Whether you’re dreaming of your student accommodation for September (after getting your results), refreshing your accommodation for the upcoming year, or even getting ready to see your children leave the nest, there are plenty of reasons why our blog is where you’ll want to start when thinking of that next step.
One of the best things students consider about moving to university accommodation is the independence, and that includes being able to get up when you want, cook for yourself, and live away from your family for what is, often, the first time.
It’s pretty exciting right?!
However, despite all these pros, it can be a bit stressful living in accommodation.
From landlords, to housemates, to learning to cook for the first time, there are a whole host of issues that can arise when living away from home for the first time.
So without further ado, here are some of our best tips to surviving in accommodation, and making it a home away from home.
The Landlords
“The house you choose will also become the place where you make some of the best memories of your life, so choosing one that you are going to be happy and comfortable in is important!” – Purple Frog Property
Upon moving into student accommodation, keep a list of any faults and damage. In fact, aim to take plenty of photos of what is there when moving in.
If anything breaks or there is a problem, make sure to tell the landlord, and they’ll often fix it straight away.
Or they’ll hire a team to help, and when it comes to surface repairs, we may be the ones they call!
Another aspect of keeping on the best terms with a landlord, is paying your accommodation costs. If a loan is how accommodation is being paid for, and there is a delay, make sure the landlord is contacted straight away.
In most cases, landlords are very understanding, and happy to wait. So it’s best to warn them and be upfront.
The Housemates
The move into accommodation is finished, except it’ll often be shared with new people who will gradually change from strangers to roommates in a short space of time.
In fact Liberty Living did a survey of 2,000 students to find out the worst flatmate habits…they included:
- Not doing the washing up (41%)
- Not taking the bins out (26%)
- Not throwing away food that’s gone off (21%)
- Leaving hair in the shower plug (4%)
- Taking long showers (1%)
- Other / All of the above (7%)
So whilst you may come across these habits, each roommate is different, but what will they be like?
These are some of the personalities you can find:
The Partier
Great at organising a night out and about to relax, and take a break from working on that university project.
However, be prepared for constantly being woken up late at night because they’ve lost their keys or need money to pay the taxi driver.
The Slob
Why aren’t they helping out?
The dishes are stacking up, and they never wash up after themselves. And no one wants to be that person who constantly tells them that they aren’t pulling their weight.
A cleaning rota may be the thing needed in place to ensure everyone is doing their bit.
The Mother Hen
Looking after everyone is their number one priority…that can also lean on the side of nagging.
They’ll be there if anyone has a problem, and will probably tidy up after ‘The Slob’ personality.
To make sure everyone is on the same page maybe consider organising a house meal, as it can be a great way to socialise and get to know the roommates.
The Cooking
It may be the first time a student is able to have complete control over the kitchen (sorry Mom and Dad!), and this can lead to a number of things such as:
- How do we work the stove?
- Why is the toaster on fire?
- Does anyone know how to cook pasta?
- My hot chocolate just blew up?
- Who’s stole my cheese?
- Oh no, who’s scratched the kitchen surface?
Of course, we’re not saying every student can’t cook, but the likelihood of everyone knowing how to cook and their way around the kitchen at first glance. They may need an extra hand.
Finding a great cookbook like the Mob Kitchen: Feed 4 or more for under 10 pounds, or BOSH!: Simple Recipes. Amazing Food. All Plants. The Fastest-Selling Vegan Cookbook Ever can help get a kitchen in order.
Alternatively, if there is a kitchen surface scratch, or a chip, a surface repair company like ours could help.
What are your next steps?
Our qualified surface repair team can help you ensure your relationship with your landlord remains great, by fixing any repairs in the time you stay in accommodation.
For a full list of what we can repair click here, and for further information contact us for a free professional quote.