Rented accommodation is freedom at a price.

YEAR ONE is nearly over, it seems as soon as we started, the rumours emerged that houses were being snapped up quickly and that if we didn't start looking, we'd be living in a cave with a hole in the ground for a toilet.

By December 2010, the majority of students had their eye on a house or had reserved a house for the next academic year. It comes at a price however.

Ollie Judge, a student at Canterbury Christ Church says: "I paid £150 administration fee and £325 rent in advance, times are hard."

Ollie is living in a six bedroom house and pays for his use of broadband, Sky, water, electricity, gas, and general household appliances. 

"My rent is £400 a month, but I was expecting that, because Canterbury is a city and it is more expensive to live here."

Although it may seem so hard to afford a house and to currently live in halls, it has become increasingly familiar that uni students up North get a cheaper deal. Luke Kelly, a student from Liverpool university pays just over £200 a month.
I asked a few Canterbury students what they thought of the concept of an admin fee, and if they thought it was acceptable.


Rachel Bullen says: "I think what I paid was a lot, as other letting agencies are offering admin fees for £50 a person."


Emma Grafton-Williams adds: "I paid £100.  I thought this was acceptable because we only had to pay half rent throughout the summer. It's better this way."


Whilst some students enjoy the student life and living independently without the support from their parents, others find living at home a cheaper deal.


As a student in this position, I feel that travelling to uni is a reasonable cost on a weekly basis and does obviously save a considerable amount each month.
But next year, I am moving into a student shared house which is four minutes away from uni, it will allow me to come out a bit more and for me to have the best of both worlds. However, I am lucky at the fact I receive all of the loans and bursaries which has paid for my rent in advance and the administration fee which reserved the house.


Below is a video of how to search for a house if you are finding it difficult to do so. This website is aimed at Canterbury students (Kent). For information about letting agencies in your local area click here.