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Househunting And Housemates: Your Handy Guide To A Happy Year


Hello! It's Matt here. Welcome back to Stridi Towers.

It’s the time of year when everyone is meeting potential housemates, fitting in house viewings between lectures and putting your name down on that perfect house right next to the bus stop. Even if it does have a small kitchen.

That is, unless you’re lucky enough to have found your perfect set of housemates in first year, and you don’t need to move again for the whole of uni. 

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

But if you’re not quite so fortunate, I’m here to provide you with a few tips for finding the perfect house, as well as the perfect housemates. First of all, I'll clarify that its worth contacting your university, as many unis have a message board for people looking for housemates. Or, at the very least, they'll be able to point you in the direction of the accomodation team, who will have some handy information for you.

However, if you’ve reached third year and you’re a house-hunting veteran, I’m sure you’ll be fully aware of the complexities involved in finding a good house and accompanying housemates. It’s not always as easy as just sticking with that person you got on well with in lectures at the start of uni. A few months later, it might become apparent that they blast music at full volume while you’re trying to meet an imminent deadline. Or leave their dishes lying around for days on end.

Photo by energepic.com from Pexels
But that’s not to say that you definitely shouldn’t live with your new friends in first year, in fact it’s a fantastic feeling to make some new pals at uni and discover that either they’re also house hunting for next year, or they’ve got a spare room going.

But it’s good to get to know people first. It’s a bit like dating. I recall getting to the end of second year, in a house of four, with two of them graduating that summer. The remaining two of us had to search for pastures new. We advertised online and ended up meeting up with a few different groups of people. This can be great, because it’s a good excuse to meet up for a cheeky orange juice and get to know some new people. But on the other hand, it can also involve awkward silences if there isn’t much chemistry. 

Photo by fauxels from Pexels

Think about the characteristics of your new friends. If they’re relaxed, fun-loving and enjoy going out in the evenings, then that might also mean that the washing up will rarely be done.
Also, bear in mind that you’ll be living with these people for at least a year. Can you put up with the EastEnders theme tune for that long?

The size of the household is also important. Fallouts between housemates can have varying effects depending on how many housemates you have. If there’s only four of you, you might be in each other’s way. If there’s 8 or 9 of you, there’ll be more hiding places but the atmosphere might effect the other housemates and cause other issues. 

It’s all very complicated, isn’t it?!

But there are many positives to living with people at uni. Find a great group of people and you’re set for three years. Find a group of people where you all have great chemistry, and you’ll be up all night playing cards. 

Photo by fauxels from Pexels
It’s a good idea to spend as much time with potential housemates outside of uni as possible. This way, you’ll get a good idea of their personality and what they’ll be like to live with. It’s a more obvious one, but going to their house isn’t bad either. You can see first hand the type of environment they live in, and whether it’s something you’ll be happy with. 

In terms of the house itself, it’s important to bear a few things in mind, namely: is the landlord/lady approachable and easy to contact? If not, you might be in for a few mornings of cold showers if there are any problems with the boiler. 

How big is the living area – are you going to be in each other’s way, while you’re rushing around to get ready for your 9am lecture? How close are you to the bus route for the university? 

Just remember that you don’t have to say yes to the first house you see, or the first set of housemates that you meet. Even if it feels like you’re the last person left house hunting, it’s important to ensure that you are happy with the decision. There will still be spare rooms available in the summer, and even as late as September and October, if need be. Pay close attention to the feeling, or the vibe that you get, when you visit a house for the first time. If you like it, and the place fills you with optimism, then that’s often a good sign that it’s the right move to make. 

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