The academic year of 2018/2019 is just around the corner. Did you find a proper student room to rent at a decent price? Many haven’t yet, but be reassured that you’re not alone. Students who are looking for an accommodation in Dublin at the moment can be counted by the thousands. Imagine one of those swarms of flies you accidentally run into when walking in a park. Numberless tiny little beings that end up in you nostrils and your throat and make you almost choke to death. That’s the size of your competition. And that’s the feeling of looking of a student house to rent in Dublin.
We all know that the biggest obstacle in a student’s life is the cost of accommodation. As demand keeps increasing, Dublin has become one of the most expensive cities to live in.
If it’s your first year of room hunting or you’re an international student needing student accommodation, you might not even know what are the requisites for a decorous student residence or which are the best areas to live in Dublin.
In this blog, we would like to give you an idea of what a decent student living should be like, recognize frauds and evaluate the quality of a student facility.
You might also want to read our last blog post How To Find An Affordable Accommodation In Dublin, a practical guide to find the best student accommodation in Dublin on a budget
Are you ready? Let’s start sniffing around!
Best Locations To Live In Dublin
Let’s start with WHERE to look for a rental accommodation in Dublin. Which are Dublin’s best areas to live in? Most of the students look for something at walking distance from their university. In the collective imagination, heaven is waking up 5 minutes before class and triumphantly entering the classroom in your pajamas. We can’t deny how empowering that feels, but there are other aspects to take into consideration. For instance, commodities. When you finish your long day of lectures and tutorials, you might want to stick to that “keep fit” resolution. Believe us, you’ll never make it if you have to catch two buses and Noah's ark to get to the gym.
Sometimes, you might also have to procure yourself some food. You can’t live on Domino’s pizza every day, can you? Well, living next to a discount supermarket like Lidl or Aldi might actually increase your chances of eating healthy every once in a while. When you walk past a supermarket and all the planets of the solar system align, you could think: “I’m going to have a salad tonight. I’m sick of the usual deep fried chicken with deep fried pork covered in deep fried mutton!”
Another thing you might want to have near where you live is a park. We are not saying you should go jogging every day, let’s be realistic knowing the Irish weather. However, a green area is good for your mind and your soul. If you want to have a break from the stressful, asphyxiating city, a walk in a park will make you feel reborn. Some psychologists asserted that living next to a green area substantially improves your mood, even just by looking at it.
A lively area, with lots of supermarkets, gyms and amenities is Santry. The living costs are not as high as in more central areas and it’s a safe place to live.
Luckily, we happen to know a really nice student hall in Santry. It’s cozy, equipped with all comforts and the staff is absolutely amazing. Come visit us at Northwood, in the Santry Demesne in Dublin 9 or visit our website for more information!
Best Room For The Best Price
It’s now time to acquire the basic skills of a smart house hunter, able to spot the smallest flaw in the fixtures or the tiniest hole in the kitchen sofa. To be able to recognize the quality of the flat you see is very important to make a wise, forward-looking choice. Here is a list of the things you should check:
The fixtures. Always check their condition and thickness. Good fixtures mean a warmer house, which means less heating consumption and lower bills. Verify that all the windows close well and that there are no draughts. It is also preferable to avoid ground floor and last floor apartments because heat disperses more easily and there’s a much higher level of humidity.
The fridge. Go for the big one. Especially if you share the flat with other students, it’s important to have a fridge of a sufficient size for you to store your winter provisions without starting a war with your flatmates. We’ve heard of friendships’ ends because the vegetable drawer was already taken.
The boiler. Make sure there’s hot water all day long, particularly if there’re many of you. You don’t want to take an evening shower with penguins and polar bears.
Verify that the drains are not obstructed. If you have already experienced removing a cat of hair from the sink pipe you know what we’re talking about.
The wardrobe. If you don’t want to pile up clothes and shoes on the floor and recreate the landscape of the Alps in your room you better examine the inner depths of the wardrobe.
The bed. We don’t want a four-poster bed, but not even a sofa bed from Ikea. And, crucial point, test it for bed-bugs!
Too Good To Be True. Be Wary Of Cheap Student Rooms in Dublin
Starting with the premise that people are all trying to make money, be careful when you see a price lower than the average. When something’s cheap, there’s always a reason. The world is full of scammers trying to spill money out of you. Never fork over any deposit before you signed and actual contract and always see the apartment before renting it.
If you’re considering student digs because of the more convenient price, keep also in mind that you’re going to live with the house owner and you’ll never be equal. He or she will always be the owner and you will always be the guest. For students living in digs, it’s quite common to never be able to feel at home and not enjoying the freedom they’re expecting. Read this article if you want an example of what we’re saying.
In conclusion, to trust people is good, but not to trust them is even better. It might sound a bit pessimistic, but it’s the only way to avoid swindles and deceptions.
Finding an off-campus accommodation is not like drinking a glass of water, but, if it comforts you, not even like passing next semester’s Analysis exam. So, brace yourself and train your powers of observation. Bring out the Sherlock Holmes in you!
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