Finding a student flat in Bristol

I've lived in Bristol for three years now, and I'll soon be looking for a new place. One thing I'm looking forward to is finishing my course, so I don't have to admit to being a student when I'm speaking to letting agencies and property management companies.

I know students have got a pretty bad reputation, and I've been in some friends places which left me needing a good wash, but we're not all setting out to wreck the place! It's a shame when I get asked what I do on the phone by an agency and I can almost hear them shake their heads when I say 'student'.

For what it's worth, I've lived in three places in Bristol, Bedminster, Southville and Windmill Hill, and in every place I've treated the flat or house like it was my own. No, I don't mean I started hammering nails into the walls, but I took care of it. I've always got my deposit back, and I feel like I've treated the place I'm living with respect, as I know it belongs to someone else.

We don't all have mummy and daddy's cheque book to pay for a flat to be re-decorated when we move out, and some of us students actually want to live in a clean and tidy environment. So next time landlords, if you are thinking about a student living in your place, why not try and judge them on themselves, rather than assuming we're a step up from squatters!
 
Posted by: Sam Doughty on 02 April 2010