House Hunting Guide A5_ Keele_ Hunting Guide _K digital single pages | Page 7

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Things to consider...
Who do you want to live with?
First things first, you need to decide whether
you want to live alone or with friends, but really
consider if you can get along if you are together
24/7. People may have annoying habits that will
get on your nerves – maybe they’re messy or
noisier than most. You may be able to put up with
some things occasionally, but all the time they can
cause problems and remember it’s difficult to get
out of a contract once you’ve accepted it.
Location, Location, Location
Think about what area you want to live in and
what suits you best. Do you want to be close
to university with a regular bus service, or a bit
further afield to be closer to the bigger town?
Just remember to take travelling times and cost
of transport into account, as well as your rent.
For some people location is more important than
the property type – all areas are different.
Compare average rent
costs for the local area
at keelestudentpad.
co.uk/statistics
Decide what’s most important to you
There are lots of things to consider including:
● ● Costs – travel costs and utility bills.
● ● Transport – do you need to rely on a bus, so is
a bus route near? If you have a car, does the
property have parking?
● ● Do you need a parking permit?
● ● Communal space – lounge area or large
kitchen.
● ● Located in town or further away?
● ● Type of accommodation – house share or
purpose built private hall.
● ● Check out the commute – some local villages
will require you to change buses which will
increase travel costs and time.
Living with others
– what to think about
● ● How noisy are you?
● ● Are you a social butterfly or prefer to stay at
home?
● ● What length contract do you want/need?
● ● Parking – are there costs?
● ● Do you want to live with all girls, all boys or
mixed?
Looking for a roommate?
A private hall of residence may be the answer and
there are several to choose from locally or you can
look for housemates via: keelestudentpad.co.uk.
You can post on the message board to share
that you’re looking for a flat mate/s. Also, many
landlords will let rooms on an individual basis.
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