Viewing Checklist for Evaluating Off-Campus Student Housing

A student accommodation viewing checklist is essential when helping your child choose where to live. Moving into student accommodation is a big step, and with so many options available, it’s not always possible to visit every property in person. While browsing photos online is quicker and more convenient, nothing replaces a proper in-person assessment to ensure the accommodation meets safety, comfort, and location standards before signing the lease.

Student accommodation is not just about where your child will sleep for the next few years. It’s also about where they’ll relax, study, build community and their independence. Therefore, as a parent you would want to be comfortable in knowing that the place they’re staying at meets your minimum standards. Whether it be university provided accommodation, private rentals, or purpose-built student housing, it is important for you to see the place firsthand.

Safety

Being a parent, you naturally put your child’s safety as priority number one. That is one of the biggest reason’s that we encourage that parent come with their children to come and view the unit, having a viewing checklist in place. Seeing the place in person allows you to see if the safety of the place is up to standard. Being there gives you the opportunity to check the locks, the fire alarm and other fire safety precautions. You can experience what the safety precautions are regarding security cameras and how gate entrance is monitored.

Location

When visiting the place, you can take into consideration if it is well located. Is campus within walking distance? If yes, then how far and how safe is the walk? And if no, then is there adequate access to transportation? More than just campus you will also check if the place is located near grocery stores, pharmacies and other important amenities. You can also check if there are any points to be concerned about for example potential nighttime noise from a bar or pub down the street.

Marketing vs reality

When viewing a place online, it is important to keep in mind that marketing photos are curated images made with the intention of selling you a product and still have your viewing checklist. These photos are taken under the best lighting conditions, likely edited and zoomed out to fit the whole room in the frame. Therefore, the pictures can be deceiving.

When visiting in person you can see the actual size of the room, you can check the state of the cleanliness of the room and the common areas. You will be able to see the type and condition of the furniture and appliances that are on offer.

You will also be able to spot things that the photos would not show, for example maybe there is an odd smell in the room, or you notice the development of mould. These are red flags that should be noted and questioned before you commit to signing the lease.

Get to know the people

It’s a good idea to get to the staff who will be managing the units that your child is staying in. Are they approachable and responsive, and will you feel comfortable leaving your child in their care. Additionally, you also have the opportunity to speak to current tenants to get a more accurate idea of what the lived experience of being a tenant is like.

Finally, meeting with the staff gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the lease and it’s terms and any hidden costs. You can also query about management responsiveness and any rules ad policies that may need clarification.

There is a lot that can come from going to visit the student accommodation for both the student and the parent. It gives you both the opportunity to get a taste of the place before fully committing and means that you know what you’ll be walking into on move-in day.

If you aren’t too sure on what to look for here is a short list of things to be aware of:

Cleanliness and condition of the unit, furniture and appliances
Cleanliness and condition of the corridors and common spaces
Storage space in the unit
Heating and ventilation
Working fire and safety equipment
Day time noise levels
Transportation options nearby
Any damages or repairs to the unit
The availability of and distance from amenities

If you can’t visit, still have a viewing checklist

Now we know that visiting the place is not always possible, maybe you live too far to do an in and out trip, or maybe you just don’t have the time. Signing the lease without seeing the place is a bit of a gamble, so in that instance, here are a few things you can do to try and make sure that you get as clear of a picture as possible before signing.

Ask for a live video tour (video chat walkthrough)
Ask for recent unedited photos of the exact room that has been allocated to you
Read comments from past tenants to gauge what the average tenant’s experience is like
Review the contract fully and carefully

Final Thoughts

So, to answer the question; “should parents go to student accommodation with viewing checklist?” – Yes, the ideal situation would be one where you are able to see what you are going to be paying for before you sign the paperwork. If that is not possible then you should try to do whatever you can to ensure that you have clear and honest picture of the place. This way you will know what you are walking into on moving day and there won’t be any last-minute surprises.

Ready to find the right student accommodation? Use our detailed viewing checklist to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Book a viewing with us today and secure a place that’s safe, comfortable, and perfect for your needs.”

Student Accommodation Viewing Checklist for Parents