Endsleigh
By the end of the first year at uni most students have realised the absolute necessity of insurance, learning harsh lessons from friends and acquaintances who have suffered because they forgot to take out a policy. But sure enough, you’ll still be more focused on other things, such as piling things into the back of the car for the second or third time and juggling about 300 course books and folders.
It’s really easy to forget about insurance when moving back to university. Think about how much more stuff you’re taking with you to uni this year, because you’ve got a little more room and sharing your own house, you’re more likely to take more of your valuable items. Also think about you and your house mates, you all have laptops, phones, speakers and other gadgets, and that’s a lot of gadgets in one house, this makes it an attractive proposition for a thief.
Remember, have you got a lock on your door like you did in halls? Have you got CCTV and a security guard 24 hours a day securing the area like you did in halls? Probably not, that’s why there’s a higher risk and the need for insurance to protect the items that matter most to you.
To find out more visit, endsleigh.co.uk/housing
Top 10 Tips for a great house share!
The university experience is not just about your studies. It could be the first time you’ve shared accommodation with people who aren’t your family, so learning to live with others can be shock to the system. Here are our top tips for a great house share!
1. Get ready for a mix of people.
Why not take our quiz to find out which housemate you are? Are you The Boss, The Dodger, The Party Animal or The Geek? Find out now!
2.Establish you accommodation budget.
This is a key concern for many students, there’s so much to remember when managing your budget including food, living costs and of course nights out! Make sure you think about how much the rents is, are bills included? Is there a reduction in rent over the summer? Make sure you are not left short at the end of the month.
3. Consider staying in halls.
The rent you pay could include utility bills, high speed internet access and contents insurance as well as 24 hour security services. Why not find out if your uni offers halls accommodation for returning students.
4. Check your contract.
It’s really important you pay attention to any special conditions or important dates in your contract e.g. scheduled flat inspections. Make sure everyone understands what is expected to avoid conflicts, and fines for poor standards.
5. Take photos.
Taking photos of your house depicting its condition when you move in will help you to resolve any disputes and avoid any extra charges that you may have at a later stage. Remember to verify the date the photos were taken.
6. Protect your stuff.
Think about how much stuff you will be taking with you to uni this year and remember, you and your housemates all have laptops, phones, speakers etc... That’s a lot of gadgets in one house, this makes it an attractive proposition for a thief. Consider the insurance you need.
7. Share the cooking.
The kitchen can often become the battleground of any student house. Avoid these dinner time scuffles by sharing the cooking. You can alternate nights you’re on duty, try some new dishes and benefit from economies of scale – so you can even save a bit of money while you’re at it!
8. Get to know you are your housemates.
Why not organise some housemate activities such as a come dine with me night, or a house day out full of banter and bonding moments. Remember The Inbetweeners’ trip to Thorpe Park? It’s the stuff great friendships are made of. You don’t have to spend a fortune, set a budget per person and list all the activities you can afford.
9. Sort out repairs.
As soon as a problem starts to arise e.g. dripping taps or leaky pipes – notify somebody immediately. Make sure the problem is recorded and action is taken as soon as possible. This will prevent further damage as well as any potential disputes regarding your contract.
10. Get prepared for moving out day.
Refer back to your contract to check for any clauses about the required standard of cleaning they expect. Make sure you organise this in plenty of time.
The property should be left free of rubbish, and only the items on the inventory should remain in the house.
To find out more visit, endsleigh.co.uk/housing
The alternative housemate checklist
It takes a hell of a personality to counteract disgusting personal habits or a messy room. Just because they are fun to have as friends, it does not mean they’ll make a good housemate. Nobody’s perfect and everyone has their idiosyncrasies however, some you’ll find more annoying than others. It’s as simple as that. Some habits that you might find cute or even funny – like a phobia of ketchup – might be someone else’s idea of hell to live with. When choosing your future housemates, consider what would drive you up the wall and make your own list of what you could cope with and what you don’t think you could.
What are your house mate deal-breakers?
- They eat mackerel from the tin or something equally offensive on the nose.
- They put ketchup on everything.
- They don’t like the same TV that you do. The living room can turn into a war zone when different tastes collide.
- They thwart your chances of being known as ‘the fit one’. Their dazzling good looks mean you’ll have to start peacocking with an eye patch or a cape to get noticed by the opposite sex.
- They don’t know what bleach does or what marigolds are. Their bathroom stinks, basically.
- They are always homesick and are either always on Skype or texting someone from back home. They’re the first ones gone at the start of the holidays and the last ones back, because ‘uni sucks compared to home’.
- They wear fake tan and will probably stain your clothes. Will you clench when they reach for one of your new towels?
- They’re too used to mum and dad doing it for them. In their house, dirty washing appears back on their bed all clean and folded and the kitchen is self-cleaning as if by magic. They won’t be used to doing it for themselves, so may need a nudge!
- They blow their student loan in the first couple of weeks and then scrounge until the next one…. And never learn. They never have any money unless they’ve borrowed it from you.
- They will never go in on any takeaways with you. What a waste of Dominoes vouchers.
Read the top 20 atendsleigh.co.uk/housing
The Hub
Endsleigh is dedicated to supporting students & graduates and with nearly 50 years of experience, we understand university life like nobody else.
We want to help you get the most out of your time at university, which is why we have created The Hub to give you the best help and advice all the way from freshers to graduation and beyond.
The Hub is your go-to guide for preparing, studying & leaving uni, brought to you by students, graduates and industry experts. Keep your eyes peeled for the latest news, top tips, advice and competitions. endsleigh.co.uk/THEHUB
Competition
Which housemate are you?
We think one of the best ways to get to know your housemates better is to have a house day out full of banter and bonding moments. Remember The Inbetweeners’ trip to Thorpe Park? It’s the stuff great friendships are made of. That’s why we’re giving you the chance to win 1 of 3great day out packages for you and up to 5 housemates so you can celebrate your returning year with a bang!
The winner of each package will choose from a selection of fun activities for them and their housemates, courtesy of Endsleigh.
Bronze package day out worth £20 each
Silver package day out, worth £30 each
Gold package day out, worth £50 each
How to Enter.
Simply take our housemate quiz at endsleigh.co.uk/quizto see what kind of housemate you are and you will automatically be entered into the competition.
Terms and conditions can be found at endsleigh.co.uk/dayout
endsleigh.co.uk/quiz
Why Insure with Endsleigh?
The average student now takes around £1165 worth of gadgets to university, with many mobile phone claims being due to those lost or stolen in pubs and clubs. So it’s important you have the right insurance cover for those essential gadgets.
To find out how to protect those gadgets you can’t live without, watch our Introduction to Insurance video below, which tells you everything you need to know about keeping your possessions safe.
Insurance is a way of adequately preparing for whatever university throws at you, whilst realising that sometimes, things do go wrong and in those scenarios the right insurance is essential. This is where Endsleigh can help, insuring your gadgets is just a few clicks away and tailored for your unique needs.
endsleigh.co.uk
Source: Endsleigh claims statistics 2012, NUS services Limited 2012.