moving out for first time. advice needed for renting a room

Hi guys
I am finally moving out from my parents and going to Liverpool city centre.
I have just been using Google and found prices around £80 per week.
I want to live in a big house with loads of house mates. Seen some with 8 people and some 4.
There seems to be loads of search options.I already selected "professional" so I won't be living with hopefully sensible people?
Main reason I am moving is to make more friends and get a better social life as well as being closer to work.

Anyone know of any good websites? I heard of zoopla, is that good?

Any advice would be appreciated

Try rightmove.
Living with lots of people isn't as appealing as you might think. I'd say between 3-6 people.

Supporting My Local Mule Sanctuary Since 11/11/2014.

Buffalo wrote:Try rightmove.
Living with lots of people isn't as appealing as you might think. I'd say between 3-6 people.

Agreed, I'd say 4 others in the house as a maximum. If you are going to live in such a shared house make sure there's more than on bathroom; one between two is ideal.

I've used http://www.spareroom.co.uk/ before, seemed decent.

Smithdown Rd and Allerton Rd and anything that runs adjacent to them are cheap as chips and a short bus journey from the city centre. Loads of students in the area too. If you want to make friends join a few uni socs (if you can) and get in with the students.
Depends on your age thought and the sort of people you want to spend time with. I guess you';re looking for a middle ground between rowdy students and boring adults. Allerton was a little quieter. My brother lived on Garmoyle roads which was next to a park and seemed a bit nicer than the usual student abodes.

Lotus wrote:I've used http://www.spareroom.co.uk/ before, seemed decent.

I used this site to move and It was pretty good.

I'm in a house share paying £300 pcm includes everything but shopping.

Website

Try and share with at least one female because it keeps the atmosphere balanced and it provides the opportunity to mix with different social circles. When you go for an interview make yourself seem normal so the girls have no objections to you moving in.

Some advice for when you've found a place:
Wash up as soon as you have eaten.
Do your shopping at The Pound Shop and Lidl and your grocery budget can be up to 50% less.

Read the strawberry floating contract and take nothing the landlord / agent tells you on trust. If you want something sorted before the move in date get it added to the agreement BEFORE SIGNING. I would also initial all pages.

If there is something in the contract you don't understand, ask for clarification, you may feel a bit silly and not want to be embarrassed but better that than getting screwed over.

Ask questions, things like

1/ What happens if someone leaves, are the rest of us liable for the rent?
2/ Do we need a guarantor?
3/ Is council tax included in the the rent, if not what is the tax band of the property? (you then look it up on the council website for how much it will cost if the agent / landlord don't know the cost)

You may say that is bloody obvious advice, I can tell you from experience a lot of people don't do it.

In my experience it varies but yeah

1. If you're moving in with randomers, you will probably be expected to find new tenants or be prepared for some banana split to show up
2. Almost always, unless you have employment reference
3. Never

I always check the taps/hot water when I view a property. I don't care how akward it looks.

Obviously don't move in somewhere where the utilities don't look up to par. That's the most important thing.

I have let a few properties that have included the council tax in with the rent, it's dependant on the landlord and when you are looking. If the property has been vacant for a while or is soon to be vacant and they have no one to move in yet, you can get a bit cheeky with negotiating things like that.

You may want to be careful of moving in with students as well, if you are the only professional you will be liable for 75% of the council tax and they all get a free walk.

One last thing, if you like a property make a note and talk to your prospective housemates (if they aren't already living in the property), agree to go back later and have a word with the tenants and ask questions about issues with the property and how the landlord / agent is with regard to fixing any problems without the hovering busy body trying to dazzle you with hot a cold running water.

Green Gecko wrote:Obviously don't move in somewhere where the utilities don't look up to par. That's the most important thing.

The stories I could tell. :lol:

Also make sure you pay into and sign a deposit protection scheme. One or my landlords didn't bother which had been illegal for a few years.

And if you find a place you like with a group of people, and everything seems good, don't hang around too long or you might never get somewhere. I close most deals within a few days if not 24hrs (this is why you should have deposit money ready to put down) but that was in small town full of students queueing up for even the out of town places, and the alternative was having nowhere to go. Still I never got a bad deal just trust your gut.

Worth a read, don't miss the comments which also cover some pretty good points. And it's funny too!

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-everyone-forgets-to-check-when-apartment-hunting/

Just gonna bump this thread as I keep referring to it....any other good websites for moving guys? Looking for shared accommodation.

hey guys thank you so much for the tips here. I have been busy since I made this topic and was not sure if I was going to stay in Liverpool. But I know I am now. Looking online for a place to rent now and will take into account all the advice above.
Its quite hard finding somewhere nice at a good price.

Curls wrote:Just gonna bump this thread as I keep referring to it....any other good websites for moving guys? Looking for shared accommodation.

The ones previously mentioned are probably the best. But aside from them, there is always gumtree. Loads on there.

http://www.gumtree.com/c/flatshare

There is also the more extreme but cheap measure of couch surfing.

https://www.couchsurfing.org/

moving out for first time. advice needed for renting a room

Who is online

Affiliates