Accommodation is perhaps one of the most crucial parts of anyone’s university experience. It’s the place where many of us will experience our first tastes of independence in living out our student lives, where we’ll learn to cook and clean without the tutelage of our parents.
But whilst, yes it’s important, it doesn’t have to be stressful. So to help you get the most out of your search for that just-right place to relax, we’ve put together some tips on what to look out for when looking for accommodation.
1.Distance
We’re all university students first and foremost. Which means, naturally, we all have lectures and seminars to attend. So, because of this, whether it’s within an easy walking distance to the university campus or in close proximity to a bus stop/train station are both good things to consider when eyeing up potential accommodation. Along with this, it’s also a good idea to take a look at bus and train routes prior to making your decision. For Edge Hill University students, there is a free bus that runs every twenty minutes from Ormskirk to campus free of charge as long as you have a student card. More information on bus times for the Edge Link bus can be found here: Edge Link bus timetable
2. Convenience
Now convenience can cover a lot of factors when it comes to accommodation. Some good places to start are things such as the distance to the nearest supermarket for days when you need to squeeze in a food shop. For students going to Edge Hill, your go-to supermarkets are Morrisons (just off of Park Road) and Aldi (located in the Two Saints Retail Park). Other convenience factors you might want to consider is distance to any nearby laundrettes and distance from any fast food outlets and takeaways.
3.Leisure
On your days off when you’d much rather relax than do work, it might be important to look at the leisure facilities offered by your accommodation. For example, whether the rooms have game console support, come with a TV (or you’ll have to bring your own) and have good stable wifi might come into consideration when looking for accommodation. Another thing you might want to consider is the size of the kitchen. Sure everyone loves a decent sized bed and a room that comes fitted with a mini-fridge and TV, but in a flat occupied by six to eight other tenants, it’s always nice to have a space to hang out whether that be for a movie night or anything of the sort. From this, you might want to take a look at things like spacious living areas with plenty of seating, along with enough kitchen space (in terms of cupboards, fridges etc) for all of your super noodles and ready meals.
4.Safety
Safety is a factor that can sometimes be overlooked when looking for accommodation. It’s easy to get caught up in glamorous interiors and double beds but one of the most important factors to consider when looking for accommodation is safety. How easy is it to access? Where are the CCTV cameras located? What happens in case of a lockout? What’s the procedure for a fire? These are all good questions to consider when looking for accommodation.
5.Finances
A pretty self-explanatory one, but finance, no matter how tedious and boring it is to manage, is one of the grounding factors when it comes to accommodation. For this, you should take into consideration both your student loan and any support given from your parents/guardians. It also might be good to consider distance to any part-time jobs you have acquired or can acquire whilst staying at university. One way to help mitigate the financial impact of student accommodation can be to book as a group, rebook accommodation, and book early (so you can grab those early-bird discounts).
So the last thing to consider is the type of accommodation whether that be a studio or halls. But whatever option you choose to go for, I hope some of these tips will help you get the most out of your hunt for accommodation.
