University of Glasgow blether thread

Hi guys, little advice needed.

When do we need to properly start flat hunting?
Where are the best places to look to find flats - a lot of websites I've looked at so far seem pretty rubbish?
Also, at the moment there's only two of us, due to various issues. Is it better to stick as a two or find someone else - if so, would it be better for one of us to find an unattached friend (who may not be a mutual friend) or just to advertise on the SRC noticeboard? I'm fine to live in a two, but also am aware that it's probably cheaper to share in a three, and it might be easier, but as we do different courses and stuff, I don't know that there's anyone we both know to join. It's a complicated issue I'd rather not go into here. But any advice on any of these questions would be much appreciated!

Nope. Should be getting maths back before the 25th. DO NOT WANT.

Cos we were Braeheadbound and couldn't be arsed hanging about. And Laura hates Champs.

Faceoff tomorrow (today)?

Saw you in Braehead

Yeah, I assumed the earlier the better, although a friend was telling me earlier he was phoning places to find a flat for his lot, and the people told him to ring back in a couple of weeks because there's nothing on the market right now.

Stalker

I smiled

We looked last year and nowhere until May was wanting people for the next year - tenants only have to give a month's notice to end the lease, so landlords don't necessarily know whether or not their flat will be free next year yet. So don't panic if you can't find anywhere!
Re. numbers, problem with 3s is that you need to find an hmo, so you might not necessarily find it cheaper/easier to get 3 of you in a flat. As a guide, most people's rent for reasonable flats close to campus seems to work out between £300-350, though you'll probably pay more if you want a living room.

Thats not a standard notice period, its normally 2 months unless prior arrangement is made with landlord in writing.

I dont know why you say you need to get HMO's since I am staying in a 2 bedroom house this year with no problems and its even insured by the landlord.

For anyone who cares, I flat searched in June/July last year and had no real bother at all finding a place. Living in Partick, 2 bedroom flat with living room for for 595 a month (295 each).

I'd say January's a bit too early for that stuff to be perfectly honest, the last thing anyone needs right now is to be stressed about finding a place when they don't need to.

That's very reassuring, thanks! And that's a great price - I think that's the main issue we're going to have. I can afford slightly more; as long as it's less than what I'm paying at the moment I'll be fine. My flatmate can't, as she's going through money issues and so the options are either somewhere cheap or to split the rent unevenly - for example, if we got somewhere with uneven sized rooms, I'd be willing to pay the extra and have the nicer room as I know she wouldn't be afford to it. But £295 a month is great, definitely affordable.

Out of interest, (question open to everyone else as well who has a flat) where did you find the flat?

And one more question - how much would bills be per person per month with an average energy consumption?

I pay £50 per week and landlord will reduce it to £40 if I stay after summer, then again he isnt a "real" landlord, he is registered but its the house he raised his family in so has old furniture in and he currently stays in his daughters house as she is working abroad for a few years so he is renting the house out as some extra cash now he is retired so has some junk in wardrobe etc. This is for a HOUSE well a maisonette. Theres a train stop 3 minutes walk from house that takes 12 minutes to Glasgow Central and is like £1.50 return with railcard, or you can pay like £30 a month for unlimited bus pas, but the bus takes about 25 minutes to get to city centre

Anyway if you want to live close to any of Glasgows unis the cost will be expensive, the further out you live the cheaper but then you miss out on socialising and having everything on your doorstep

That's very reassuring, thanks! And that's a great price - I think that's the main issue we're going to have. I can afford slightly more; as long as it's less than what I'm paying at the moment I'll be fine. My flatmate can't, as she's going through money issues and so the options are either somewhere cheap or to split the rent unevenly - for example, if we got somewhere with uneven sized rooms, I'd be willing to pay the extra and have the nicer room as I know she wouldn't be afford to it. But £295 a month is great, definitely affordable.

Out of interest, (question open to everyone else as well who has a flat) where did you find the flat?

And one more question - how much would bills be per person per month with an average energy consumption?

I live on Kersland Street have a huge and i mean HUGE room. My rent has the bills incorporated in it. Heating 8 hours a day, Unlimited internet, hot water etc. £380PCM I found it on gumtree. All my flatmates (5) will be moving out next year because they are all in their final year. So I could talk to my landlord and say that I could have a potential tennent for next year if you'd like?

That's impressive, but living further out really isn't an option. This year I've been in the city centre, and that's far enough - I hate having to come home early from social events in the evenings and being unable to pop back in between lectures. Even though it would save a lot of money, I'd rather be in the west end bubble.

Well this is only 4 miles from campus so hardly that far out and has all night buses so its not a case of coming home early from social events, at most it means you wont be able to go back at lunchtime and between lectures.