Over 47,000 clearing students could find themselves homeless

With 2011 representing the final year of “low” tuition fees, applications for University places this autumn have soared to a record 700,000 , with undergraduates desperate to avoid the impending £9k a year course fees and the subsequent £60k of predicted debt.

For every A Level success this Thursday, sadly there’ll be a counterbalancing disappointment. Last year over 186,000 students didn’t make the grade forcing them into clearing to find any University place. As UCAS contends with matching disappointed students with vacant course places, undergraduates will also be grappling to find suitable accommodation in their new University town.

Already in short supply, University accommodation is snapped up much earlier in the year leaving those students who come through clearing left out in the cold. This year as many as 47,000 students could find themselves without University digs forcing them into private accommodation.

Simon Thompson of student accommodation service, Accommodationforstudents.com (AFS) offers some advice for those students who find themselves in this daunting situation:

“It is unlikely that students going through clearing will be offered a place in University owned accommodation. The vast increase in the student population over the last decade has meant that Universities have found themselves unable to cope with the influx of incoming students. Fortunately the private sector is booming and although it may seem daunting, finding quality accommodation can be quick, easy and cost effective.”

With over 10 years experience in the student accommodation industry, AFS has seen every housing related problem you can imagine and Thompson has given his ‘top tips’ for students entering the private accommodation sector.

Research your location. Generally accommodation gets cheaper the further away it is from the university campus. However, it’s no good paying cheap rent if transport is going to cost you a fortune. Ensure you’ll be able to get to your lectures in good time and taxis home from nights out won’t cost a fortune.

Set your budget. Private halls represent an attractive alternative to university owned accommodation. Students will meet loads of new people, they’re generally very well kept and bills are usually included in the price. However, the drawback is they can be very expensive with prices ranging from £75- £120 a week. To avoid disappointment, establish a budget before you start your search.

Finding friends. It might seem scary to move into a house with complete strangers in your first year but rest assured that everyone is in the same boat whether they get thrown together in halls or select their housemates in another way. Accommodationfrostudents.com allows both groups to advertise spare rooms and individuals to advertise that they’re looking for a room for free. The site includes profiles featuring essential information so you can make informed choices about who you live with. 

Safety first. When viewing a property, check locks work properly. Check windows and doors close and lock securely. Is there an alarm? Visiting the property at night (with a friend or parent) will allow students to see if they feel safe there.

Contract length. Before signing anything, check exactly how long the tenancy agreement is for and if there is a reduced rate over the summer. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Paying upfront. Your deposit is usually a month’s rent. To ensure you get it back at the end of the year, it’s a wise move to ask your landlord for an inventory. An inventory is just a list of household contents and their condition at a certain date. Ideally this should be supported with photographs. This will help avoid any dispute over your landlord returning your deposit at the end of your tenancy.

Gas safety. It’s worth knowing that your landlord has a legal obligation to provide you with a copy of an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate. Check the smoke and CO2 alarms are working too.

Individual or joint. Most student house shares will sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST). Check if your contract is a joint tenancy agreement or an individual one. A joint one means that all housemates are responsible for the rent i.e. if one of your housemates goes AWOL, the rest of you will have to cough up his or her rent. You will also have to replace yourself in the house should you decide to leave.

Bills, bills, bills. Check which bills are included before signing anything. It is fine to wait for bills to be delivered through the door and then settle up in cash at the post office. Whilst paying by direct debit can secure discounts, you should only put yourself down as the named bill payer if you completely trust your housemates as if someone decides not to pay it’ll be you that the providers will chase for the money.

Ensure you insure anything you can’t afford to replace. Student areas are often a target for thieves as security is often lax and there are plenty of electrical goods for the taking.

For more information or advice on student accommodation, visit accommodationforstudents.com.