How to find a student house as a group
The hardest part of student house hunting isn't finding houses. It's getting four to eight people to agree on one. Here's how to do it without a 400-message group chat.
1. Agree the group and the size
Decide who's in before you look at houses, because the number of bedrooms decides everything else. Short of people? Find housemates who suit you instead of settling for a house that's the wrong size.
2. Agree a budget everyone can afford
The group's budget is the lowest budget in the group, not the average. Student Home Sorted works this out for you: each person sets their own budget privately, and your group only sees houses that fit everyone.
3. Pick your must-haves
Walk time to campus, bathrooms per person and bills included are the three things groups argue about most. Agree them up front.
4. Shortlist together
Everyone saves the houses they like. The group list ranks houses by how many of you saved each one, and when everyone likes the same house you'll know straight away.
5. Book viewings fast
Good houses in Pennsylvania and St James can go within days in late autumn. Have the whole group's details ready and book with the agent as soon as a house has everyone's vote.
6. Only pay the agent
Never pay anyone to hold a room, and read the contract together before anyone signs.
Questions students ask
How do you split rent fairly in a student house?
A common way is to split half the rent equally and half by room size, with a bit extra for an en-suite. Student Home Sorted has a room split calculator on every house.
How do we decide on a house as a group?
Start a group on Student Home Sorted, everyone saves or swipes on houses, and the shortlist ranks houses by how many of you like each one.