So, you have decided to take the next big step and move to Swansea for your university experience; or perhaps you have decided to relocate within the city – great! But what’s next?
In this guide, we will go through our top tips and advice for students going through the moving process in Swansea. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our previous blog post on the best areas for students to live and visit in Wales’ beautiful coastal city, here.
Your Tenancy Agreement
Your tenancy agreement is the contract you sign before moving into a student house or flat. Generally, students will either sign an individual contract, or a joint tenancy agreement that covers the whole group (within the shared accommodation).
It may seem tedious, but always read your agreement and check the small print.
- Are the dates correct?
- Have the right names been submitted?
- When are rent payments due, and what is the sum?
- Has the landlord agreed to repair a household item before you have moved in?
Furthermore, a student contract will usually require a guarantor who will agree to pay for your rent in the worst-case scenario. Make sure your guarantor is someone you trust and is someone who can make the payment if necessary. We recommend a family member or guardian.
Guarantors don’t have to be there to sign the document, but it may be worth bringing someone you trust to help you go over your agreement.
Your checklist
Before moving to your new student home, be sure you have packed the essentials.
You will want to remember any important documents, such as your bank cards, passport, driver’s license and tenancy agreement.
Additionally, you will need to ensure you pack everything relevant to your time at university. Calculators, notebooks, laptops, timetables, calendars; anything you feel will benefit your studies.
Next, we recommend bringing anything that can help transform your new house or flat into a cosy home. Games consoles, decorations, a tv, photos of family and friends – make your room suit you.
It may go without saying, but you will need appropriate clothing, hygiene products, bed sheets, and kitchen supplies. You may decide as a group to buy kitchen and cleaning supplies, so be sure to pay a fair share and get the correct items.
You may want to bring your car to university. If so, check that your accommodation has parking. Certain roads may require you to apply for a parking permit through Swansea Council. Overall, public transport for both university’s is very good, so you may want to leave your car at home.
It’s somewhat easy to forget, so write down a checklist. If you do forget a certain essential, go online or visit Swansea city centre, and try to use your student discount to get a good deal on the necessary products.
Your bills
Depending on the property, bills may or may not be included in the rent.
If the later, you will need to set up an account for gas, water, electricity and Wi-Fi. You may also want to consider a TV license (a requirement if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer) and contents insurance (to protect your laptop, computer, smartphone, etc.).
If you are living in shared student accommodation, be sure that everyone pays their fair share. You may want to put someone in charge of collecting payments.
Side note, council tax doesn’t apply to student houses/flats, so you need not worry. If applicable, you may need to fill out a council tax exemption form.
Your deposit
When moving into new accommodation, you will be required to pay a deposit to your agency or landlord. Essentially, this sum will be kept to protect against non-payment or damage to the property. Deposits are returned to occupants, provided rules have been followed. Here are our tips to ensure you get 100% of your deposit back:
https://www.studentdigz.com/blog/how-to-get-100-of-your-deposit-back
Your budget
Everyone’s student budget will vary, but to guarantee you can afford your rent and bills, we highly recommend you stick to a budget.
Swansea is a great city for students living on a budget and is ranked by The Sunday Times as one of the most affordable university cities in the UK.
Use your student discount online, find cheap but quality shops, restaurants and pubs, and check which nightclubs offer cheap nights to students. For example, Wind Street offers cheaper drinks and entry on Wednesdays, and Sin City Swansea offers a student discount on a Thursday.
To summarise
Moving to Swansea or moving student houses is a great new experience.
To prepare for your move be sure to read your contract, make a checklist of essentials, decide how you are going to pay your rent and bills, understand how your deposit works, and finally, make sure to spend wisely and stick to your student budget.
Again, you can check out our last blog post to find out the best places to live and visit in Swansea. Or you can read the rest of our blog to see more tips and advice for students.
