With 2017 well under way, now is the time to start thinking about accommodation for next
term. However, for those who have never rented a property before, the process can be

particularly daunting.

Finding your perfect property in the perfect location can be a long process, and with lots to
think about it’s easy to get stressed out with the whole thing. To help you get through this,
Carl Gibney, Director at Home Estates, shares his top tips on what to think about when
looking for next term’s accommodation.

Best friends forever?
While sharing a house with your seven new best friends may seem like a great idea, try to
be realistic, as breaking a contract early will involve administration costs. You’ll be surprised
how easily differing schedules will impact your day-to- day life.

Prime location
A key thing to consider when renting is location. It’s important to know the area you’re
planning on moving to - will there be times when you’re travelling home on your own after a
night out? If so, being close to a bus stop or train station would be sensible. If you’re still in
need of some advice, Home Estates are always on hand to offer first class advice.

Best practice budgeting
Before you move in you’ll need to pay a deposit on top of your first month’s rent. The
deposit is typically 4-6 weeks rent, which you’ll get back at the end of your tenancy
providing the property is returned in the same condition as prior to entering into your
tenancy.

And more budgeting…
Estate agents will charge administration fees for helping you find a property and setting up a
contract. Many Estate Agents charge anything between €100-€300, but at Home Estates we
charge students just €72 inc. VAT for application.
While sharing a house with your seven new best friends may seem like a great idea, try to
be realistic, as breaking a contract early will involve administration costs.

Bills, bills, bills
Anticipate all the different bills you’ll need to pay, and how you want to pay them. Gas,
electricity and water can all be paid by monthly direct debit or paid quarterly, or if you’re on
a meter you’ll have to ‘pay as you go’. Shop around for a good deal and when you first move
in make sure you take note of the gas and electricity readings so you aren’t over-charged.

At Home Estates we can take care of the whole process, as we work alongside a variety of
utility companies to offer tailored tenancy specific solutions.

Essential TV viewing
If a house has a TV in it, it needs a TV licence. You can pay for this in a one-off yearly
payment or by lightening the load through a monthly direct debit.

A record of your stay
When you first move into your property Home Estates will complete an inventory outlining
the property’s condition. At the end of your tenancy Home Estates will go through the
inventory to ensure everything is as it should be and anything that has been broken will
mean a cost deduction from your deposit.

Household bugbears
Running a household is never plain sailing. Issues such as damp, mould and mice can be
common problems but they’re easily avoided as long as you look after your house. Storing
food properly, and keeping surfaces clean will keep mice at bay and airing out the house will
prevent damp and mould!