You must have heard that securing student accommodation in Waterford does not come easily. If you haven’t heard, I’m sure you have now. For this reason, a lot of students struggle to secure accommodation, and as a result, settle for less.
To save you stress and make things easier for you, World Scholarship Forum has compiled a step-by-step outline on how to get student accommodation in Waterford this year cheaply.
I’m sure one thing you won’t enjoy or fancy throughout your school career is putting up with a bad roommate or staying in an uncomfortable environment. That alone is a major turnoff!
According to the Irish Times, these days, it’s becoming harder for anyone to find a home, as students are pitted against workers in a desperate hunt for a dwindling number of accommodations. At the same time, rents are on the rise.
Before we give you a step by step outline of how to secure student accommodation in Waterford, take a quick look at the table of contents below to have a quick view of this article.
How Easy Is It To Get Student Accommodation In Waterford?
It’s about that time of the year where students in Waterford seek and search for accommodation.
Whether you are an international student that just got admission to study in Waterford, Ireland, or a national student that just got admitted into college, you need to secure student accommodation for obvious reasons. To make it easier and save you a lot of stress, our tips will guide you.
Tips on how to get student accommodation fast in Waterford
Tips 1 – Get in Early
You might want to ask, what’s the perfect time to get in early? Or is there any time that is late? Of course, when all the spaces become unavailable to you, lateness is there to a fault.
Due to the limited number of student accommodation available in Waterford, the sooner you apply, the more likely you are to get not just accommodation but good quality accommodation before it gets filled. So, getting in early is an ideal tip for securing student accommodation in Waterford.
Tip 2 – Set a price budget
Setting a price budget helps you streamline your search. This is very important because knowing your financial budget allows you to do what is within your capacity and enables you to meet up with the charges when need be.
For instance, you can find some student rooms for as low as €50 -€55 per week in the Waterford market but you’ll find that there’s an additional price to pay, whether it be; sharing a 6 bedroom house with limited toilet facilities with 5 other students from all different walks of life, poor furnishings, indifferent landlords or cold older houses.
Therefore, to make things easier, you need to research the environment and their standard of living. I’m pretty sure getting student accommodation isn’t the end of the financial obligation, you will surely consider the cost of getting a TV, internet charges and a lot of bills to be paid.
In other words, consider all the costs that are involved, not just the advertised rental price.
Tip 3 – Consider the location
When looking for accommodation anywhere, it is important you consider the location because after a long day at school you won’t want to have a long bus ride going home.
Therefore, selecting a property within a short walk of your campus will improve your quality of life, by saving you the stress of having to pay for a bus ride every day. If you are attending the WIT Cork Road campus, then Templars Hall provides modern-style homes on the college’s doorstep from €65 per week for a single room to €75 for a double, although bills will be added to this.
Tip 4 – Ask for advice from existing students or a reliable agency
Seeking advice from those that have lived there or experts in the business will give a clearer insight into what is involved and the type of environment you are about to get into.
You can decide to use a student or fellow who has already lived in the place as a resource or better still, a reliable property agency. A property or trade agent will be in the best position to advise you according to your needs because he or she has authentic information about a particular location and the student accommodation there.
In an ideal situation, your agent should be the managing agent of the complex too. This would allow them to resolve issues that may arise.
Tip 5 – Don’t forget to check the school website for college accommodation
This is obviously one of the first things every college newbie should do. Most colleges have accommodation websites and offices.
All you need to do is get access to your college accommodation office and find out the available spaces and how to secure one for yourself.
SEE ALSO: 5 Affordable universities in Ireland for International Students
When To hunt For Student Accommodation In Waterford
Every year thousands of students in Waterford search for the perfect home for their next year at university. Whether you are in your first year or doing your masters, knowing when to look for your student property is an essential factor in finding the best place to live.
First-year students
Most first-year students will tend to spend the first year in student halls. This is truly a great place to meet new people and get involved in the student lifestyle.
The process of getting a place is usually fairly candid, which makes it another plus for busy new students. Usually, universities remain in close communication with new students and will set a deadline for applications for halls. Therefore, it’s now up to you to keep up with the set deadlines.
Contrarily, If you cannot meet the deadline, halls are full, or you would prefer to live somewhere else, then your first step is to put u an estimated cost and plan who you want to live with.
As soon as you have decided to stay off-campus, you can begin the hostel search by following the aforementioned tips. There are usually places available throughout the year, but looking for accommodation when all the second and third years are, usually around June and July, will mean more competition in finding a place you like.
Nevertheless, some universities in Waterford hold meet up house hunting events for late registers and people who failed to meet the deadline for halls so they can network and find a place together.
Finding the perfect place off camp and perfect housemates in a short space of time can be stressful, so to avoid such stress as a freshman, start the search early.
Returning students
Most second-year students find it difficult to put up with halls after staying there in the first year for some reasons best known to them. Therefore, for students who want to live outside the school halls, searching for accommodation as early as November might be ideal. This is because, and as the months go by, it grows more intense – as other students begin their hunt.
To some students, kicking off the house hunt around November might not seem perfect to them, however. It all depends on what you are looking for and how organized you are. Therefore, if you want to make sure that you get a place early and you already have who you want to live with, then starting your house hunt in winter is completely acceptable. It gives you enough time you need to comb.
Contrarily, if you are still debating who to live with, or simply want to concentrate on your coursework before looking for a new place to live, waiting until the summer won’t be a bad idea.
To assist students, letting agencies normally put their properties up for rent earlier, you can still find private rentals during the later terms.
Summarily, patience is the key when house hunting. Try to look past the house hunting pressure and take the time to find your perfect house and housemates. Starting early will be an advantage.
YOU MAY WANT TO SEE: Study in Ireland: Universities Tuition Fees & List of top Universities
Things To Look Out For When Searching For Student Accommodation In Waterford
Finding the perfect accommodation doesn’t have to be a burden. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that there is more to consider than just the size of your bedroom and how close you’ll be to the nearest pub! See our list of things to look out for when moving into a new student house.
The Exterior
- Make sure the roof is in perfect shape, and tiles aren’t missing.
- Confirm that the gutters and pipes aren’t broken, leaking, or full of grass.
- Ensure the windows and window frames are in good shape.
The Interior
- No signs of damp – e.g. dark patches, peeling wallpaper or flaking paint, mold, or smell of must.
- Few signs of condensation such as mold on the walls.
- Make sure there aren’t any signs of pests, like slug trails and mouse droppings.
Gas & Electricity
- Ensure that the plugs don’t get hot when switched on and that there are plenty of sockets.
- Make sure the wiring doesn’t look old, there aren’t any frayed cables.
- Switch on the gas burner to check if the fire heats properly and isn’t heat-stained. Also note the condition of all hobs/rings, oven & grill, and ensure they aren’t rusty and dirty.
Plumbing
- Make sure there’s a functional heater.
- Check if the taps are functioning properly.
- Ensure that the bath and basins aren’t cracked, and the toilet flushes properly.
Security
- Check if the external doors are solid with five-bar mortice locks. Your insurance may insist on this.
- Confirm that the internal bedroom doors all have locks.
- Make sure the windows all have locks or are secure.
- Check for a burglar alarm. It will be in your best interest if one is installed.
- Check if the building has a smoke detector.
Household Costs
Bills….
- Confirm what is included in your rent. For instance, some agents/landlords include water rates, others don’t.
- Find out the rough cost of gas, electricity, and water.
- Take readings of the relevant meters as soon as you can once the last tenants have left.
- Change the bills to your name with the appropriate suppliers from the time you move in…..decide whether joint names will be put on the bills or if the responsibility will be divided.
Insurance
- Ensure you get the perfect insurance package – the number of burglaries and thefts in student houses is rising!
- Shop around to find the right insurance package for your requirements. The local Insurance Broker near UCD is OHC Insurances www.ohc.ie Email [email protected] ph. 353-1-2951266.
- Make sure that you’re covered over the holidays.
TV Licence
Students are covered by the same licensing requirements as the rest of the population. A student living in halls, a bedsit, or will require a license a flat. If you want more information, please visit www.anpost.ie
Types of Students Accommodation In Waterford
The three basic types of students accommodation in Waterford are;
In this type of accommodation, you share a house or apartment with other tenants. Landlords must provide you with a rent book, a written contract, or lease. Rent books are normally available at your students’ union office for free.
This type of accommodation allows you to invite your friends and own your own garden and front door. On the other hand, you’re responsible for maintaining your house like paying bills, TV licenses, etc.
WIT On-Campus Student Accommodation
Students who choose to live on campus have various campus accommodation locations to choose from – College Fields, located on the Cork Road Campus or Manor Village, two minutes’ walk from College Street Campus. A shuttle bus running between the two campuses calls to Manor Village, providing outstanding service to the residents.
College Fields apartments—there is a choice of three and four-bed apartments with all rooms en-suite. This apartment complex is ideal for students using the campus facilities out of hours—it’s a brief jog from the gym and sports hall and adjacent to the all-weather pitch.
Manor Village is approximately 400 meters from the College Street Campus. With the benefit of the shuttle bus and the fact that it’s on the City’s bus route, getting to the Cork Road campus couldn’t be easier. Many residents have bicycles that can be stored in the covered car park. Residents at Manor Village can also avail of broadband connection.
A laundry facility is in the College Field Apartments and Manor Village. They provide the same day service.
SEE ALSO: How to Get Student Accommodation in Edinburgh | Complete Guide
Digs Accommodation
This type of accommodation involves staying with a host family where you will be provided with a bed and food. This accommodation normally runs from Monday to Friday and occasionally including weekends at an additional cost. Digs accommodation is perfect for students who literally need a place to sleep, eat, study, and shower. Nevertheless, students may have to cope with the strict house rules from the landlord or older person in charge.
Where Can I Find Cheap Accommodation For Students In Waterford?
To get access to cheap student houses, endeavors to utilize the local listings or visit the following websites;
Conclusion
Every year thousands of students in Waterford search for the perfect home for their next year at university. Whether you are in your first year or doing your masters, knowing when to look for your student property is an essential factor in finding the best place to live. Therefore, sticking to the above tips on how to get accommodation fast in Waterford will prove helpful.
FAQs On Student Accommodation In Waterford
Practically, it is difficult. However, if you stick to a certain set of rules like – starting early to search for a hostel, know your budget, ask for help from current students and meet letting agency for assistance
Most first years’ fancy staying in the university hostel halls. Getting a place is usually fairly candid, which makes it easier for new students. Usually, universities remain in close communication with new students and will set a deadline for applications for halls.
To get access to cheap student houses, endeavors to use the local listings by searching for the keywords on google.
