Patience is a virtue and virtue is GOOD housing..

So if you know me – I’ve probably taken over your conversations of finding housing next year by badgering on about WAITING until after Christmas to sign those contracts!

I do get it, House Hunting is difficult. You find those friends, you hang out a lot and decide together “yeah we like nights out together, you’re full of banter, lets live together next year”

Comes to next September/October – “they are a nightmare to live with and they are so noisy” or “We just chose the first house.. it looked great.. We’ve been ripped off..”

As a previous student I know it feels like a pressure field with landlords telling you to renew your contract or find your house before you get back home for that Christmas Dinner but it’s simply not the case.

Landlords are very clever in getting you to believe

“All the best houses go before Christmas” and “this is the last 4,5,6 bed in Canterbury”..

Trust me I’ve heard it all ..

We don’t want you to feel pressured into your housing.. Most of you have only been in the city for 2 months.. That’s not even long enough to know you can order dominos to your university halls!

What’s the rush?

January 21^st is when you should start looking – Every year there is an Accommodation Fair at Augustine House that includes all the Home Stamp Accredited Landlords to show you exactly what you are going to be signing up for.

I assure you – if you wait until then you will not be living in a cardboard box – you will get better prices and you will feel a lot less stressed and enjoy that Christmas holiday you are all yearning for!

Here are some Interesting Facts worth noting:

-          In August there were 249 rooms available in houses within a 10 minute walk to campus – all ranging from 4-5-6 beds available in one house!

-          Shopping around the housing fair on 21^st January helps you to find out how much you have to pay for admin and/or deposits – it could be anything from £0 – 1000 or more so do your research!

-          Myself and Kate Ogilvie try to be in Laud on a Monday to give you advice on any housing problems – or you can come see me in the Students Union! I’m here to help!

All in all – Chill out – Patience is a virtue – Waiting could save you alot of headache next year!