For many students, coming to university means a whole host of new experiences - new friends, new activities, new classes - and for many it’s also their first experience of living away from home. Finding housing can seem like a daunting task for students, particularly if you’re going to be living with other people.

There are a number of issues that can arise if you’re not prepared, but we’ve got some top tips to help make house hunting and living with flatmates much less stressful.

Don’t Rush

• Many new students feel pressured into finding a house for second year as soon as they start at university. This can lead to picking unsuitable properties, choosing housemates you don’t know very well, and getting into contracts you don’t understand. But there’s no need to rush. There are loads of student properties available in Sheffield throughout the year, and you won’t lose out if you don’t find something early on.

Check Your Paperwork

• When you find a house, the landlord will give you a tenancy agreement to sign. Depending on the situation, this might be a joint tenancy (where all housemates are responsible for paying the rent collectively and all are jointly and severally liable for the rent in law ) or a single tenancy (where you are responsible for paying your own share of the rent) - make sure you know which is which.
• The Student Advice Centre at The HUBS offers a free tenancy checking service. Drop in and go through your paperwork with them before you sign any contracts - it will give you peace of mind and can prevent issues arising later.

Set Ground Rules

• When you move into your new property, make sure that you and your new housemates set some ground rules right away. Establish when guests are allowed over, talk about how you’re going to manage noise levels, and work out a fair rota for doing household chores. These might seem like boring conversations to have with your new housemates, but they can save a lot of problems moving forward.

Dealing With Issues

• If issues with your housemates do arise, try and deal with them as promptly and directly as possible. While it might be tempting to text your mate complaining about your housemate never doing the washing up, it won’t actually fix anything. Talk to your housemates if you have a problem - stay calm, explain your problem clearly, and try and avoid arguments if at all possible. If the problem continues, organise a meeting so you and your housemates can discuss any issues you have. It’s likely that someone will take a complaint more seriously if it comes from a group rather than an individual.

Wanting To Leave

• In the worst case scenario, some students may wish to leave their property altogether. This can be difficult, as most contracts will stipulate how many months your tenancy is supposed to last. There might be a break clause, or you might be able to negotiate with your landlord or find your own replacement, but every situation is different. Breaking your contract early can also be expensive, and might cause financial issues moving forwards. If you’re considering leaving your property, please read the Student Advice Centre’s guide to leaving your tenancy. If you still have questions, you can contact the Student Advice Centre.

Finding a place to live might seem scary at first, but if you take your time and get the right advice it can be a really rewarding experience. These skills won’t just be useful at uni - being a savvy house hunter will benefit you for the rest of your life!