We are aware that a number of students are facing challenges with regards to their accommodation for the coming academic year. We are in daily dialogue with senior University management on this issue and have been doing everything we possibly can through our Advice Centre and Lettings Agency to help students find accommodation. The University should be in contact with all those affected shortly, and we will continue to monitor the situation to reach a resolution for everyone.… Read the rest

The Advice Centre team at SUSU have put together this guide to support you in finding appropriate accommodation in Southampton. 

As you may not have housemates or be familiar with Southampton, this guide will support you in finding housemates, help your knowledge of where to live in Southampton and give you an understanding of how to safely rent a property.  

At all times, if you have any questions, you can contact SUSU Advice Centre  which is your practical support at university. We have advisers trained in housing matters who will be available to offer independent and impartial advice … Read the rest

When it comes to choosing where to live there’s a lot more to be considered than the house itself – good or bad housemates can make or break your student housing experience!

Living in student housing is very different at the moment compared to previous years. You’ll find yourself spending a lot more time with your housemates, possibly without any visits home, not attending lectures on campus and maybe not even being able to leave the house for part time work. You need to be absolutely sure that you can spend intense amounts of time with your housemates comfortably. 

Try … Read the rest

We’ve all heard horror stories from student housing – whether it’s nightmare landlords, houses with damage and disrepair or housemates you’d rather not be living with. But if you take time to choose your house carefully it can be a great experience! All this week we’re bringing you our advice and top tips on how to Rent Right this year.

Research Letting Agencies

You only need to ask a few friends and at least one will mention an agency that they have had issues with (perhaps one name will crop up more than once!) so it’s important to research who … Read the rest

So you’ve unpacked the boxes, stacked your pots and pans and waved goodbye to the car pulling up the road. Your new flat is now really yours; but what do you do now that you’ve actually moved into your new home?

We are here with a few ideas of what you can do to make your transition into student life as smooth as possible and to share some hints and tips about moving out and living in Southampton.

• Have a cuppa with your new housemates
  
  You may have met online before move-in, but these people are now living with you,

When you move to uni, it may feel like your room is full to the brim with stuff.

You are 1 part person, 3 parts IKEA purchases, shower caddies and pots and pans. There are boxes crammed with things you might need, could need, will inevitably share with your housemates and more tea towels than you know what to do with.

It is however inevitable that out of your entire flat, you won’t be able to find a single clean tea towel in a week. 

So, when you have hundreds of videos from popular studytubers and endless blog posts about … Read the rest

As you move back home for the summer, or move from one student house/flat to another, it’s important to remember how to stay safe during this process.

Moving out during Covid-19

The UK government have issued advice on moving house, which can be read here: Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus outbreak.
Their advice includes:

• The process of finding and moving into a new home is likely to be different, as those involved in the process will need to adapt practices and procedures to ensure that the risk of spread of coronavirus is reduced as far as

What has your student housing or accommodation been like this year? Was is clean or dirty… great or awful… well priced or expensive?

Whatever your experience has been like this year, we want to know! By taking our Rate Your Crib survey your feedback will help us support future students, whether they live in Halls, private rented accommodation or at home.

Plus, everyone who completes the survey will be enterted into our prize draw to win a month’s rent (£350)!

Complete our survey here: Rate Your Crib

Survey closes Sunday 19 July.

When did you learn to read your gas meter? Are you up to date with paying your bills? Are you getting the most out of your central heating? The Union is here to help you pick up key life skills this month!

Housing and Life Skills Day

Tuesday 29 January, 11:00 – 15:00, on the Redbrick (Highfield campus)
Learn more about student housing and important life skills you might not have mastered yet, like budgeting, maintaining your home and first aid.
There will be the opportunity to win prizes in our raffle too.

Meet a Housemate

Wednesday 30 January, 18:00 … Read the rest

Boo! It’s almost Halloween! Which means it’s almost that time of year where the student housing nightmare begins. Every year the rumours about all the good houses being gone begin to circulate, the rush of panicked house viewings start and deposits are begrudgingly handed over.

But what if we told you it didn’t have to be this way, that it’s OK to take your time, choose your new housemates wisely and that you don’t have to rush to rent?!

Sounds pretty good huh? Listen to our Welfare Wednesday podcast below to hear some student housing horror stories, sound advice … Read the rest