Student accommodation
Tips on finding the best student digs in town!
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Once you have a place in university or college you need to organise somewhere to live quickly. Depending on your situation you might continue living at home or have relations that you can stay with. However for many people, college means moving to a new town or city and trying to find a flat for the first time.
Nabbing that perfect pad:
- Your college or university will have an accommodation officer or someone in student services to advice you on getting a place. Try speaking to them first.
- Usually there are notice boards all over the college campus with notices looking for flatmates, renting houses and offering lodgings.
- Don't panic and take the first place you look at. Ask someone with experience of living in rented accommodation to come with you and check stuff like the heating, who you're living with, how long it will take you to get to college and is the kitchen okay for cooking.
- Check out the local newspapers for the area your moving to. There are often loads of classified ads with houses or rooms to let. Make sure to get a copy of the paper as soon as it comes out as everyone will be fighting for the best deals.
- Everybody has different needs when it comes to living space. Some people are happy to share a room, others need their own space. You might be looking for a party house or somewhere where you can study and get a good night's sleep. You also have to consider whether you want to cook for yourself, independence or home comforts, living with other students or finding your own place.
Types of accommodation:
Find out here about renting a flat.
Lodgings or digs
- Lodgings or digs mean renting a room in a family house.
- You are provided meals (maybe breakfast and dinner) by the family.
- You don't have to worry much about cooking and cleaning.
- If you're planning to party lots this isn't the best option. You'll have to respect the family and not roll in singing at 3am.
- Bills are usually included in the payment.
- Lodgings might be more expensive but you don't spend as much on food.
- Check if you need to pay during holiday time to reserve your room.
- If you're very nervous about leaving home this could be a good option for first year.
Student halls
- On Campus Student Residences or student halls are normally self-contained villages or buildings.
- Halls should have everything you need nearby (shops, laundrettes, bars!) and be easily reached from the university or college.
- Ask about the deposit conditions. A deposit is a lump sum of money (often 1 month's rent) that you are asked to pay to cover any damage to the accommodation while you live there.
- Many students find that when it comes to asking for their deposit back, the landlord charges them for damage already done to the flat. Make sure that the landlord gives you a list of what's in the flat and anything that needs to be repaired BEFORE you move in. Then you can't be asked to pay for anything already broken or damaged.
- Availability of student halls is increasing so as soon as you know what Uni you're going to, call and ask about their accommodation.
- Read the prospectus so that you have a good idea of what the student halls are like.
- A lot of first year students choose halls as it's a great way to get to know other people and find your way around the uni.
- Halls are hassle free. You don't have to worry about bills or problems with landlords.
- Usually, you cook for yourself in halls.
- Instead of paying weekly or monthly, halls are paid for at the start of the student year and after Christmas.
- If you're not happy in halls, you need to find another student to take your place before leaving.
Download the Union of Students Ireland’s Rent Book for more information on student accommodation.
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