Cookie Consent by FreePrivacyPolicy.com

Community

Moving on from Halls

By hannahk 05 Dec 2022

Recently at our Halls Community Fair, we wanted to find out ‘what do you want to know more about before moving on from Halls?’. Here's what we found...

Remember, the search for next year's accommodation should only begin when you feel ready and prepared. With Liverpool having so much housing available, there is no rush to rent and sign up to something too early. Find out more here. 

1. Bills!

Unlike living in Halls, you’ll need to take care of your own bills when living in private accommodation. How this will affect your budget is something to consider before you start your search for accommodation. Working out what you can afford per month, or per instalment, will help you narrow down your search and find the right home for you.

Liverpool Student Homes have put together a guide with a Q&A on everything you need to know about bills. Click here to find out more.

‘How do I work out my bills?’

This is something that will be listed when you research a property. If it is unclear on whether your bills are inclusive or not, chat to the provider, landlord, agency or Liverpool Student Homes for advice.

‘How much is a deposit usually?’

According to Liverpool Student Homes ‘A tenancy deposit is a returnable payment taken by the accommodation provider, and is capped at 5 weeks rent’. Find out more about deposits, why they are taken and your rights here.

‘What’s the average cost of rent per week?’

The cost of rent depends on the type of property you live in, the location and how many people you share it with. To help you get an idea of costs, Liverpool Student Homes have put together a handy ‘Liverpool Area Guide’ which lets you know what you can expect to pay per week in each area. Click here to view the Liverpool Area Guide.

2. Transport/commuting

When thinking about where you might live after Halls, it’s important to consider what you daily commute to University might look like.

Fortunately Liverpool is a compact city with good transport links. This Liverpool Area Guide is a helpful way to visualise where you can find student properties in the private sector. Areas such as Kensington and Kensington Fields are closer to campus which means that they are either walking distance or a short bus journey. The Smithdown road area is just 2-3 miles from campus which is around a 20 minute bus journey to campus. There are lots of Arriva and Stagecoach services which pass through the area so there are plenty of bus routes and options to choose from and bringing your car to University is not always needed.

If you do bring your car to University, it’s important to consider whether you might need a permit, whether you can car share etc. See below for more.



3. What to look out for on viewings 

Before you go to view a property, you want to have in mind exactly what you’re looking for. It can be easy to walk into a viewing and forget what you want to prioritise. The best way to make sure you don’t forget anything is to make a list of what you consider to be most important e.g. transport links, facilities and amenities, security, storage space etc.

Liverpool Student Homes have put together a handy Property Viewing Tips checklist that you can take to viewings, or help you know what to look out for.

4. Finding different types of contracts

Whether you're looking for double occupancy only, a short term let, year-long or summer let, Liverpool Student Homes have you got you covered.

Under ‘Accommodation Search’ you can look for exactly what you need. Whether you want to search an area, add a maximum rent or dates, you can do so by clicking here.

If you can’t find exactly what you need, chat to the Liverpool Student Homes team for advice. You can drop into their office on campus, phone, email or live chat. Find all contact details here.

5. Finding a reliable landlord

When signing a tenancy, you want the reassurance of knowing that the provider or landlord is accredited. Liverpool Student Homes only advertise accredited landlords which means that they are either recognised, accepted or approved by Liverpool Student Homes.

The team at Liverpool Student Homes also offer a 'Contract Checking Service' which means you can pop into the office and a member of the team will check through any concerns that you might have.

Lots of accredited providers will be at the next Housing Fair on Thursday 8th December, 11am-3pm in the Guild of Students. This event is an opportunity to research your options for next year and to grab some freebies. There will be no obligation or pressure to sign up for any tenancies!