Ruthe Goes To Oxford

Finding the right accommodation to rent in Oxford can be a great challenge for the university student who already has a very limited amount of time, and money, not to mention a lack of experience in buying and renting property. Here are the top tips to help prevent you from suffering the stresses of renting the wrong property in Oxford.

Rent with other university students

The cost of rent per person tends to go down as the number of sharers in the house increases. If you are a full time student you will be exempt from paying council tax, part time students on the other hand will still have to pay. Full time students should avoid sharing accommodation with part time students in case the household decides that it is unfair for the part-time student to pay the entire Council Tax bill on their own.

Find your accommodation early

The best student accommodation in Oxford tends to go early. Make sure you check the Oxford University boards and recommend estate agencies, plus try asking other existing students for advice on where they rented previously and if they have any of their own tips. You can also use a UK property search engine like Gartoo to find the best properties early.

Don’t be put off if the house is a mess

Cleaning a house from top to bottom isnâ??t fun, but if the house is in a mess when you look around, donâ??t let this put you off as this is the fault of the previous tenant, and is not a reflection on the landlord or property. Â

Make sure you judge interior over exterior

Don’t worry if your house looks shoddy from the outside, just make sure the space you have to live in is up to scratch. Try to gauge the quality of the carpets and walls when you are looking around. Â

Find out what furniture is included with the property

The furniture you see in the property when you look around might belong to the previous tenant, be sure to ask your landlord what furniture is included. Â

Find out what electrical appliances are included with the house.

It really is useful to have a washing machine as laundrettes are rare in Oxford, and they are expensive compared to having your own washing machine. Don’t expect a TV either.

Seek unbiased advice on what itâ??s like to live in Oxford

Itâ??s advisable to network with other students in Oxford by participating on student forums, and social networking websites such as Facebook. Itâ??s likely that your landlord will have a vested interest in selling you the property, so be sure to take the landlordâ??s advice sparingly.

Find a property in a safe area

Oxford has a student population of approximately 30,000, which makes it a targeted area for burglars. Students should ask their Landlord to fit key operating locks on the windows and five lever deadlocks on all external doors. Before renting a property it is advisable to visit the area in the evening to get a feel for how safe the area is.

Oxford is located in southeast England. It comes under the county of Oxfordshire and the rivers Thames and Cherwell run across it. The University of Oxford is world renowned and is the oldest university of the English speaking world. Oxford is referred to as the “City of Dreaming Spires” for its harmonious architecture. It has been a place for royalty and scholars. Now, it is a cosmopolitan area and is developing as a technology hub. There are many business and science parks in Oxford. It is also a thriving tourist destination.

Many tourists come to Oxford for its rich culture. There are many historical buildings reminiscent of the British architecture. It houses the iconic Radcliffe Camera built in the mid-18th Century and the Bridge of Sighs in the Radcliffe Square. It also has many museums which are attractive destinations. In addition, Oxford University and other colleges are also famous and popular amongst tourists. Tourism generates $740 million for Oxford businesses. Hence, tourism is a great option for investment in Oxford.  Companies and businesses in Information and Communication arena, Nanotechnology, Automobile and Aerospace can have excellent prospects in Oxford. Research and continuous innovations are taking place at the University of Oxford to revolutionize these sectors.

The automobile sector is prominent in Oxford. Production of the MINI is being undertaken at the BMW plant in Oxford. The University of Oxford is also helping improve car design safety as an initiative by Oxfordshire County in partnership with Toyota. The Faraday partnership in automotive materials by Oxford University is an attempt to improve the technology transfer between industry and academia. Thus, the automobile sector is a good sector to invest in to incorporate the latest innovations in the field.  Electronic companies such as The Sharp Laboratories of Europe that undertake research in consumer electronics is located in Oxford. Many biotech companies are also supported by Oxford bioscience. The Department of Biochemistry in the University of Oxford is a world leader in life science research. It specializes in structural biology, molecular cell biochemistry and genetics. So, these sectors are also good areas to invest in and make use of the expertise.

Oxford is also home to many science parks which encourage research and innovation. Such parks include the Oxford Science Park, the Begbroke Science Park which aims at achieving innovation through research. Businesses and university entrepreneurs work together here to achieve better design and growth. The Center for Innovation and Enterprise also provides office and lab accommodations for start-up companies. Hence, for start-up companies, Oxford is an ideal place for operations. It helps them with accommodation and technical support. Companies undertaking research work can also benefit from the expertise of Oxford academicians. Thus, Oxford is a great place to invest in because it is a great center for innovation and design.