Things To Consider Before Renting

Be it any part of the world, students love to move to another city, state, or even a country to pursue their higher education. If you are one, a major part of your new chapter would be finding the right accommodation.

Here are a few things to consider before renting a place.

1. Type of property

When you start looking for a place, you will find that there are many types available. These include on-campus, off-campus, and apartments to name a few.

In an accommodation provided by the university, you’ll be staying as an inmate, along with other students from your institution. You will get to experience communal living where the student body and the institution will work hand in hand in making sure the place you stay runs well.

Private owners offer houses in which you can stay as a paying guest in which options such as room for one or room shared by two, three, or more are given for you to choose from, according to your preferences.

Another option available for you is renting an apartment with a group. The monthly rent, furnishing, cleaning, and electricity bill will be shared among the group. It will be like a place you run by yourselves as a group without there being an authority to watch over or guide you.

2. Safety and Security

If you’re looking for off-campus accommodation, you should consider the type of neighborhood you’ll be living in. Discuss where your classmates live. Inquire about their experiences. Are they safe going around at any time? Take a walk in the neighborhood to see if the place is safe for accommodation and check your immediate surroundings, such as the people who live next door.

Check the power points in the house to ensure adequate power supply, and the taps to ensure adequate water pressure. Take notes on details such as a cracked window, missing tiles, and broken doors.

Before concluding, keep yourself open to 2 to 3 options before deciding on your place for rent, now you are on your own, you will need to carefully examine the options and pick the best suitable option for your accommodation.

3. Hygiene and Cleanliness

Having access to clean food, and water will help you go a long way as a student renting out. Also, make sure that the place you stay gets regular cleaning and is dust-free at all times. Look around for pest problems, as some places might be locked for a long time, pests may have acquired the place and you may need to clear it out before moving in.

4. Commuting Distance

Checking how far your place of stay is from your university or college is just as important as other factors. When renting student housing, consider the surroundings–how far it is from the grocery store, public transportation stops, market area, public places, hospitals, the city center, and other useful places. If spending money on transport isn’t a big deal for you, make sure to have regular transport services to and from your place.

5. Budget

Choose wisely if funds are a concern. Remember that prices vary depending on location and the placement fee charged by the school/college. Before deciding on the place, check if the rent includes or is separate from the cost of utilities before deciding on a place to live.

Some utilities are included in the rent, while others are not. Water bills, electricity usage, gas cost, laundry room services, internet, trash pickup cost, and water and sewage cost are all examples of utilities. Most on-campus housing includes utilities in the rent, but utilities must be paid separately for off-campus apartments.

Enquire and try to gather all the information related to the budget upfront.

6. Facilities

Although one can make do even without facilities such as a Television, washing machine, accessible kitchen, AC, or a furnished common room where you can hang out with your inmates, having access to some of these will make your stay much more comfortable and can make you feel at home.

Make a list of all the appliances in your home or apartment. Before signing your lease and moving in, inspect the quality and working conditions.

7. Legal Terms

As a first-time renter, you may not be aware of much about legal contracts, but while renting off-campus make sure to draw a legal contract before deciding to pay upfront costs and moving in.

Contract agreements are legally binding, so make sure you understand your security deposits, notice period, damage clearances, amenities provided, and rent amount before signing the contract.

Read the tenancy agreement’s terms and conditions thoroughly, and if in doubt, have it read by someone with experience. Make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to, and if you’re not comfortable with the rules, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

As a first-time renter, knowing what to expect while looking for a place to rent, is a great way to begin and we wish for your journey as a student to be as vibrant as you are.

For expert advice, get in touch with Kavitta Mehtta at 3RDiConsulting.