Red Flags to Look For When Viewing Student Houses

It's November. The rumours have started. "Have you found a house yet?" "I heard all the good ones are gone!"

Relax. Breathe. This is the classic "housing panic" designed to make you sign a contract for a damp-infested basement before Christmas.

Finding the perfect student house is a rite of passage, but it's also a minefield. Landlords know you're desperate and inexperienced. But you have a secret weapon: this checklist.

Before you fall in love with that exposed brick wall or the "spacious" living room, look for these red flags. They could save you thousands of pounds (and your health).

1. The "Fresh Paint" Trap (Damp & Mould)

Damp is the arch-nemesis of the UK student. It ruins clothes, smells awful, and can actually make you sick.

The Red Flag: A room that smells faintly of bleach or air freshener, or has just been painted. The Check:

Look Up: Check the corners of the ceiling and around windows for black spots.
Touch the Walls: Are they cold or wet to the touch?
Check Behind Furniture: Landlords often hide mould patches behind wardrobes or sofas. Be bold—move the furniture (politely).

Pro Tip: If you see a dehumidifier humming away in the corner during a viewing, run. It means the damp is so bad the current tenants are fighting a losing battle.

2. The "Flush Test" (Water Pressure)

You're going to be living with 3, 4, or maybe 6 other people. If the shower is a pathetic dribble, your mornings will be miserable.

The Red Flag: A shower head that looks like it hasn't been descaled since 2010. The Check:

Turn it on: Don't just look at the shower. Turn it on full blast. Is it a power shower or a sad trickle?
Flush the Loo: Does it refill quickly? Does it make a noise like a dying whale?
Hot Water: Ask if the boiler can handle two people showering at once. In a 6-bed house, this is crucial.

3. The "Joint and Several Liability" Clause

This is the legal bit, and it's boring, but it's terrifyingly important.

Most student contracts are "Joint and Several". This means you are all treated as one single tenant.

The Red Flag: The landlord glosses over what happens if someone leaves. The Reality: If your housemate Dave drops out of uni and stops paying rent, the landlord can legally demand YOU pay Dave's share. They don't care that it's not your fault. The Fix: You probably can't change this (it's standard), but you must trust your future housemates. Do not sign a house with people you barely know.

4. The "Ghost" Landlord

The Red Flag: You're being rushed. "I have another viewing in 10 minutes, you need to pay the holding deposit now to secure it."

The Scam: Fake landlords rent Airbnbs, show students around, take 5 deposits, and then vanish. The Check:

Never pay cash.
Check the landlord is on the Land Registry.
Ensure your deposit will be protected in a government-backed scheme (TDS, DPS, or mydeposits). This is a legal requirement in the UK.

5. The "Current Tenant" Interrogation

This is your most valuable source of intel. The current students have no reason to lie to you.

The Strategy: Wait for the estate agent to go into the next room, then whisper to the current tenant:

"What's the worst thing about this house?"
"Is the house warm in winter?"
"Does the landlord fix things quickly?"

If they hesitate, look at each other, or say "It's... okay," take that as a major warning sign.

6. Can You Actually Afford It?

It's easy to get carried away by a nice kitchen island. But remember: Rent is just the beginning.

You also need to pay for:

Gas & Electricity (prices are still high!)
Water
Internet (Fibre is a must)
TV Licence (if you watch live TV)

Before you sign, plug the rent and estimated bills into our free Student Budget Planner. It will tell you exactly how much "fun money" you'll have left each week. If the answer is £10, walk away.

Summary Checklist

Damp: Checked corners and behind furniture?
Water: Tested the shower pressure?
Safety: Do the windows have locks? Is there a smoke alarm on every floor?
Pests: Checked kitchen cupboards for droppings or traps?
Connectivity: Is there phone signal in the bedrooms?
Budget: Have you calculated the total cost?

Happy hunting! And remember, if it feels wrong, it probably is. There will always be another house.