Finding student accommodation is one of those jobs that suddenly becomes very urgent when everyone else has already started looking.
And that’s when mistakes happen.
You see a room. It looks great. The price seems reasonable. Your friend says, “Just take it before someone else does.”
And suddenly you’ve signed a lease without checking whether the Wi-Fi works.
Let’s avoid that.
Waiting until the last minute
UCT itself recommends that students start looking for accommodation well in advance, noting that finding a place in Cape Town can be competitive.
Starting early gives you time to compare properties instead of accepting the first room that happens to be available.
It also gives you more time to work out what you can actually afford.
Falling for the photos
Property photos are helpful.
They are not a substitute for seeing the place.
A room can look enormous online and turn out to have approximately three square metres of usable floor space once your bed, desk and suitcase are involved.
Look at the actual room, communal areas, kitchen, bathroom, entrance and surrounding streets.
Forgetting to ask what’s included
A rental price doesn’t always tell you the whole story.
Ask:
-
- Is electricity included?
- Is water included?
- Is Wi-Fi included?
- Is there parking?
- Is laundry available?
- Is the room furnished?
- Are there additional admin fees?
UCT specifically recommends checking whether utilities such as Wi-Fi, water and electricity are included when comparing accommodation.
Signing without reading the lease
Yes, it’s boring.
Read it anyway.
Pay particular attention to the rental amount, deposit, notice period, maintenance responsibilities and conditions for ending the lease.
If you don’t understand something, ask.
The Western Cape Government also confirms that rental deposits must be held in an interest-bearing account, subject to the applicable rental rules.
Choosing a place because your friends live there
Living near your friends sounds brilliant.
Until you realise their idea of a quiet Tuesday night is three people, a speaker and someone making pasta at midnight.
Your accommodation needs to suit you.
Think about your course, commute, budget, sleep schedule and how much independence you actually want.
Ignoring the commute
A cheap room isn’t necessarily cheap if you’re spending a fortune getting to campus.
Look at the actual route rather than just measuring the distance on a map.
For UCT students, check the current UCT Shuttle routes and MyCiTi journey planner before making a decision. Both services can change, so old screenshots and advice from someone who graduated three years ago aren’t necessarily useful.
Skipping the security check
Don’t rely entirely on a suburb’s reputation.
Look at the specific property and the route you’ll actually use.
Check entrances, lighting, access control and parking. Ask current residents what the area is like.
If you can, visit at different times of day.
Moving too quickly
The biggest mistake is often not choosing the “wrong” property.
It’s making a decision before you’ve asked enough questions.
Take your time. Compare a few options. Read the lease. Work out the real monthly cost.
A little extra homework now is much easier than discovering three weeks into the semester that your “perfect” room is 45 minutes from campus and the shower has one temperature: Antarctic.