It’s often said that the student years are some of the best of one’s life — and for good reasons. These years let you explore the world around you, meet new people, make new friends, and ultimately find out who you’re supposed to be in the long run.
Moving to a new country is a common practice among fresh graduates. Everyone loves the idea of leaving their home country to explore what others have to offer. If you’re one of those fresh graduates in the UK willing to set off for a different taste in the US, let’s say NYC, you need to arrange a new place to live there. Make sure to regularly check the rent trends in New York to guide you with finding a rental place before flying.
The majority of students prefer to live off-campus to ensure their freedom. Renting an apartment or some other type of living arrangement is crucial, and this handy guide is going to help you with that.
Understand what you can afford, and what you can’t
The major deciding factor in your renting decision is, of course, your budget. You can move into a luxury suite if your bank balance permits, but let’s be honest, most students aren’t in a position to afford the best and most luxurious living arrangements. Rental markets make it easy to find apartments for rent, compare different listings, and get the best deal possible, all within a user’s price range.
Understand your finances and determine how much money you can set aside for renting the property. During calculations, make sure to include various bills you’d have to pay during the stay. This calculation will set you up for the next steps.
Choose the type of living arrangement
Don’t get me wrong; living in on-campus hostels and halls is fun. But it’s nothing like having your arrangement and being able to live however you like. You can share your rented house or apartment with a few friends; it’ll divide the expenses among you and also provide you with a small community to live in. In those cases, you have to make sure that you agree with certain rules and regulations that others might have set up already, or make sure to talk about certain things you would want to change or add. For example, if you want to grow indoor plants with LED grow lights or plan any other home remodeling you will have to talk with your roommates or flatmates so you have an agreement.
If you’d like a bit more privacy, co-living spaces might be a good option for you. These spaces have separate bedrooms and bathrooms for every individual, but spaces like lounges and kitchens are mutual for everyone.
Search for the place
After you’ve chosen the type of living accommodation, it’s time to start searching for a property. You should kick off this step as early as 8 weeks before your term starts. It makes sure you can tackle the busy period when tons of students are searching for accommodations.
Shortlist the places you like; make sure to consider different variables that’d make or break the decision. Pay attention to how close the property is to your school or university, and if the specified area has a convenient transport infrastructure. If it has, the distance between your university and living space might not matter, as the fare for the transport is the same. However, if you have to arrange a private means of transport, considering the distance is crucial. While you are on the search, check for all the necessary devices, whether they work properly and if all the essential ones such as Water Heater installation, are already installed.
Prepare your documents
The renting process is vastly the same for students as it is for normal citizens, however, there are some minor tweaks here and there. That’s because it’s a tough feat to provide your income certificate or previous employment documents if you’re a student. In such cases, you must ready your bank statements worth three months, and the confirmation of course enrollment in your university. Convert to pdf the collection of your documents to save them in a portable format.
If you’re renting a property for the first time, you might also need to provide your character reference from a professional like a lawyer, doctor, or accountant.
Partner with a property management company
If you’d like to save yourself from the hassle of finding the right property yourself, you might want to partner with a property management company. These companies’ primary gig is to manage various properties and take care of their rentals. Getting in touch with one such company would streamline your rental process by a huge margin.
Final thoughts
Renting a property is the most important prerequisite for moving to a new area, especially for students. Students prefer to have their private rented apartment or house for privacy and freedom. However, finding and renting a private property on your own isn’t a walk in the park. When you decide to do so, however, the above-mentioned steps will guide you through the process.