you find the right place!
Landlords don’t release their properties all at once – often they release worse properties earlier because they know people want to sort out a house quickly.
There are always plenty of spare houses and rooms within houses – don’t worry about not having somewhere to live!
REMEMBER THAT YOU’VE ONLY JUST MET THESE PEOPLE…THERE IS NO HURRY!
Every year groups of first year students sign up to contracts with their new best mates. This isn’t a bad thing, but don’t think that your hall is too close to fall out, or that you won’t break up with your partner…
I’m not saying you shouldn’t live with them, but take your time, don’t panic buy and get tied into something – see how things go, and sort something out later on.
GET YOUR CONTRACT CHECKED IN MINUTES FOR FREE!
At the SU, we are working for you! We have a team of advisors who you can make an appointment with and they will see you very quickly!
They can check your contract and make sure that you aren’t signing up to anything dodgy and that importantly you understand what you are signing!
You can also come and see us if you want any sort of Housing Advice, we have seen all the issues and we are passionate about helping you to make sure you get it right!
If you have any questions please get in touch with us on advice-centre@hud.ac.uk or telephone 01484 473446
HANNAH’S STORY:
“Just after I moved into my accommodation in my first year, everyone was saying that we should look for a house for next year. There was a buzz about finding houses for next year, letting agents started advertising. I had just made friends with 5 other girls all in their first year and new to Huddersfield and we decided to share a house together. I thought it was early but everyone was talking about it so we started looking. We found a property we liked, but not everyone went to view it but we made a decision and signed up for a property to start the following July and paid our deposits, luckily I had just received my student funding so I could afford the deposit. However, after Christmas one of the girls I was moving in with, fell out with us and so I decided that I didn’t want to move into the property. I went to the Advice Centre for advice – they told me what my rights were, but basically I could only get out of the contract if I could find a replacement tenant, but as yet I haven’t managed to do so and am not looking forward to moving in. I wish now that I didn’t sign up so early.”
Avoid making mistakes and follow this simple checklist
1. I’ve spoken to my friends about whether we’ll be compatible as housemates.
2. I’ve viewed a few properties and have chosen the best for me and my friends.
3. I’ve had a really good look at the property I’m interested in for signs of damp and other potential problems and didn’t see any.
4. I’ve visited the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union who have checked my contract and I understand what I’m signing for.
5. I’ve waited until after Christmas and into the new year as there is plenty of accommodation available of all types and sizes.
6. Probably most importantly – I’ve done my sums and I know I’ll be able to afford the accommodation I’ve chosen.
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