Looking for your next student house

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 392
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 Time: 2:24 PM
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Staying in your university's halls of residence is a good way to ease yourself into the student lifestyle but if you want the full experience then you'll be looking to move into a student house with some friends come the second or third year.

Sit down with the people you're planning to live with and draw up a combined list of priorities when it comes to the type of house you want. Be sure to listen to everyone's viewpoints and be aware that no house is likely to offer everything to everybody, so be willing to compromise if needs be.

Work out between you what a reasonable level of rent would be before you go and look at potential houses. If you have hugely different viewpoints on the maximum amount of rent you're willing to pay then that could be a problem - unless you can find a property with significantly different sized bedrooms. That way, those who are willing to pay more can take the larger rooms while those who have less to spend can take the more modest options.

Some areas with a high proportion of student accommodation will tend to be a target for burglars so it's worth doing some research into which streets are notorious for break-ins and avoiding them. Even if you think you've found a house in a relatively safe neighbourhood, you should still take precautions just in case.

Most importantly, ensure that you take out a comprehensive home insurance policy so that you have peace of mind when it comes to your possessions. Also consider marking your items with a security pen that will reveal the details under ultra violet light - this will allow police to track your valuables more easily should you be unlucky enough to have them taken.

You should also ensure that the house you move into has sturdy locks on all points of entry including doors and windows. If you feel that the current security measures are insufficient then you're well within your rights to ask your landlord to rectify the situation. That said, the toughest security measures going will be no good if you or your housemates leave doors or windows unlocked when you leave the house; ensure that you move in with a security conscious group and remind each other regularly how important it is to be vigilant.

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For more information, and to get a home insurance quote, visit www.churchill.com