Letting guide

Student Letting Guide

Starting a new, exciting life at university can be a daunting prospect, with many things to consider and important necessities to be organised, including your accommodation.

Homelife Lettings have a wide range of residential lettings available, from studio flats to large residential houses, in various areas, including great flats in Ocean Village for professionals and houses in Shirley and Totton providing both student and family accommodation; giving you the options you need to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Homelife Lettings will help you find the best rental property for your budget and requirements, whether you are seeking a student room, flat or house and help you find the property in the right location as we know the city of Southampton well, having rented properties in the area for over 40 years.

Key Things to Remember When Renting Student Accommodation

The place you will call home for the next year is arguably the most vital to get right as you start your life as a university student. It provides you with a foundation stone, stability and most importantly security. Therefore, it is something that has to be researched thoroughly before pay your deposit and move in.

  • Homelife Lettings first tip in our student letting guide is gather advice from professionals who know the area well and know from experience what students need from a rental property.
  • Check the fees you have to pay – some students think they have to pay inventory fees, checking out and cleaning fees. Make sure you get a full list of costs before you decide to move in and find out who is responsible for such services as well asmaintenance issues that may arise, either through your negligence, wear and tear or an accident, not of your making.
  • Negotiate the rent down. The rent set by the landlord is simply an asking price and you can try and bid lower, just as you would do if you were buying a house, but remember for a property already reasonably priced or in demand, owing to its location or other features you may not be able to achieve a discount.
  • Everyone occupying the property will need to be included in the tenancy agreement often with all names held “jointly and severally liable”, meaning if one of your house mates decides to leave half way through term, you’re still liable for their rent. Check carefully if this will apply to you. This is why some students opt for a student room or their own flat.
  • Check your deposit is being held in a government approved scheme (we use mydeposits.co.uk which is one for example)

Enjoy yourself

If all of these points are taken on board, there is no reason why your new life as a university student cannot be a successful one, enjoy every moment as there are plenty of things to do in Southampton.

For additional information, please call our friendly staff on 023 8058 6838 – they will be happy to explain what is involved for student rentals.