Housing Horror Stories
Reply 1
Things to watch out for in photos/viewings:
•
Electric storage heaters (i.e. not "normal looking" radiators) without a fixed electric bill. Turning your heating on will cost you a fortune. You will have a very, very cold winter, especially if the house is also otherwise poorly insulated. That was, decidedly, a bad year.
•
Black mould, or ominously newly-painted areas of ceilings and/or bathroom walls.
•
Test doors and windows to make sure they open/close properly. Especially if a door/window is somewhat conspicuously propped open during a viewing. 2x important for bathroom and bedroom doors.
•
Test taps, especially to make sure they close and don't drip, and that they run hot water. Take note of any dripping taps.
•
Energy efficiency ratings - often listed on the house listing - often a good indicator of how much to expect to pay in bills. Prepare in advance for that cost - look up bills calculators - it will also depend on how many people you live with and where abouts in the county you are.
•
Peeling paint, skirting that isn't properly attached to walls, damaged window frames/provided furniture, poorly maintained exterior - all signs that your landlord doesn't care about this property at all. It will likely be difficult to get hold of them and they may never respond to your maintenance queries at all.
•
At the end of a viewing, make them aware of issues you've noticed. If possible try to get it in writing that those issues will be resolved before you move in. It will give you something to hold them to.
•
If you've agreed to pay through an agency, and a landlord asks you to pay them directly instead, make sure you get direct permission and approval from the agency before doing anything. It may also make your payments less protected. You are under no obligation to change the way you pay if it had been previously agreed otherwise.
•
People often give away cardboard boxes on Facebook and buying them new can be expensive. Just be aware of silverfish - they eat starch so often can be transferred by moving boxes. House infestations of silverfish are fairly common - especially in student houses with high turnover of who lives there - they are harmless and you can ignore them. Just don't be surprised if they freak out a housemate 😛
•
If you're living really far from home, sometimes renting a storage locker over the summer can be worth it, to not have to move all your stuff a long way. 2x important for international students, but even if you just live on the other end of the country- try looking into it for pricing.
•
If you live somewhere with a conservatory/similar, get a little dehumidifier. You can get manual ones you don't even have to plug in for like £20. Conservatories get damp like no-ones business. One of the student places I lived had a tiny, grim little conservatory that had one steadily rotting sofa in it that was always freezing cold or boiling hot.... That dehumidifier definitely saved us from that room getting any worse.
•
Build a decent relationship with your landlord and try to not **** them off. Sometimes it can be really difficult, I'm well aware... but it will probably make your life easier when it comes to getting your deposit back. That being said - do push back if they're being unreasonable. I had a landlord ask us to move a washing machine, and as my housemates blankly nodded at him I was like - "Hang on, none of you have moved a washing machine, have you...?" (Don't agree to move a washing machine...)
•
Set boundaries with people you live with, and ideally, just don't live with people you don't know. In halls it's different - there's security, there's common areas - if anything real bad happens you can report them. If you're living in private rented with people, though.... Please be careful. 2x important if you're a vulnerable person. If you don't really trust them, then you really won't trust their friends they bring over/partner(s)/random intrusive family members. Having been stuck living with a girl who was dating a drug addict 10+ years older than her, I would just generally advise you to live with people you actually know well, and will listen to you when you try and reason with them 🙃
Reply 2
Things to watch out for in photos/viewings:
•
Electric storage heaters (i.e. not "normal looking" radiators) without a fixed electric bill. Turning your heating on will cost you a fortune. You will have a very, very cold winter, especially if the house is also otherwise poorly insulated. That was, decidedly, a bad year.
•
Black mould, or ominously newly-painted areas of ceilings and/or bathroom walls.
•
Test doors and windows to make sure they open/close properly. Especially if a door/window is somewhat conspicuously propped open during a viewing. 2x important for bathroom and bedroom doors.
•
Test taps, especially to make sure they close and don't drip, and that they run hot water. Take note of any dripping taps.
•
Energy efficiency ratings - often listed on the house listing - often a good indicator of how much to expect to pay in bills. Prepare in advance for that cost - look up bills calculators - it will also depend on how many people you live with and where abouts in the county you are.
•
Peeling paint, skirting that isn't properly attached to walls, damaged window frames/provided furniture, poorly maintained exterior - all signs that your landlord doesn't care about this property at all. It will likely be difficult to get hold of them and they may never respond to your maintenance queries at all.
•
At the end of a viewing, make them aware of issues you've noticed. If possible try to get it in writing that those issues will be resolved before you move in. It will give you something to hold them to.
•
If you've agreed to pay through an agency, and a landlord asks you to pay them directly instead, make sure you get direct permission and approval from the agency before doing anything. It may also make your payments less protected. You are under no obligation to change the way you pay if it had been previously agreed otherwise.
•
People often give away cardboard boxes on Facebook and buying them new can be expensive. Just be aware of silverfish - they eat starch so often can be transferred by moving boxes. House infestations of silverfish are fairly common - especially in student houses with high turnover of who lives there - they are harmless and you can ignore them. Just don't be surprised if they freak out a housemate 😛
•
If you're living really far from home, sometimes renting a storage locker over the summer can be worth it, to not have to move all your stuff a long way. 2x important for international students, but even if you just live on the other end of the country- try looking into it for pricing.
•
If you live somewhere with a conservatory/similar, get a little dehumidifier. You can get manual ones you don't even have to plug in for like £20. Conservatories get damp like no-ones business. One of the student places I lived had a tiny, grim little conservatory that had one steadily rotting sofa in it that was always freezing cold or boiling hot.... That dehumidifier definitely saved us from that room getting any worse.
•
Build a decent relationship with your landlord and try to not **** them off. Sometimes it can be really difficult, I'm well aware... but it will probably make your life easier when it comes to getting your deposit back. That being said - do push back if they're being unreasonable. I had a landlord ask us to move a washing machine, and as my housemates blankly nodded at him I was like - "Hang on, none of you have moved a washing machine, have you...?" (Don't agree to move a washing machine...)
•
Set boundaries with people you live with, and ideally, just don't live with people you don't know. In halls it's different - there's security, there's common areas - if anything real bad happens you can report them. If you're living in private rented with people, though.... Please be careful. 2x important if you're a vulnerable person. If you don't really trust them, then you really won't trust their friends they bring over/partner(s)/random intrusive family members. Having been stuck living with a girl who was dating a drug addict 10+ years older than her, I would just generally advise you to live with people you actually know well, and will listen to you when you try and reason with them 🙃
Not the dreaded black mould....
Reply 3
I came back to a kitchen full of fruit flies because none of the others had the common sense to empty the bins whilst I was away
They took ages to go too, only 1 other person took any interest in helping to get rid of them (we used about 2 cans of fly spray, and apple cider vinegar, and dish soap). 
's Reply 4
Reply 5
I came back to a kitchen full of fruit flies because none of the others had the common sense to empty the bins whilst I was away
They took ages to go too, only 1 other person took any interest in helping to get rid of them (we used about 2 cans of fly spray, and apple cider vinegar, and dish soap). 'sFruit flies are such a pain to get rid of!!
Reply 6
Eeeeeewwwww
Reply 7
Reply 8
I would've liked to have read your review
The close up pictures of the plant did make me laugh...Quick Reply
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Last reply 2 months ago
why do people put their weight and height in their cv ahahahahahhhahaahah7
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