House hunting can be very stressful. Here are tips to help you turn this into a stress-free experience!
At GreenPad, we understand that house hunting can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. We aim to turn this experience into something positive and rewarding. We are here to support you throughout your search for your perfect house!
1. Don’t Panic! Be Informed:
Research into the local housing market is key to ensuring you get the right deal. Take time to look into the average rents in the area, and what typical amenities are expected in your tenancy.
2. Look at as Many Properties as Possible:
The more properties you look at, the more options you have to compare in terms of rent, furnishings, and utilities. Make sure your options allow you to find a house that best fits your needs.
3. Visit Properties as a Group:
If you are looking to rent as group, make sure that you are booking in viewings for times that you are all available. Whatever property you go for needs to work for everyone.
If you are looking to rent as an individual, you may find it useful to still bring a friend along to viewings – having a second pair of eyes with you can help spot things that you may have missed!
4. Property Checklist:
GreenPad has a property checklist that can be found here: https://www.greenpad.co.uk/docs/student
This can help you ensure that the properties you are looking for are suitable for you, and give you helpful tips on the kinds of questions to ask on viewings.
5. Signing the Contract:
Don’t immediately sign the contract you are given. Take time to read through it to make sure that you are happy with the clauses and that there are no errors and don’t hesitate to query something that doesn’t look quite right. The Students’ Union Advice Centre and GreenPad are both happy to go through contracts with you and answer any queries you may have.
6. Quality Student Accommodation:
We work with our landlords to ensure the accommodation we are providing is of good quality and meets the legislation criteria for House’s of Multiple Occupancy. Our priority is always the students’ comfort, safety, and satisfaction. If you have any issues, please feedback to us and we will do everything in our power to help you.
7. Admin Fees and Bill Arrangements:
When discussing tenancy agreements, make sure you are aware of any admin fees, and you know what they cover. With GreenPad, we do not charge any admin fees for drawing up tenancies and there is no holding fee for reserving the property either! Also make sure that you are aware of whether your rent covers any of your bills and what you as the tenant are liable for – that way you don’t get any nasty surprises in the future.
By following this advice and using the support offered through the GreenPad (and the Students’ Union Advice Team), you can go into the house hunting process with confidence that you know what you are doing and looking out for.
Keep an eye out for more helpful advice and updates from GreenPad!