Energy efficiency can save you money if you follow these simple points:-

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• Always think about fuel costs before you move in. If possible ask current tenants about their full bills, ask the landlord if the property has been energy improved.
• If buying/hiring a washing machine/fridge or  a freezer, choose one that is energy efficient. If you have off-peak (economy 7) electricity, do your washing at night. 
• If you have a room thermostat reduce it by 1 deg Celsius. Only pay for the heat you need, turn off radiators in rooms not in use. when you go out turn down thermostat valves on your radiators if you have any.   
• Turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. if possible get low energy light bulbs, on average uses five times less electricity and lasts up to eight times longer.
• Damp rooms are harder to heat, try to open the window first thing in the morning to let moist air out. do not forget to close it when you leave.
• Wait until you have a full load of washing, use the half load or economy button on the washing machine.
• Take a shower instead of a bath & don’t fill up the kettle too much.

•Halls of residence
•House share
•Room in a private house
•Private flat
•Private sector halls of residence
•Parent purchasers
Halls of Residence

These are buildings owned by the university for the purpose of housing students. Due to their limited availability “halls” are generally only available to first year students. Living in halls give students time to settle into their new environment and make friends before moving into privately rented accommodation in their second year.

As long as you are prepared to abide by the rules, halls of residence are an excellent option for first year students. They provide value for money accommodation and are generally located on campus or within easy reach of the university. Other benefits include having your linen washed once a week and the bathrooms cleaned regularly – a veritable home from home. Students will be asked to sign a Residence Agreement lasting approximately 40 weeks.

House/ Flat Share

This is the most common type of private rented accommodation for students and the main focus of this guide. Finding good quality accommodation to share is no easy task and as you will see as you read through this guide there are many hurdles to cross along the way.

Room in a Private House

It’s no longer just eccentric old ladies that take in lodgers these days; the “Rent a Room” scheme has made it a tax efficient way for all sorts of homeowners struggling with a mortgage to bring in some extra cash.

This may not be the type of accommodation that you had in mind when you imagined your wild student days ahead but if you have left it late it may be preferable to some of the more squalid shared houses. At least with this type of accommodation you are generally guaranteed a well maintained property at a reasonable rent and no additional bills.

Resident landlords have greater freedom to bring your tenancy to an end because it is acknowledged that, should the relationship between the landlord and tenant break down, the landlord is more vulnerable in his or her own home.

If you go for this type of a let make sure that you have exclusive use of at least one room and that your Landlord cannot enter it without giving you notice. This should ensure that you have a tenancy rather than a license giving you more rights.

Rights governing students that rent a room in someone’s home

Private Flat

Having spent several months living with housemates that would make Kim and Aggie raise the white flag you may begin to dream of your own place. The trouble is that it’s expensive and therefore out of reach for most students. Faced with a probable 100% increase in your accommodation costs it’s easier to see the positives in sharing a house; the camaraderie, the solidarity, the thrill of never knowing if your food is still in the fridge!

Private sector Halls of Residence

These are a fairly recent addition to the choices available to students. Developers were quick to see a way of cashing in on the rising number of students requiring inner city accommodation. These properties tend to be designed around the principles of a shared house with four or five single rooms grouped around a communal kitchen/ diner.

They are generally new build multi storey blocks and are fitted out to a similar standard of a three star hotel with en-suite bathrooms and large communal areas. They tend to be a bit more expensive than the universities’ halls and as they are independent you will be sharing with a diverse mixture of people. This could be the option for you if you still get excited about staying in a single room in a cheap hotel!

Parent Purchasers

This is a trend that started around the mid 1990s and has been gathering pace ever since. Rather than fork out for their student off-spring’s rent, parents take the opportunity to become buy-to-let Landlords. Their son or daughter invite three or four of their most trustworthy friends to become tenants and Mum and Dad can pay off the student loan with their capital growth. It sounds like a classic win-win situation but not always if you are the purchaser’s child.

In the same way that it’s difficult to separate the girl at the call centre from that nasty bank that bounced your last rent cheque your fellow tenants will see you as the Landlord’s representative on the ground. Imagine the dilemmas; one of your housemates can’t come on a night out with you because they’ve only just got enough money to pay their rent or your parents get a complaint about the noise and ask you to sort it out.

If your parents are proposing buying a property for you to live in urge them to give it to a local agent to manage and collect the rent. Most agents will manage properties for a monthly fee even if they have not supplied the tenants.

Home Away From Home: Finding Student accommodation

So you’ve got the grades, got the uni place and your bags are packed; itching to move into student digs and out of your parents house.

But finding accommodation in your freshman year and throughout uni for that matter can seem like a bit of a minefield. So here are a few pointers to set you in the right direction:

· Get to know the area: Although some students live at home, for many it’s a chance to get to know somewhere different.

If you don’t know much about the area you’re moving to, try to check it out before you arrive, either at an open day or by asking your student housing officer for information about districts and travelling time to your campus.

Take a look at your university or college’s prospectus.

· Halls and uni accommodation: Lots of first year students opt for halls; it’s a good way to meet other students and it’s convenient for day-to-day needs.

A number of universities and colleges now manage their accommodation in line with government-approved codes of practice.

· Private acomodation: Particularly in the second year, many students move into private accommodation, often with groups of friends.

If you’re thinking of sharing, bear in mind that most student houses have between three and six bedrooms – with more people, it might be worth splitting the group to find somewhere suitable.

Other options include a bedsit or flat of your own, or living as a lodger in your landlord’s house.

· Letting agencies

Letting agencies can help locate a suitable property for you to rent.

Remember that letting agencies can’t charge you for just conducting a search. However, they can charge a fee if you decide to accept any accommodation they find for you.

If you decide to register with a letting agent, make sure they are accredited with the National Approved Letting Scheme or that they belong to a trades body such as the Association of Retail Letting Agents or the Royal Institition of Chartered Surveyors.

· Safety first: If you are moving into new accommodation, whether a hall of residence or a private house, make sure the property is safe and free from hazards.

This includes ensuring that gas or electrical appliances are safe to use, that furniture meets fire safety standards, and that the property is free from major hazards.

· Getting problems – sorted! Housing law and tenancy issues can be complex, so try not to create your own assumptions about the law.

If you run into difficulties or financial hardship, always seek help first from the housing office at your university or college.

You can also get expert advice from independent sources such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or Shelter.

If you still don’t feel too happy about where or who you’ve be living with have a chat to your student union about it – teething problems in students’ freshman year are common, so don’t think you’re alone!