So, you’ve survived your first few months of uni, made some new mates, figured out how to work the washing machines (hopefully!) and finally found your feet in Chester. What’s next?
Well, if you’re currently living in student halls, now might be the perfect time to start thinking about where you’ll call home next year!
Moving out of halls and into your first student house is a pretty exciting milestone. No more shared corridors, a kitchen that actually feels like yours, and the chance to create a proper little home with your favourite people.
But before you start planning the housewarming party, there are a few things worth thinking about.
Whether you’re searching for student accommodation in Chester, looking for your first student house share, or simply wondering where to begin, we’ve put together our top tips to help you find a place you’ll love!
1. Best Areas for Student Accommodation in Chester
First things first, where do you actually want to live?
One of the best things about being a student in Chester is that there are so many lovely areas to choose from, each offering something a little different.
Maybe you’re after accommodation near the University of Chester, somewhere within walking distance of your campus, perhaps you’d rather be closer to the city centre, where you can make the most of Chester’s shops, cafés, pubs and nightlife, or maybe you fancy a quieter spot away from the city buzz, such as Hoole.
Here are a few areas worth considering:
- The Garden Quarter: A popular choice for Chester students, particularly those studying around the Parkgate Road campus. Think lively student atmosphere, local pubs, takeaways and plenty of fellow students nearby! Want to know more? Explore our guide to The Garden Quarter.
- Hoole: If you fancy somewhere with a slightly different feel, Hoole is packed with independent cafés, shops and lovely places to grab a bite. It’s worth exploring, particularly if you’re studying at Kingsway. Discover what it’s like living in Hoole.
- The Canal Basin areas: Another option to explore when searching for student houses in Chester, offering great access to the city and its surrounding neighbourhoods. Take a look at our guides to the Upper Canal Basin and Lower Canal Basin to find out more!
Our advice? Think about your everyday routine. How far are you willing to walk to lectures? Do you need easy access to transport? And, perhaps most importantly, how close do you want to be to your favourite takeaway?
Top tip: Take a wander around a few different neighbourhoods before committing. Sometimes you don’t know an area is right for you until you’ve explored it!
2. Choosing Who to Live With in Your Chester Student House
Ahh, the big question. Who are you going to live with?
Moving into a student house with your friends sounds like the dream, and it absolutely can be! But living together is a little different from popping into each other’s rooms in halls.
Before you start searching for your perfect student house share in Chester, have a proper chat about what everyone wants.
Are you all on the same page when it comes to cleanliness? Does someone love an early night while everyone else is out until 3am? And who’s going to be the one reminding everyone to take the bins out?
We’re not saying you need to interview your best mates, but understanding each other’s expectations can save a few awkward conversations further down the line!
And if you haven’t found your ideal group of housemates just yet, don’t panic.
There are plenty of students searching for individual rooms in shared student accommodation across Chester, so moving in with new people could be another great way to make friends.
Remember, the best housemates aren’t necessarily the people you’ve known the longest. They’re the people you feel comfortable sharing a home with.
3. Are You Looking for a Student Home or Just a Base?
Here’s something you might not have thought about.
What do you actually want from your student home?
For some students, accommodation is simply somewhere to sleep, shower and grab a bite between lectures, library sessions and nights out.
For others, it’s somewhere they’ll spend lots of their time, cooking with friends, watching films, studying and making memories.
Neither is right or wrong. It’s all about finding a student property that suits your lifestyle.
If you’re a bit of a homebody, you might want:
- A cosy communal living room for movie nights and relaxing with your housemates.
- A spacious kitchen where everyone can cook and eat together.
- A comfortable bedroom with enough space to study.
- Some outdoor space for the warmer months!
On the other hand, if you’re always out exploring, socialising or making the most of university life, location and affordability might be higher up your priority list.
Ask yourself: Can I genuinely picture myself living here?
After all, your student house should work for you, not the other way around!
Ready to see what’s out there?
Whether you’re looking for a cosy student house share in Chester or a spacious home for you and your mates, why not take a peek at what’s available?
Explore our student houses in Chester and start picturing where you could be living next year!
4. Budgeting for Your Student Accommodation in Chester
We know, we know. Talking about money isn’t quite as exciting as choosing your new bedroom, but it’s definitely an important part of finding your perfect student home!
Before you fall in love with a house, make sure you’ve worked out what you can comfortably afford. After all, you’ll want to have enough left over for those all-important coffee dates, takeaways and nights out in Chester!
The good news? All of our student properties at Chester Student Lets come with bills included! That’s right, no awkward conversations about who’s used the most heating or chasing your housemates for their share of the bills. Just one less thing to worry about!
And here’s another little bonus! All of our student homes come with a washing machine, meaning you can say goodbye to those additional pay-per-use laundry costs you might have become used to in halls. No more collecting your laundry, heading to the shared laundry room or paying every time you need to put a wash on!
With bills included and washing machines provided, moving into one of our student houses can offer great value for money, making it that little bit easier to manage your student budget.
When planning your budget, it’s still worth considering a few things:
- How much can you comfortably afford to spend on rent each week or month?
- Will you have enough left over for food, travel and socialising?
- Are you and your future housemates working with similar budgets?
- What upfront payments will you need to plan for?
Our top tip? Have an open conversation about budgets before you start booking viewings. There’s no point falling in love with a gorgeous student house if it’s going to leave you surviving on beans on toast for the rest of the year!
Finding the right student accommodation in Chester should be exciting, not stressful. And with bills included and washing machines in all our properties, budgeting for your next student home is that little bit easier!
5. What to Look for When Viewing Student Houses in Chester
It’s easy to get distracted by a lovely kitchen or a huge bedroom, but sometimes it’s the smaller details that make the biggest difference.
When viewing student houses in Chester, take a moment to think about what everyday life would actually look like.
Is there enough fridge space for everyone? Are there enough bathrooms for the number of people living there? Is there somewhere quiet to study when deadlines are looming?
And don’t forget to check things like storage space, washing facilities and internet connectivity.
These might not be the most exciting things to discuss during a viewing, but trust us, future you will be grateful!
Top tip: Make notes and ask plenty of questions during your viewing. Once you’ve seen a few different properties, it’s surprisingly easy to forget which house had which features! You can also check out the photos and videos available on our student property listings to refresh your memory and compare your favourites.
6. When Should You Start Looking for Student Accommodation in Chester?
We get it. Between lectures, assignments, social plans and everything else that comes with university life, finding somewhere to live next year might not be at the top of your to-do list.
But starting your search early can make the whole experience much easier.
Student houses in Chester are often in demand, particularly in popular locations close to the University of Chester.
In fact, November is typically when we start seeing a rush of enquiries from students looking for accommodation for the following academic year.
So, if you’ve found your ideal group of housemates and you’re starting to think about your next move, there’s no harm in getting ahead of the game!
Start exploring properties, arrange a few viewings and give yourselves plenty of time to decide.
Just remember, while it’s good to be organised, don’t feel pressured into signing for a house until you’re happy with the property, the people you’re living with and the tenancy agreement.
7. Find Your Perfect Student Home with Chester Student Lets!
Moving out of halls is a big step, but it’s also one of the most exciting parts of university life.
It’s your chance to find your own space, settle into a new routine and create some brilliant memories with the people around you.
And whether you’re looking for a lively student house share, a cosy place to call home or somewhere that’s perfectly positioned for your morning lectures, we’re here to help!
At Chester Student Lets, we know that no two students are the same, and neither are their ideal homes.
From helping you explore different areas of Chester to finding student accommodation that suits your budget and lifestyle, our friendly team is here to make the process feel a whole lot easier.
So, ready to swap student halls for your next home?
Browse our student houses in Chester, get in touch with our team or pop in and see us at 89 Garden Lane. We’d love to help you find your perfect place! 🏡
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