EDUCATION

9 Factors to Consider When Choosing Student Accommodation

Accommodation is very important for every student, new and old. However, there are some factors every student must take into consideration when choosing accommodations.

It is not advisable to just choose a lodge because your friends are staying there or to choose a hostel based on what other students tell you. If you are a student looking for accommodation, here are the basic factors you must consider:

1. YOUR BUDGET.

When choosing an accommodation, the first thing to take into consideration is your budget. What type of accommodation do you want? Is it a single room, a room and parlor, or a self-contained apartment? Your budget would determine the kind of accommodation that suits you. You should go for what you can afford.

Some students love to stay in an accommodation with basic amenities, but their budget is low compared to their choices.

If a single room is what you can afford, go for it. Don’t choose an accommodation that you may find difficult to renew. Besides, you are a student, and as a freshman, you don’t need expensive accommodation for now except if you can afford it. So look for accommodations that meet your budget.

2. NEARNESS TO SCHOOL.

When choosing a student accommodation, another factor to consider is the lodge’s proximity to the campus. How far is the accommodation from the school premises? Would you have to trek for about an hour to reach the school or spend close to #500 daily on transportation?

When choosing accommodations, it is advisable that you choose those that are close to the school or trekkable, as this will reduce your stress. By the way, there is no assurance that you will always have money for transport, so as not to miss important lectures and tests in the future, choose accommodation that is close to or trekkable to the school campuses.

3. WATER.

Water is very essential for all students. You need to take your bath before going to school and freshen up when you return home, and this can be challenging for you if your hostel or lodge doesn’t have a well or borehole for water supply. That means you would have to roam the streets to fetch water every day.

Imagine the stress you experienced in school combined with that of fetching water in the streets; that will be too hectic for you to adapt to, so when choosing a student accommodation, make sure there is a water supply within the vicinity of your lodge or hostel.

4. TOILET.

There are some hostels and lodges that don’t have toilets, which means students have to make use of the bush or shotput to poop. This can be embarrassing when you have a visitor who wants to use the restroom. When choosing accommodation, you should reject any hostels or lodges that don’t have toilets for their tenants or occupants.

5. POWER SUPPLY.

Power supply is very important for every student community. You need to charge your phones, laptops, and other gadgets to stay connected and do other things. You also need light to read and cook, as there might not always be money to refill your cooking gas. Thus, when choosing a student accommodation, power supply should be put into consideration.

6. NOISE POLLUTION.

Reading is one thing, but assimilating what you have read is another due to noise pollution. When choosing a student accommodation, check the surroundings. How many churches and mosques are there? If there are too many, then it’s better you look for accommodation elsewhere because of the noise pollution. You might always get distracted while reading and can also get distracted from staying focused.

7. ENVIRONMENT.

The environment you live in has a great impact on your life; thus, when choosing an accommodation, ensure you get one in a secured and decent environment. Some lodges are known for crime, which means if you settle in an accommodation known for cultists, there is a probability that you may be initiated to join them in the future. At least ask some people living in the surroundings or other students about the environment to know if it’s safe to settle there. This will save you from “Had I known.”

8. SECURITY AND SAFETY.

Some accommodations are prone to theft and robbery. At least, a safe accommodation should have a fence, gate, and burglary. This will save your room from being burgled or prevent thieves from stealing your properties.

We’ve seen situations where students always lose their valuables to theft, and this happens mostly in lodges that don’t have any security protocols. When choosing a student apartment, security and safety should also be taken into consideration. You can’t afford to change your phone every 6 months due to theft.

9. BASIC AMENITIES.

Although basic amenities also depend on your budget, at least a good accommodation should look neat and decent to the eye. How good is the accommodation? Is the environment neat or dirty? Is the building painted or not? old or new building? Are the room tiles, and what about the room walls—are they defaced? Check properly if there are basic amenities, and if not, you can seek accommodation elsewhere.