Still haven’t booked your student accommodation? Here are our top tips!

It’s getting closer and closer to the start of the new Uni year, even if you have left it to the last minute to find somewhere to live, it doesn’t need to be a stressful process.  There are numerous factors to consider when deciding which student accommodation is right for you. Downing Students believe that finding the right place to live while you study should be easy, so to help you decide, we conducted a survey of over 450 of our student tenants, who have shared their six top tips for picking the perfect location.

1. Stay connected

The most important requirement recognised by our students was a strong and reliable INTERNET CONNECTION. This is particularly important if you prefer to study from the comfort of your own studio, so being confident that your accommodation can deliver a trustworthy internet connection is very important. Downing employs a dedicated managed internet service; Student Com, to deliver an award winning online experience, with 24/7 support, especially for students.

2. Location, location, location

Another key factor that was highlighted in our student survey was LOCATION. 86% of all students said that location was very important to them when considering where they wanted to live. It’s important to think about the convenience of your accommodation; can you walk everywhere? Are you near to university facilities, local shops and nightlife? For example, our Exeter accommodation is in the heart of the city, perfectly placed for you to access all of the local amenities and a very short walk to the Uni campus. Also, check out our London property which is located right next to the tube station, giving you easy access into the centre of the capital.

3. Safe and sound

The third tip our student survey suggested when choosing your accommodation was to consider the SECURITY of your apartment. 73% of students claimed that the security of their accommodation was very important to their student experience and all of our Downing Students properties have 24 hour support staff ready to help you.

4. A friendly smile

70% of students thought it was very important that the staff at their accommodation are FRIENDLY AND APPROACHABLE. The team at your accommodation will have an important role to play in making sure that you are comfortable and happy during your stay there. A friendly team can make a big difference to how quickly you settle into your new accommodation and it’s also the staff that will be arranging events and icebreakers – so make sure to ask about the social calendar too!

5. Work, rest and play

According to our survey, 65% of students felt that the COMMUNAL FACILITIES were a very important factor when choosing accommodation. At Downing Students, you will have the privacy of your studio and also a communal area, such as a common room, gym or cinema room, which can be a great way to socialise and make new friends.

6. It’s all about the experience

The sixth tip shared by Downing students was to ensure that you sign your contract with a TRUSTED AND EXPERIENCED ORGANISATION. Just under two thirds of our survey ranked this as being a very important factor. By choosing an established and experienced organisation such as Downing Students, you can be assured that you are in safe hands. For example, an organisation that has been running for over 20 years will have gained invaluable knowledge that can help to make your stay enjoyable – even down to the comfort of your bed.

Hopefully these six top tips from our student residents will help when choosing the right student accommodation for you. Visit our website to find out more about our student accommodation; locations, availability and types of rooms and studios available.
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