Accommodation After University by

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 13:52:58 UTC

Thinking about finding somewhere to live and securing a job after university can be daunting! If you've moved away for university, it can be stressful knowing that next year's living circumstances are uncertain. Or maybe you've lived at home and commuted to Leeds throughout your studies, and now you're wanting to start renting for the first time. Whatever your circumstances, remember that there is plenty of support available - it's just about knowing where to look!

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 15:34:12 UTC

It's really important to remember that everyone's living situations after graduating will look different, and that's completely okay! You might have absolutely no idea where you're going to live after graduating, or maybe you're thinking about moving in with family. Not everything in this Padlet will be relevant or useful for everyone, so... take what you need and leave the rest :)

Starting Your Research

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 16:05:10 UTC

There's lots of information out there, so it's important to consult trusted websites when it comes to housing. It's also a good idea to get a grip on what you can afford (see more information in the Budgeting section!). The Money and Pensions Service have a very helpful website called "MoneyHelper" - it's a very uncomplicated website with lots of information and advice about money and handling your finances whilst renting and searching for a place to rent. They have a guide on how to find a rented home that you can afford, which is a useful place to start. You can access the guide on the MoneyHelper website here.

But where can I actually find a place?

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 16:30:00 UTC

If you're planning on renting after graduating, you will want to think about whether you'd like to live with others in a "house-share" or "flat-share", or if you'd like to live alone. And also what's realistic for you money wise!

If you're wanting to find a room in house-share, SpareRoom is a very good place to look. There's lots of listings on there in locations across the UK at different price points. You can find the SpareRoom website here.
If you're a bit more flexible, not necessarily looking to house-share with people you don't know, or are looking to rent a full property, websites like Rightmove or Zoopla might be better suited to you. Although there are still options to rent a single room on those websites as well!
A useful thing to remember is that you can usually search for housing with the same housing providers you used as a student - some letting agencies (especially in Leeds) provide housing for young professionals as well as students. So definitely have a look on the website of organisations you're already familiar with and trust - oftentimes the information/listings will still be relevant to you as a graduate! They'll also likely be able to answer your questions about the renting process and how it differs to being a student.

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 17:11:09 UTC

Money can be a worrying subject for many of us. Starting to think about a post-university budgeting plan can help you get to grips with things and prepare for the process of finding accommodation after university. Here's some online resources to start with:

MoneySavingExpert is a really useful website with lots of financial advice and resources. They also have a free budgeting spreadsheet that you can download, you can edit this however you like and tailor the sections based on your situation. You can download the Budget Planner spreadsheet on the MoneySavingExpert website here.
MoneyHelper also has a very user-friendly budget planner calculator - with this you can estimate costs based on what you might be expecting to pay and put in different amounts to see what you can afford. This can be really helpful with working out what your budget is for rent! You can access the Budget Planner calculator on the MoneyHelper website here.

Some words of wisdom from the lovely Iona as a recent Leeds graduate:

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 17:34:00 UTC

There are always going to be houses available across the year so don't rush into anything! Make sure the people your living with have a similar vision of how they want the living situation to be - what time you would both expect peace and quiet after, do you both like to go out or not, do you like it clean? You don't have to be on the exact same page with everything, but it is good to have an similar idea and to set standards before getting tied into anything.
If there’s anything additional that the landlord is going to provide (e.g. a kitchen table, a wall needs painting etc) make sure this is evidenced in writing in your contract and read it thoroughly before signing!
Always view the house before you sign anything and try make sure your housemates have viewed it too if possible.
Having a nice living area is important (this may seem obvious but it is your main communal space and you want to be able to use it). Having a dining table and chairs is essential too!
Bills included is the best way to go - it takes away the stress of working them out yourself and it can prevent arguments about who is using more energy (it also means you don't have to worry about putting the heating on in winter when its freezing!)

Here's what one of the fabulous EE Graduate Interns, Adam, has to say on renting after university:

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 17:35:14 UTC

After university, I stuck with my housemates, we were lucky in that we all got on really well. The guarantor process was slightly different, but otherwise it wasn't too different from renting as a student. Most estate agents around Leeds are quite used to working with students who are becoming first-time renters, and are happy to answer any questions you have and talk through all the paperwork.
At the moment I live with my partner, but next door to us is a house-share of 'young professionals' - people in their early 20s doing various kinds of jobs. They didn't know each other before they moved in. As far as I know, they all searched for “room to rent”, had a viewing of the house and their room, and sorted paperwork out individually with the landlord and estate agent. They also all seem to get on really well, even with different schedules, partners coming round etc. They have their room as totally their own space, and often socialise together in the living room or garden.

Top tips from the wonderful Cara, EE Graduate Intern:

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 17:37:21 UTC

Research bill costs – my student accommodations were always bills included, so I didn’t need to think about how much heating costs, or if I can afford the council tax of a certain area or type of house until now! Make sure to factor these changes into your wider budget, and consider that professional lets might also require larger deposits too.
Don’t get too attached to any houses you research online! They go very quickly indeed...
If you can, dedicate a day or two to going to viewings. Be prepared to act quickly, and start looking early, to save yourself the stress!
Consider your priorities and schedule, and research areas well. The liveliest parts of a city might sound fun, but if you’re working 9-5 or studying a postgraduate degree, you might prefer a quieter area. Additionally, do you want to live in a house with only professionals or only students, or do you want a mix of ages and occupations?

The lovely Nathan gives his top tips on renting as someone currently on a placement year!

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-22 18:07:54 UTC

Contracts

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-23 07:07:06 UTC

LUU Contract Checking Tool - as a student, you can access a free contract checking service with LUU. If you're in your final year and in the process of securing a place to rent after you graduate, you might want to consider getting in touch. You can also have an in-person follow up meeting with an advisor. To learn more about the LUU Contract Checking Service, visit the LUU webpage here.
Unipol - although Unipol primarily offer support and advice for students, lots of their resources are still very much relevant to first-time renters out of university. You can visit the Unipol website here to learn more about contracts.
Unipol Blog - Unipol also has a blog website with lots of useful and practical advice which demystifies different aspects of renting. You can access one of their helpful articles here with lots tips to bare in mind before signing the dotted line.

Guarantors, and what if I can't get one?

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-23 07:19:32 UTC

You might have had to provide a guarantor before if you rented as a student, but in case you're not familiar - to put it simply, a guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don't pay it. This might be a parent or close relative. If you're care experienced or estranged, or, if you're from a low income background, you might be questioning who you could name as a guarantor or wondering what your options are. Some landlords may provide alternatives for you, such as paying some rent in advance. Here are some places you can go to for more information:

Shelter - if you're unsure about guarantors and need more information, or if you don't have a guarantor, Shelter offers lots of helpful information about different options. You can visit the Shelter webpage on guarantors here.
AdviceNow - if you can't get a guarantor, AdviceNow has a helpful guide on what to do, depending on your specific circumstances. You can access the guide on their website here.
The Plus Programme - if you have experience in care or are an estranged student and you are still struggling to obtain a guarantor after reading through the above guidance, please do get in touch with our team on careleavers@leeds.ac.uk or estrangedstudents@leeds.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you.

Helpful Organisations

kwarrior1 — 2024-02-23 07:27:33 UTC

Citizen's Advice is a very useful resource when searching for housing and renting for the first time after graduating - they have lots of information on their website that might be helpful for you during this process. You can also speak directly with advisors. To find out more about Citizen's Advice and the support they provide, you can visit their website here.
If you're struggling financially or worried about money after graduating, Turn2Us is a charity that you can contact for advice - they also offer grants and support with local advisors. To find out more, visit the Turn2Us website here.
Finding housing can be stressful. Mind have lots of advice on what to do/where to go if you’re struggling with your mental health during this process. You can find out more about this on the Mind website here.
As mentioned in the previous sections, LUU is an incredible place to go to for support if you're struggling with the process of securing accommodation after university or need some additional support. For more information about the help and support available at LUU, visit their website here.

Renting as a student vs as a young professional - What's the Difference?

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-11 14:31:14 UTC

You might be wondering what the differences are between renting as a young professional and renting as a student. Here are some key things to consider:

Council Tax - one major difference is that you will have to start paying council tax if you are renting in the UK. You will need to start paying council tax when your registration as a student ends (this date will be on your student card). If you are house-sharing with other young professionals, this is something you can divide between you. It's worth baring in mind that if you house-share with students, you would not split the council tax (as you don't pay council tax as a student). You can find out more about Council Tax on the UK Government Website here.
Deposits/Proof of Income - if you rented as a student, you may be familiar with the process of paying a deposit (if not, a deposit is a fixed amount of money that you'll pay to your landlord before moving into your property that secures your tenancy, which you will be paid back at the end of your tenancy as long as the property is not damaged). A key difference with renting as a young professional, is you may be asked for proof of income. This differs depending on your landlord/housing agency, so it's worth getting in touch with them directly to discuss your options. You can find more information about this on the Citizen's UK website here.
Timeframe - if you rented as a student, you may have been able to secure accommodation/housing pretty far in advance, as many properties are listed for the following academic year as early as October/November. This may not be the case for professional renting - it might be that you have to wait until closer to the time, which can be worrying. Most websites recommend starting your search a few months in advance to be able to view as many available options as possible, but this may differ depending on your circumstances. In general, it's good to remember that there might not be many rooms/properties available to rent more than a few months in advance, of course this completely depends on where you're looking to rent as well. Budgeting and preparing in advance can also help with feeling more prepared financially to secure your accommodation when the time comes (see budgeting section for more information).
Accommodation type:
- If you have opted to live in university-owned accommodation throughout your studies, have had bills included in your rent, or if you haven't rented at all before, this might be the first time you are organising bills yourself. There are still bills included options when renting as a young professional, but not always, so it's worth familiarising yourself with what this involves. You can find a helpful breakdown of utility bills on the Zoopla website here.
- Whilst you still might have access to a general reception or concierge when renting as a young professional, you may have different arrangements to that of university-owned accommodation, it may be that your landlord is your first point of contact. This should be made clear in your contract, but it's a good idea to clarify who you should contact/what you should do if issues arise in the property or if there is an emergency.

Job Hunting and Next Steps

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-11 14:31:42 UTC

Securing accommodation after university and thinking about the next steps in terms of your career go hand in hand - you might already have started applying for graduate roles, or maybe you're considering postgraduate study. Whatever your circumstances or plans (or if you're completely unsure and don't have any idea), the Careers Service is there to help you work out what's next.

There is lots of support available across the university with the Careers Service. You can find out more about the various pockets of support available on their website here.
As a student (and as a graduate!) you also have access to MyCareer, where you can find lots of graduate job opportunities and placements. You can also book 1:1 appointments, application guidance sessions and mock interview sessions. You can access the MyCareer website and log in to your personal account here.
You can also get in touch with the Employability and Progression Assistants who have lots of information and resources to help you with working out what's next. They also host workshops, webinars, and weekly drop-ins. You can find more information about the EPAs and where to find them on the Careers Website here.

Ask us anything!

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-11 14:42:31 UTC

Please leave your questions here and we'll aim to get back to you as soon as possible!

Resources and Tips

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-11 16:28:50 UTC

Budgeting might be something you've done throughout your studies, or you maybe you've struggled to implement a budget up until now and are wanting to get your ducks in a row ahead of graduating. Either way, here are some useful resources and tips to help you learn more about budgeting and feel confident in your finances ahead of graduating.

"Round Up Pots" - you may already have a savings account, but some banks also have features to help you save money over time quite effortlessly. Monzo has a "Round Up Pot" feature, whereby payments you make are automatically rounded up, and the extra money is transferred into a separate pot. Over time, these small amounts add up and you can save quite a significant amount of money - which you could then put toward a deposit when you graduate, or a contingency fund for when your student finance stops. You can find out more about round up pots on the Monzo website here.

Budgeting Apps - something else you might want to look into to keep yourself on track, are budgeting apps. There are plenty out there, but one of the most popular free options is "Snoop". You can connect your bank accounts, track your spending, and identify areas where you could be saving. You can find more about the Snoop app on their website here.

Useful Starting Points

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-11 16:47:14 UTC

If you're planning on renting after you graduate, here are some useful websites to start with. Browsing available rental properties on these sites can help you gage an idea of average rental costs in different areas and subsequently to plan your own finances and decide where you want to live after university:

Rightmove - there are lots of rental properties available across the UK advertised on Rightmove. You can also create a free account to save properties, create alerts and keep track of enquiries you send to agents. You can access the Rightmove website here.

Zoopla - you can view rental properties across the UK and filter your search based on your preferences on the Zoopla website. You can also do a free home check on their website which provides more information about the local area of a property. You can access the Zoopla website here.
OpenRent - you can view places to rent that are available straight away on the OpenRent website. This might be quite helpful if you are looking for somewhere to rent as soon as possible. You can also speak directly with landlords. You can access the OpenRent website here.

Finding Your People (to house-share with!)

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-14 11:21:01 UTC

Social media is also an increasingly popular place to find rooms to rent (and people to rent with), particularly websites like Facebook. Although, it's very important to be weary of scams and fake ads. You can find a helpful guide to avoiding housing scams on the Unipol website here.
You will also likely be thinking about where you want to live after graduating - maybe you're considering relocating to a different city, moving abroad, or staying in Leeds! If you're planning on finding people in different cities/areas, social media can be a really useful tool. There are lots of different pages and groups available. One example, is the Facebook page "Gals Who Graduate", which has different subgroups across the UK that you can request to join. People often post when they are moving to a new city and looking to meet people, looking to rent a room, have a room available to rent, and much more. You can find the Gals Who Graduate Facebook page here.
There is also a separate page specifically for renting, "Gals Who Rent". Of course, it's super important to practice caution online. You can find the Gals Who Rent Facebook page here.

Budgeting Support at Leeds

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-14 15:39:51 UTC

LUU Advice Desk - if you're looking for some additional support with budgeting, housing, or finances in general, you might want to go and have a chat with one of the lovely advisors at the Advice Desk in LUU. You can find them in the Foyer Monday to Friday between 9:30am and 5pm. You can also get in touch via email if you'd prefer - advice@luu.leeds.ac.uk. See the video above for more information about the support they provide. You can also visit the LUU Help and Support website here for more information.
LUU Essentials - another amazing point of contact at LUU is the Essentials hub, which you can find upstairs on the balcony over The Refectory. If you're struggling with your finances, the hub can give you lots of helpful information about financial literacy. To find out more about the support they provide, you can visit the LUU website here.

Top Tips

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-15 08:40:04 UTC

Take photos: When moving into a property, it is a good idea to record and inventory and take photos/videos of the property so that you have evidence of the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy - keep these stored somewhere safe in case you need them when you move out!
Rate Your Landlord: If you're planning on renting, you might also want to visit the Rate Your Landlord website to find out more about a specific landlord or property. Previous tenants can leave honest reviews which might help inform your decision. You can visit the Rate Your Landlord website here.

Are you from a low income background and interested in a career in publishing/relocating to London?

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-15 08:55:49 UTC

The Spare Room Project is an initiative that aims to remove financial barriers for publishing hopefuls wanting to undertake work experience in London. The scheme matches interns and job seekers from outside London with people in the book industry who live in the capital and who can offer them a place to stay. If this sounds of interest to you, you can visit the Spare Room Project website here to find out more.

Support Contacts

kwarrior1 — 2024-03-15 09:10:32 UTC

Become - If you're care-experienced, Become is a charity that offer lots of support for care-leavers. They have a Care Advice Line which you can contact Monday to Friday for 1:1 support. For more information about the advice they have on housing and renting, you can visit the Become website here.
Our Way Leeds - If you're living in Leeds, Our Way Leeds is a service you can contact who provide support around accommodation for young people. Find out more about the support they provide on the Our Way Leeds website here.
The Rees Foundation - This is a charity that offer help and advice for individuals with care experience. You can visit the Rees Foundation Website here.
Shelter - Shelter is an incredible charity that offer support with housing, they also have a lot of really helpful and specific advice for care leavers. Visit the Shelter webpage on housing for care-leavers here.
The Plus Programme - As previously mentioned, The Plus Programme is always here for you if you are struggling. Please do get in touch with our team on careleavers@leeds.ac.uk or estrangedstudents@leeds.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you.