Heading to Swansea To Study? Here Is Advice on Where to Live

Student accommodation is one of the most common challenges students face in college and university. Finding the right place to live, especially if you’re a foreign student, is a daunting task.

You need to make sure the housing you’re choosing is safe, affordable, and doesn’t have any structural damages or inefficiencies. You can’t make your decision solely based on proximity to the nearest campus.

In this guide, we’ll give you expert advice to help you streamline the process of student living in Swansea. We’ll also recommend some student-recommended locations to further nudge you in the right direction.

• Where Accommodation Has Adequate Facilities

You need to make sure your accommodation doesn’t cause any living problems. The exterior needs to have none of the following problems

• The roof doesn’t have broken tiles or allows sound to penetrate through.
• There aren’t any cracks or blockage in the gutters and pipes.
• The windows aren’t cracked, worn off, or brittle.
• The taps work properly.
• You have the facility of hot water.
• The wiring doesn’t seem dilapidated.  
• No signs of water damage, which may provide a breeding ground for mold to thrive.
• The toilet flush is operational.
• There aren’t any pest execrates.
• The doors and windows are equipped with proper locks.
• The smoke detector and burglar alarms are installed.

• Where Home Safety Is Guaranteed

• Gas and Electricity Safety

The law makes it obligatory for landlords to ensure your gas safety. They must ascertain that gas appliances are in good working condition. They also need to provide you a gas safety engineer, who’s qualified to conduct annual safety checks. Remember, only a gas safety engineer has the credentials to repair, install, and service gas appliances — anyone other than that is inadequate.

Incorrectly installed appliances can expose you to dangerous explosions, gas leaks, and worst of all — carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide can absorb into your bloodstream and deplete your oxygen levels, leading to nausea, dizziness, headaches, unconsciousness, and death.

Here are some things you need to sort out with your landlord:

• Request the landlord to give you a copy of his existing gas safety record.
• Work with your landlord to acquire the services of a gas safety engineer when a safety check is due.
• Confirm the identity of the gas engineer by checking their ID card.

In the case of electricity, many landlords have an NCEIC certificate which proves that they’ve had an electricity safety check in the past 5 years, but it’s not a legal obligation.

• Fire Safety                                                 

According to the Furniture and Furnishings regulations 1988, furniture needs to be fire retardant and have proper labels. This furniture includes headboards, upholstered furniture, sofas, chairs, seat pads, scatter cushions, pillow, and even mattresses. The only things that are excluded are duvets, curtains, and carpets. So, make sure your student residence is adhering to these regulations before moving in.

• Where Students Prefer to Live

Students who come to study in Swansea have some favorite hotspots, which are ideal for setting up a thriving student life. Here are some recommendations to steer you in the direct direction:

• Uplands

Uplands is enormously popular among university students, especially those hailing from Swansea and Swansea Meds University. It has a popular tavern — the uplands tavern — nearby, which is a student favorite spot for socializing with their friends and enjoying a delicious pint. Uplands is also famous for providing affordable and safe housing.

There’s also another famous attraction in Uplands — Noah’s Yard. Noah’s yard has an energetic atmosphere, and its main offering is an Italian styled pint, which is highly popular among the locals. The aesthetics of this place are also quite decorative. Books, Bikes, and typewriters glisten the whole pace with a graphic and vintage beauty.

If you’re a vegan, you can also check out Crumb’s kitchen, which is renowned for its mouthwatering vegetarian food.

1. Brynmill

Brynmill is overlooked by a crown of mountains. It provides ample opportunity to escape from the business of college life, and escape to nature. But what makes Brynmill so attractive for students is its affordable accommodation. This helps students work in tight budgets, especially if they’re willing to rent a place as a group of three or four.

If you’re interested in familiarizing yourself with Brynmill’s cultural flavor and its people, you can visit the following locations for sightseeing.

• Aberavon Beach
• Brynmill Park
• Swansea Bay
• Limeslade Bay
• Bracelet Bay

Takeaways

If you’ve decided to move to Swansea and join one of its educational institutions, you must make sure the accommodation you’re choosing has certain qualities. Is it gas safe? Are there any electrical hazards that might expose you to unwanted danger? Are fire safety protocols being followed? There’s a lot you need to consider making the right choice. You also need to check out housing in Uplands and Brynmill and see for yourself why these locations are favored by students.