‘Housing Emergencies’ – National Student Money Week Testimonial

Last year in 2020, a group of friends and I began our search to find a property that we could rent; somewhere safe, somewhere close to transport, somewhere where we could call our second home. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

A lot of agents seem to be masters at hiding the flaws, using polished photographs and innovative, enticing descriptions to rent out a property. I understand this is part of their jobs, however, during the pandemic, the majority of students were unable to travel in and out of London regularly and so could not view the flats in person. I, myself, am from London so fortunately, I saw the condition of the properties before making a decision to rent. There were many furnished, well-kept properties on the market but what I wish I’d known was to be quick about showing my interest as the ones I’d like would seem to be snapped right up.

My friends and I did find a flat we liked…in the end…however there were a number of issues we faced. The conditions provided in our tenancy agreement were not updated in line with the new housing legislation introduced recently, the flat was not thoroughly cleaned and when we checked the inventory, there were items missing and some safety hazards. Therefore, after some deliberation, none of us felt comfortable or safe if we were to move in. Luckily enough, most of our classes were online and being part of a clinical course, I was required to come into campus only once or twice a week.

Tips from my experience:

  • Always read the contract – check if it’s up to date and if there are any outdated terms
  • Put the start and end date in the tenancy agreement
  • Make sure there is a break clause
  • Although an inventory can be provided or requested, always do your own at the start to check for any prior damages
  • Contact King’s Advice and Guidance Team for Housing advice
  • You can also contact the University of London Housing Services
  • Know your housing rights!!!

Manvi Shah
Positive Peer
Dentistry BDS (UG)

Need to speak to a Money Adviser? Call the Student Advice Line.

For more information on private sector housing, take a look at the following video workshops: Beginning your search, Viewing a Property, Signing a Contract 2020, Moving In!

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts. 

‘Bills, Groceries, and Budgeting!’ – National Student Money Week Testimonial

Photo by StellrWeb on Unsplash

Before university, life was simple. There were no bills to pay, no weekly shopping to do, and no money management needed at all!  

However, everything drastically changed after I moved out of my family home, into student accommodation in the centre of London. Also known as the most expensive student city in the UK!   

Having no experience of living alone or financial management, I really struggled! And the huge student loan payment in my bank account didn’t help! I wasn’t keeping track of where my money was going or how much I was spending because it just felt like I had so much money – until I didn’t! The feeling of not being in control of your own money is incredibly stressful, but I soon learnt it doesn’t have to be that way!  

Everything changed when I discovered budgeting! Creating a simple spreadsheet with information on my income and expenses allowed me to start budgeting and regain control over my finances. I was able to set weekly allowances which encouraged me to be more mindful of my spending habits. It also enabled me to discover areas in which I could potentially save a lot. Instead of always ordering takeaways I cooked my own meals, which was not only cheaper but a lot healthier. Instead of travelling around on the tube, I would walk around the city and really immerse myself in the beauty of London. There are so many small changes you can make, that can immensely improve your financial situation and better your life!   

Budgeting can change your life! 

Anonymous Author
Studying Medicine MBBS (UG)

Need to speak to a Money Adviser? Call the Student Advice Line.

Interested in learning more about budgeting? Take a look at this video workshop for more information!

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts. 

‘Be Aware of Scams!’ – National Student Money Week Testimonial

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

So, I got scammed… 

You know that gut feeling you get when something is too good to be true, you should probably listen to that! I had just moved houses and I was looking for a good hoover but all the Dysons and Sharks were way out of budget. I came across this site along the lines of vacuum.com, which sold vacuum cleaners at a discounted price. The website seemed legitimate, looked like any other proper website and it had decent reviews on Trustpilot. They were selling vacuum cleaners at warehouse prices for less than £100, which were being shipped from China. They even had an entire app to track shipping and the whole process was pretty easy. Two weeks later, my package arrived, but it was a small envelope… how could a vacuum cleaner fit in that? I opened it and found a silicone iPhone case that I had spent over £80 on. Of course, naturally, you’d go through a complaints procedure but after contacting the company they didn’t respond. This is when I realised, I got scammed! 

So, what did I do? Thankfully, I purchased the item using my credit card, so I was able to report the scam to my credit card provider. They carried out an investigation and as a result, had refunded me for the ‘hoover’ purchase.  

My tips from this experience: 

  • Think twice about purchasing items that are heavily discounted from a non-reputable company. There may be strings attached; it might be a poor-quality product, or you might not receive anything at all 
  • Do not transfer money from your current account 
  • Do use your credit card as the bank protects you 

Anonymous Author
Studying Psychology BSc (UG)

Need to speak to a Money Adviser? Call the Student Advice Line.

For more insight into scams, take a look at Part 1 and Part 2 of ‘Understanding & Avoiding Scams’!

The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts. 

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