Friday 02-02-2024 - 11:37

One of the biggest and most daunting parts of Uni is searching for accommodation and moving into a new flat, which may be the first time many of you have had to go through these processes.

You probably have a million questions - Where should I look for student homes? When should I start looking? What bills will I have to pay? What do I do if something is wrong with my accommodation?

Our Advice Centre is here to help you all we can, and to get started we caught up with one of our advisors, Alex, who spoke about some of our most frequently asked housing questions.

 

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🏠 Manchester Student Homes

Manchester Student Homes has been set up between the Universities and Student Unions in Manchester - they are a great first point of call when looking for student homes.

Their accreditation scheme means they have a few more powers than other organisations which can be used to help you out with any problems that arise.

 

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🔍 Start searching

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s leaving your flat hunting too late!

Now is a great time to start looking, particularly with the demand and business of the market right now, we don’t want you to miss out on finding your dream flat.

 

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💰 Bills

The main bills that you’ll pay and are on most people's radar are gas, electricity and water. But there are others that some may not consider at first, such as broadband and a TV licence.

Council tax shouldn’t be an issue for most of you as full-time students are exempt from paying this.

These days, lots of accommodation comes with bills inclusive packages which can be a lot easier and beneficial - but make sure to check the ‘Fair Use Policy’ or the ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ to check the terms are enough for your needs.

 

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🔨 Issues and fixes

If there's an issue with your accommodation, it's important to know whether it's your responsibility or the landlord's.

Small things, like changing light bulbs, are your responsibility as the tenant.

Larger things are often for your landlord to deal with - such as issues with your water, gas or electricity supply, and things like damp and mould which are one of the biggest problems we are seeing at the moment.

If you’re ever unsure, reach out to The Advice Centre or your landlord for help.

 

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It can be tough at times, but we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our expert team of professionals at the Advice Centre are always on hand to help with any queries.

Pop in and see the team at The Union, book an in-person or online appointment, drop an email, or check out some of the helpful resources already available to you.

You can also check out what one of our advisors Alex had to say when we caught up with him this week!

 

 

 

 

 

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