How do you find university accommodation after clearing?

A-level results day is a stressful time for everyone involved as emotions run high and important decisions about your future hang in the balance.

It can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but for those who enter clearing (a period where students can secure themselves a place on a course that still has vacancies) it’s a bit daunting, too.

The chances are that if you go through clearing, you won’t have sorted any form of accommodation at your prospective university, so here at Rightmove we’ve compiled a few handy pointers to help you on your way.

Where to live

Most student towns and cities have established areas which students tend to favour. If you’re not already aware of them, speak to people already studying at the university who will be able to help inform you.

The pros of living in a renowned student area usually include:

  • There are good public transport links
  • Close proximity to university campus
  • Plenty of supermarkets and convenience stores nearby
  • You’re able to live close to your friends and other students
  • Student nightlife

The cons of living within a renowned student area may include:

  • Higher demand for properties will mean you’ll need to act swiftly
  • Higher noise levels

More information on where to live can be found here.

Private halls or shared accommodation?

You may find that, having secured a university place through clearing, there are limited options available to live in private halls during your first year.

You’ll see that they are purpose-built properties often fitted with the latest modern appliances and can be a great way to meet new people. Although the weekly rent may seem higher, it’s worth checking out which bills are included and weigh up the best option for you.

Features often found in private halls include:

  • En-suite bedrooms
  • High-speed internet access
  • Satellite television
  • Enhanced on site security
  • On site gym
  • Large selection of room styles and size
  • Inclusive bills
  • Built-in TV
  • Onsite laundry service
  • Secure parking
  • Shared student housing
  • The more common option is to share private rented accommodation with other students.

If you choose to share accommodation it’s important to know how your tenancy is organised, as it can have a number of implications.

The most typical scenarios include:

Joint Tenancy – tenancy agreement which each student in the property signs. This means you all share the property and its facilities and don’t have exclusive possession of any part (although in practice you may agree to occupy a particular bedroom and pay individual contributions towards the rent).

Sole Tenancy – each student in the property has their own tenancy agreement because they each have exclusive possession of one specific room while sharing other facilities such as the kitchen.

If you have a joint tenancy, you and the other tenants have exactly the same rights. You are all jointly and individually responsible for the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement.

More information on private halls or shared accommodation can be found here.

Viewing properties

If you’re starting your student property search on Rightmove, you can simply request a viewing of the room or property by calling the agent or company marketing the property – or by sending an enquiry directly through the site.

More information on viewing properties can be found here.

Securing a property

Once you’ve found a property you like, you’ll need to make an offer in order to secure it. This will ensure the property is yours and cannot be offered to anyone else.

More information on making an offer can be found here.

Moving in day

At the start of every tenancy, on move-in day, an inventory check-in will be conducted by a qualified company or individual appointed by the landlord or agent. If there is no inventory check-in you can ask your letting agent landlord to carry out one.

This report is essentially in two parts, the ‘inventory’ element lists all of the items and the contents of the property and the ‘check-in’ element lists the condition of all of those items at the start of the tenancy along with confirmation of the meter readings and the number of keys handed over. It’s also useful to keep a copy of the tenancy agreement for reference purposes.

More information on moving in day can be found here.

For anything else you’d like to know about student property, visit our advice page here.


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