and expert tips to keep your rent to a minimum
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Thousands of young people are under-estimating the real cost of student accommodation, a report has suggested.
More than one in five current and soon-to-be students expect to splurge between 51% and 75% of their loan on rent over the next year, a poll by Uniplaces.com found - that's £51 to £100 a week - or £400 a month.
A further 17% predict the cost to be as high as £150 a week - admitting they may have to borrow from friends and family to make ends meet.
However, experts say they're hugely in the dark about the actual cost of life away from home.
Uniplaces - which specialises in student accommodation - said the average cost of a room in a hall of residence is £543 per month, which equates to around £135 a week, based on a comparison across 20 institutions.
It comes on the week of A Level results day - the day millions of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will find out whether they qualify for a place in higher education.
How much students spend on housing £135 How much housing costs the average student a week in the UK Source: Uniplaces
Uniplaces.com chief executive Ben Grech said: "As we start a new university year, many students will be finalising where they are going to live.
"We've found through our research that there is a major discrepancy in the student cost of living across the country, and that while £150 per week may be more than you need in the North, in the South the housing is more expensive and it will push the upper limits of any student's budget.
"We also found that a lot of young people are relying on their student loans to get them a place to live."
Student Tenant's tips to save on university rent
1. Make sure you’re not paying council tax
If you’re living in student accommodation with other students, you won’t have to pay any council tax for the duration of your university course.
You’re classed as a full-time student for council tax rules if:
You’re aged over 18 and you’re studying at a university, college, or similar.
Your university course lasts for at least 24 weeks in the year.
Your university course involves at least 21 hours of study per week.
Students living in student halls of residence will automatically be exempt, and will not be required to tell the council.
However if you live in a house share, it's likely that you’ll receive a council tax bill during your tenancy. All you’ll need to do is get in contact with your local council and apply for student exceptions. Usually, you’ll be required to give them your name, student number and university course, and they’ll be able to arrange your exception electronically for you.
If you’re living in a student house with someone who isn't a student, they will have to pay council tax for living in the property, and will be responsible for paying it. They’ll be eligible for a 25% discount off the total council tax bill for living with student housemates.
2. Use less energy
Cutting down how much you’ve spent on bills will add up in the long-run, and a few small changes will help bring your bills down.
Feeling cold? Rather than putting on the thermostat, just chuck on a thick-woolly jumper. You’ve already paid for the jumper, so why purchase heating what you do slip on something to keep you warm.
Choosing an energy saving light bulb will save you up-to £10 on your electricity bill per light bulb. That’s right, £10 a year, just for changing to a £3 energy efficient light bulb.
Switching off the lights. If you’re not in the room, turn the lights off. You’re going to be wasting power, and throwing money away if you’re not using it.
Don’t block radiators - Avoid putting the sofa in front of the radiator as it will absorb a lot of heat, preventing it from warming up the rest of the house. Wash clothes at a lower temperature - Dropping the temperature of your washing machine can help save on electricity, so next time you're doing a standard wash, drop it down a notch. Limit showers to fewer than 10 minutes - Rather than spend hours in the shower, use a timer to keep your showers short and sharp. Unplug devices - It may sound like a hassle, but money can be saved by unplugging the TV, hair straighteners, games consoles and other devices at the mains, rather than leaving them on standby. Use the kettle to boil water when cooking - When cooking pasta or rice, use the kettle to boil water instead of heating a pan on the stove. When making a cup of tea or coffee, only boil the water you need. Use of the microwave - When possible, cook food in the microwave, rather than in an electric oven. Microwaving food such as a jacket potato for 10 minutes instead of oven cooking for an hour can save around £2.50 a week according to British Gas experts.
3. Student accommodation insurance
Check your parent's cover. If your parents have home insurance, the perishables in your student house may be automatically covered under the ‘temporarily removed from the home’ section. The cover will only apply whilst you’re living at university and if your parent’s home is your permanent address.
If you are in need of insurance, don’t assume that student insurance is cheaper.
Be wary of using comparison sites for contents insurance in rented student accommodation or shared student housing; you need to make sure the policy covers you and your living situation. As a renter, your landlord is responsible for buildings insurance, so you should only be getting contents cover.
Lock your doors. If you're in shared student accommodation, your insurance won't cover you for theft unless there's been a violent or forced entry. So always make sure you lock your room door when you leave, even if you're just popping out briefly.
4. Ensure your deposit is protected
It’s important to know your rights in private digs to make sure you’re protecting your money.
Landlords must protect your deposit in a government backed scheme. Your student landlord will have 30 days from the day they receive your deposit to put it into a tenancy deposit protection scheme, and they must provide proof of this if asked.
If they fail to put your deposit in a scheme, you could be entitled to up to four time your deposit value in compensation.
Make sure a check-in and property inventory are completed. Ask your landlord to carry out an inventory check before you move in; including a full description of the condition of anything inside the property and images too.
This will protect you at the end of your tenancy, and if there’s damage which was there once you moved in, it will give you proof in case of a dispute.
If you're already in dispute with your landlord, see our guide on how to make sure you get your deposit back in full .