Back in the day – I’m showing my age again – student accommodation was pretty ropey. The furniture was always a miss-match from junk shops, central heating was unheard of and you never got any luxuries like a washing machine included. One place I lived in for a very short time even had its own family of slugs living happily in the very damp and mouldy bathroom – disgusting! These days the expectations of young people have risen somewhat and increased competition amongst landlords has lead to better properties all round. If you are a landlord and want to make a student house more appealing then read on…
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At the end of every year as the previous group move out send professional cleaners in to deep clean everything from the carpet to the cooker, it is definitely worth the money.
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Similarly, once a year give the place a fresh lick of paint. It need not cost a lot but will make a huge difference on appearances.
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Keep up with general maintenance such as external repairs, roofing and the upkeep of the garden. A smart front door is essential to create the right first impression.
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Give some thought to the common areas of the house such as the living room, bathroom and kitchen. Make sure they are well equipped with everything your tenants will expect.
- Provide a bed for each bedroom even if you expect people to provide their own mattress. Simple bedroom furniture is the beat way to go and make sure you mend any damage promptly.
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Help young people out by advising them of the nearest stores such as Sleepmasters.co.uk if they need local knowledge to make any furniture purchases.
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Install satellite or cable television and broadband internet services, preferably wireless. Students will be ‘plugged in’ to one or the other almost permanently.
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Make the place properly secure. Decent quality door and window locks will help everyone to feel safe and protected.
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Simple but important: if you provide anything from chairs to cutlery, make sure there is enough of everything for each member of the household! A two-seater sofa in a house which sleeps six is not going to work.
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And finally: be easily accessible as the landlord and always respond quickly and fairly to requests or problems.