Renting property for the first time... need advice...

[SilverHood]

Moving out of my university accomodation at the end of this acedemic year, and need to find somewhere else to live when I come back. (Someone else can get this 3rd world room, and everything in the future will be good in hindsight).

Been looking at rental agencies with some mates, yet some terms mean nothing to me... No DDS? Pcm? (something to do with money, since there's usually a figure quoted). Any ideas?

Also, are there anything specific I need to watchout for when viewing flats? I've plenty of bad housing experience, but only ever lived in a flat when I was little, so got no real world experience.

I'd rather not go to a viewing an appear like someone who hasn't got a clue.

Ta

 

[throdgrain]

pcm per calender month. No dds , iassume you mean no dss, ie no people on the dole or claiming benefit.

 

[bigbb]

Don't know what it's like around your area. But, there's quite a few student friendly agents around here (A lot aren't), some even exclusively student. Now, that can be a good or bad thing, but worth a look/google.

Our Uni had a housing open day, where agents could come and show their properties and you could book appointments to see them etc. They also had a housing database of landlords that had places going. We're with a lady who only owns this property and we deal directly with her. Ideal arrangement.

I'd explore your Uni's options and assistance before going too far. Especially as most agents and their respective clients don't like students. Quite a few even had restrictions on the properties according to the gender of the group. I.e. All male groups were not allowed in some houses. Even an entire agent wouldn't deal with an all male group last time.

 

[Xavier]

Don't let a property in Bournemouth town, look for somewhere around Westbourne and get away from the rabble - are you after a flat or house? Chances are you're going to be better off with a privately let property, start buying the echo and picking up the freeads - most of the letting agents in Bournemouth are as dodgy as sin and the properties extremely overpriced.

Xav

 

[granny]

To be honest I'd say the most important advice is be careful who you move in with. Just cos someone's your mate doesn't mean they're not going to be a total fuckhead in a rented house and trash the place, never do a fucking stroke of cleaning etc, never cough up their share of the bills and end up turning your life into a living hell.

Bitter personal experience talking there

 

[Bullitt]

In my opinion any houses not through the uni can be better than those with, we found our house through a friend of a friend, it's fantastic. Rooms aren't rented seperately so we get ultimate decisions on housemates etc. All the landlord wants is £350 a month, doesn't give a toss how many pople are actually staying in the house. At the mo it's 4 of us in 3 bedrooms (2 peeps are an engaged couple) and we have the 4th bedroom as a spare room/study for when mates stay over.

Rent is £22 a week and will be £11 a week over the summer hols :kissit:

Most uni managed houses are £30 a room and smaller than what we live in.

And a house of hookers across the street from us.

Edit: Also yes be wary of friends, i moved in with 3 mates, 1 of which did absolutely fuck all for the house, never payed bills, cleaned up etc. and i thought he was a decent bloke. The other two however are fine, can't critiscise them in any way; so it can be a good thing.

 

[SilverHood]

£30 for a room?

Jesus, I pay £60 a week atm, and it's terrible.

Yeah xav, we're not lookign to live in bournemouth town, but in the Winton / charminster area... between ASDA and campus

Will have a look at the Echo... never even occured to me to look there

 

[Clown]

Bloody hell... it's like 150 quid for a room here

I dunno how to find cheap flats here in London

 

[Bym]

Rent is £22 a week and will be £11 a week over the summer hols :kissit:

Bloody hell, don't think he'll be finding anything that cheap somehow.

My advice: Don't rent from a ****, and don't live with dirty bastards (cos you'll probably end up with maggots breeding in the kitchen, etc).

 

[granny]

Bloody hell, don't think he'll be finding anything that cheap somehow.

My advice: Don't rent from a ****, and don't live with dirty bastards (cos you'll probably end up with maggots breeding in the kitchen, etc).

What Bym said Had maggots in my first student flat that turned into a swarm of flies one day... was like something out of Nosferatu, truly nasty. And rats in the kitchen in the 2nd house, big fuckers with pointy fucking teeth and beady eyes.

Happy days \o/

 

[Damini]

Hair lice An new icon installed on my PC which showed a naked woman inviting you to dial SEX.COM! Pictures of Jo Guest in my cache. Bandwidth being stolen by the stinky guy in the room next to me. HAIR LICE. LICE IN MY HAIR.

I don't miss student housing one tiny bit.

 

[PR.]

Hair lice An new icon installed on my PC which showed a naked woman inviting you to dial SEX.COM! Pictures of Jo Guest in my cache. Bandwidth being stolen by the stinky guy in the room next to me. HAIR LICE. LICE IN MY HAIR.

I don't miss student housing one tiny bit.

Yer, now you live with the culprit

 

[Bullitt]

Bloody hell, don't think he'll be finding anything that cheap somehow.

It has it's downsides, it is Middlesbrough

However my hometown of Yarm (crackin place) is only a train journey away so i can rob the olds of food/items etc.