I remember this time last year as a fresher, feeling as if I’d only just gotten to grips with my course and the strange transition to university life, when suddenly the topic of second-year housing became the talk of campus.
In lectures laptop after laptop would be scrolling through the same property websites, and the walks back to my flat were soundtracked by people’s house-hunting conversations. If you’re feeling as confused as I was, suddenly plunged into the adult world of housing, hopefully this guide will help to ease your fears.
Who do I live with?
Deciding who to live with can vary in ease from one person to the next. In some rare cases, entire flats gel so well that everyone is excited to live together for another year. More often though, you may only click with a few of your flatmates, or want to live with people from your course or society.
What’s important is that you take some time to reflect on who you get along well enough with to live under one roof together and enjoy yourself. If you’re feeling a bit lost and want to meet like-minded people to live with, the University runs a few flatmate finder events during winter each year, so look out for emails about them.
Another way to find housemates is via social media. Many people use the York Snapchat story and freshers Facebook groups if they’re looking for people to live with, so it’s a good idea to join these if you’re still searching.
Where can I search for houses?
Adam Bennett, IG Property and Sinclair are the companies which the bulk of students sign for a house with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out your searches further. Rightmove has some student properties, and there are many private landlords and smaller companies that let to students too. You can use websites like RateMyLandlord.com for some insights into what different landlords are like.
What sort out house should I look for?
Do you want a property with more than one bathroom? How far from the University are you okay with living? Make sure you and your future housemates all communicate your priorities with each other, and hopefully, if they align enough, you’ll be able to find somewhere that ticks all your boxes.
In terms of location, many students prioritise looking for houses nearer to campus or to town, especially with a bus route nearby. There are many good options in Tang Hall and Fulford too, if you have a bike or don’t mind walking a little longer.
Also be aware that housing in York is more expensive compared to nearby cities like Sheffield and Leeds. Properties including bills tend to start at £170 per person per week and some reach over £200. Decide what your maximum cost is and check the length of the tenancy, considering whether you’ll have a part-time job and how much your student loan or other funds will be able to cover.
Unfortunately, the lettings agencies often won’t let you look around before you sign the contract. Many of the houses have video tours and floor plans, which can give you a good idea of the sort of space it is, but if you are itching to have a look round before committing, you could always knock on the door of the property and chat to the current tenants. They may have insights that could help your decision on whether the house suits all of you.
Communication is key
As cliché as it might sound, having open and honest dialogue with your future housemates about what you are looking for is vital for helping to avoid future disagreements.
It’s a good idea to have a few meetups where you can all sit together looking at housing options, and work out what you all like the look of.
In my experience, choosing a house with bills included is the easiest option. It means that you won’t have to work out your bills as a house, and you’ll be less likely to nag at each other to keep the heating lower and showers shorter. But if you feel as a group that you are on the same page about those things, having bills not included can work out just fine.
House Chosen! What now?
Make sure to read through the contract together before completely committing. It’s tedious, but you don’t want to miss out any sneaky caveats only to be caught out by surprise later on.
Then, be sure to check that everyone can pay the initial deposit – usually everyone will have to pay about £350-£450 for you to secure the property. The cost of these varies depending on the lettings agent, so be sure to double-check this first.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed or just have questions about the whole process, the Student Hub on Campus West has housing advisors who can help you.
Ultimately it’s good to remember that there is no one way to approach a second-year house. Whether you’re good friends with your future housemates or are less acquainted with them, it’ll likely work out well as long as you’re all on the same page. Living off campus and out of the student bubble is so refreshing, and you’ll never hear the slamming kitchen doors and random fire drills that halls subjects you to again.
As stressful as it may be now, once it’s all sorted out you can relax and the days of refreshing the Adam Bennett website in Salvos will be behind you.
Great summary – so clearly explained! Really helpful to name some of the agencies you used, and the tips about having bills included makes so much sense! Thanks!