Student Housing Mythbusting – Don’t Believe the Hype!
If you were to believe every myth, rumour and report on the subject of student housing, you probably wouldn’t allow yourself to set foot within 100 miles of such places. Of course, many of the scare stories and unpleasant anecdotes regarding student accommodation are based on at least some kind of truth, though more often than not it’s a truth which applies to the student accommodation of generations gone by. These days, you really need only look at the outstanding student halls St Andrews University students are occupying to understand just how far things have come in a relatively short period of time.
Nevertheless, with so much conflicting information out there it is natural that students and parents alike often find themselves not knowing what to believe. So in order to help clarify a few of the most important points, what follows is a quick overview of six of the longest-standing myths of all on the subject of student housing and the respective truths behind them:
1 – Private Renting is Always Pricier
First of all, it is instinctively assumed that to rent a property privately will in all instances cost more than booking a place in halls of residence. This may have been true to an extent in years gone by, but these days things aren’t quite so black and white. Depending on where you plan to study and the area in which you plan to live, private rental accommodation has the potential to be mind-blowingly affordable just in the same way that university halls of residence are sometimes bewilderingly expensive. The key therefore is to avoid making assumptions and to instead check things out personally.
2 – Private Renting Is Always Nicer
It’s the same story with the suggestion that private rental accommodation is always ‘nicer’ as the whole thing again comes down to the specifics of the scenario. Of course it’s perfectly possible to rent out a wonderful private dwelling just as it’s possible to find yourself in a rather unpleasant halls of residence. But it’s also true in reverse as not only are many examples of contemporary halls of residence nothing short of spectacular by way of comfort and indeed luxury, but there are also examples of private student accommodation where you’d be rightly concerned about so much as a step through the door.
3 – All-Inclusive Deals Will Always Save You Money
While there is indeed the very real potential for certain all-Inclusive deals to save certain people a certain amount of money on their bills, it’s important to understand that this doesn’t come as any kind of guarantee. It all comes down to various factors including the property, its size, the condition of the heating system and of course, your own habits in terms of energy use. As such, it’s always worth looking into the possibility of an all-inclusive deal and weighing up whether or not it’s the right deal for you, but don’t ever assume that any and all such deals will inherently save you money.
4 – There’s No Room for Haggling
It really doesn’t matter how great the deals being offered may be, there is almost always room for manoeuvre. Of course, it’s natural that most students with absolutely no experience by way of these kinds of negotiations will assume that once the price is set, it’s set in stone. Nevertheless, when it comes to properties that are not exactly in the highest demand and thus represent something of a priority to their owners in terms of letting them out, you’d be surprised how possible it often is to negotiate a generously lower price.
5 – Landlords Expect At Least Some Damage
Never under any circumstances approach student housing in a manner whereby you assume that the property owners and landlords naturally expect at least a little damage and disarray. The simple fact of the matter is that no landlords or property owner in business would knowingly let out their properties to those they suspect= were likely to cause damage. There will always be unfortunate examples of those who perpetuate stereotypes and give the rest of the student community a bad name, but for the most part modern students tend to be some of the most genuinely responsible and reliable tenants of all.
6 – Follow the Herd and You’ll be Fine
Last but not least, while there’s much to be said for listening to the opinions of others and heeding advice when and where it is offered, this doesn’t mean that following the herd is necessarily a good idea. If for example a huge proportion of the new student population it simply dying to live in one specific area, chances are it is an area that is not without its appeal. However, just because it appeals to this particular segment of the student population does not in any way mean it will appeal to you in the slightest. The differences between the various types of student accommodation and the areas in which they are situated really are night and day – try to find a place that suits you, not one that suits everyone else.
