You will probably have spent the past three to four years of your life living comfortably under the umbrella of a student loan and if you were one of the lucky ones, this probably meant too that paying for rent wasn’t something you had to give much consideration. But as your university days come to an end and you enter the so-called “big, bad world”, finding the ideal first flat to rent can be a knotty situation to say the least. You’re in the right place however. Here is our 3-step guide for a first time renter after university!
The best piece of advice I could give is to open a savings account with your bank or building society around 6 months prior to leaving university. I’ve come to realise that a lot of property owners will require the first month’s rent as a deposit for securing a flat. This of course depends on the type of flat you intend to go for although this will probably be at least £400 – and that’s before you have even moved in. Your savings account will be your best friend through this venture.
Let’s be honest, students are fully qualified professionals when it comes to living life on a budget and so this had to be a point. This point applies to both before and after finding your flat. Putting yourself on a budget a few months before you plan to start your search means your savings account bestie will soon fill up.
It will come as a bit of a shock when you are paying for your rent from your own hard-earned money and so I would advise living a budget for another few months once you are in. It will allow you to figure out your monthly income and spending before you can get back to living exactly how you want to.
You may want to switch it up a little a move to a different, possibly bigger city post-uni. So, here is a mini-guide to some of the best cities to live in the UK.
Belfast – voted as the best city in the UK to be single by The Independent, Belfast provides low cost rent, affordable dining and some amazing culture and history.
Leeds – this city has some of the most aesthetically pleasing rooftop bars, the largest indoor market in Europe and an annual Carnival that has nothing on Nottinghill’s.
Manchester – home of some of the greatest musicians to grace the stage, the city of Manchester has a lot to offer in terms of arts, culture and entertainment. The city even has a mile long road called Curry Mile, filled with middle-Eastern and Asian takeaways if that’s what you’re into.
I get it; you want to live in an open space apartment in a high-rise building that overlooks the city. But that’s unfortunately an unrealistic thought during the post-uni phase of life as a first time renter. In order to get that dream apartment, you’re going to have to do some preparation. It will all pay off and you’ll be glad you read this article, trust me.
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