10 things to look for when viewing student houses

Finding student accommodation can be very stressful. The experience can be something of a frenzy, with pressure coming from friends who have already found their houses and estate agents who want you to sign on the dotted line. It's all too easy to feel like all the good properties have already been snapped up and you need to move quickly to secure your home for the next year.

Don't let these feelings stop you from properly checking the properties you're viewing. After all, you don't want to move in and discover a whole host of problems you didn't notice before. 

What to look for in a student house

To help you find the perfect property and avoid any dodgy deals, we've created a checklist of ten things to look for when viewing student houses or accommodation.

1. Location

Location is one of the most important features of any property, let alone a student house. Just think, you don't want to have to wake up hours before your 9ams to make it on time. Consider how close the property is to your university, how strong the public transport links are nearby, and whether you'll be near other students. Most university cities will have popular student areas. Have a chat with older students and get the inside scoop on the best areas in your city to help you narrow down your search. Or, you should be able to find some good tips about where to live on your university's social media pages or SU forums. 

2. Damp

According to Save the Student's 2023 National Student Accommodation Survey, 36% of students in the UK have lived in accommodation with damp. If left untreated, damp can be a huge problem. Not only does it look and smell quite grim, it can ruin furnishings and clothes, and even cause health issues (particularly if you suffer from asthma or hayfever). 

Luckily, damp is usually quite easy to spot. Look out for a musty smell in the house, black mould patches or discolouration on walls and ceilings, flaking paint or wallpaper, or excessive condensation on windows. 

3. Heating and insulation

In the current climate, energy bills can be enormous. Unless you want to fork out hundreds on your heating bill or spend the entire winter wrapped up in your winter coat, you want to make sure that your student house is well-insulated.

It might sound obvious, but when you first walk into a property at a viewing, take notice of whether you feel cold or not. This is your first indication of whether or not the property is well-insulated. You should also feel the walls to check whether they feel cold to the touch. If they're cold this is usually a sign that the property is poorly insulated. You should also look out for (or ask about) double glazing, secure doors, drafts, and the property's heating system. As most student property viewings take place in the late autumn and early winter, this is the perfect time to test out how warm the property feels.

4. Safety

You should take security very seriously when viewing a student house. Check whether the locks on the front door look secure. (Bonus points if there's an additional bolt or chain). If you're living in a shared house, you should also check whether the doors of the internal bedrooms have additional locks. This doesn't mean you don't trust your housemates, it just provides an additional layer of security if an accident does happen (like someone leaving the front door unlocked by mistake). 

You should also check that there is a functioning burglar alarm, fire alarm, and carbon monoxide detector in case of emergency.

5. Signs of pests

Rodents. Slugs. Flies. Silverfish. All unpleasant to live with. All far too common in student accommodation. If you don't fancy sharing your accommodation with some additional unwelcome housemates, look out for signs of pests when viewing the property. These include droppings, slug trails, holes in the skirting boards, and existing traps. 

Don't be fooled by estate agents telling you that traps are there 'just in case'. It's nearly always the sign of an existing problem.

6. Furnishings

As a student, it's unlikely that you'll want to deck out your accommodation with lots of furniture. Decor is one thing, but you'll likely want your home to be fitted with the basic furniture items you need. Make sure to check that the furniture you see in the property is included and doesn't belong to the existing tenants. You don't want to move in and discover that the desk and wardrobe in your bedroom are no longer there.

7. Bathrooms and plumbing

When viewing student houses, have a think about the size of your group and how many bathrooms you realistically need. Not everyone needs an ensuite but is one bathroom between six actually going to work? 

Next, turn the taps on to check that the water pressure is decent. If you can only get a dribble out of them, it isn't a great sign. You might also want to give the toilets a quick flush to check that they're working properly too. 

8. Kitchen

When you're sharing a house, it can be frustrating when you all want to cook at the same time and there just isn't enough space. When you're viewing student houses, check how much counter space you'll have, and think about whether it's going to be enough. 

You should also take a look at the cupboards. Are four cupboards really going to be able to fit everyone's cooking utensils and food? 

9. Appliances

Before you move into a student house, make sure that the included appliances are appropriate for your needs. Is a washing machine sufficient or would you prefer a washer-dryer (or separate tumble dryer)? Is the fridge-freezer big enough to serve the whole group? Is the microwave included or does it belong to the existing tenants? Setting expectations within your group before you view is the best way to make sure that you're asking all the right questions about a property's appliances. 

You also want to make sure that any appliances included are in good working order and will be ready for use when you move in. 

10. Repairs

On that note, you should take notice of anything that might need repairing and ask for this to be done before you move in. For instance, have you spotted any loose electrical wires or safety hazards? Are the sofas full of rips and not in a fit state to use? Is the lock on one of the bedroom doors broken? These are all things you can highlight at your viewing. You can then ask for addendums to your tenancy agreement to ensure that the landlords are legally required to make these changes to the property before your tenancy begins.

Before you sign a property...

If you can, speak to the existing tenants in a property before you sign the tenancy agreement. They'll be able to give you an unbiased opinion of the state of the property and provide some insights you might not have known you needed...

If you need help starting your student accommodation search, why not use the UK's leading student accommodation platform, StuRents.com?