… by Benedicty / from Romford /
BSc Computer Science and Mathematics / 3rd Year (UG)
What I did right, the mistakes I made and what you can learn from it.
Finding a flat in first and second year was pretty much a piece of cake. Barely any work was put in and I always seemed to manage to find a flat that I liked.
Third year was where the trouble began, as I found myself in quite an awkward and unusual position. After complications with my year abroad, I had to find somewhere and someone to live with over the summer, before I went back up to Edinburgh for Year 3. Here are some things I learnt whilst attempting to secure my third-year home:
- Finding Flatmates
Assuming I would be on my year abroad, my previous flatmates had done their own thing and had found their accommodation for the next year, signing their contracts. With it being so close to university starting, I was worried that I would not be able to find someone to live with. However I was surprised 
by how many other people had yet to find their home for the next year and were willing to find new flatmates. If you are struggling to find people to live with there are plenty of options – Facebook (people will advertise they are looking for flatmates on groups such as Meadowshare); Flat shares (where you can rent a single bedroom in a multi-bed flat); University events (the university sometimes holds events at which you can get advice on finding a flat, or find flatmates depending on how many people you want to share with).
My Tip: Talk to people! You can’t find out what situation others are in, and no one will know what situation you are in unless you have a conversation.
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Me enjoying Barcelona the week before uni rather than looking for flats… Be Prepared
I hate cheesy quotes but: “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” never resonated with me so deeply when we got rejected by flats before I had even managed to send my photo ID in.
A list of things you need such as a guarantor form, a landlord reference, proof of address etc. is something you should have at hand to be used when you are submitting each application. If you need assistance with how organising your flat application The Advice Place can give aid with matters such as organising the documents needed for the application or even looking over the contract for your lease before you sign it.
My Tip: Create a google drive and shared google calendar with your flatmates so everything you need is in one convenient place, making applications quicker and easier
- Keep Looking
Getting rejected is never easy. Even an automated e-mail from a letting agency saying that the property has been given to someone else starts to feel personal after the 10th rejection. We used all the typical websites – Rightmove, Zoopla, Citylets – but also used sites such as Gumtree, A Home Away From Home, in addition to the estate agencies own websites.
It can sometimes feel as though all you are spending your whole life looking for the perfect flat, but it will be worth it. And honestly do you really have a choice? You will have to live somewhere eventually.
My Tip: Maybe this is the time to broaden your search – Marchmont is a popular area for students, but it isn’t the only place with flats in Edinburgh…
- Don’t Panic
Term time arrived and we still hadn’t found a flat.
Despite everyone’s worries (and our own!) I am yet to have found a student without a flat – you might not find you flat until the week before uni starts, or you might even be like us and not find your flat until mid-October but something will come up eventually. At the time it seemed like the worst thing that we didn’t have a flat early, yet the flat we have now is perfect for us and part of me wouldn’t have it any other way
My Tip: Keep trying and don’t give up you will definitely find your flat eventually!