Student housing in 2022: Ask the right questions

Students who are planning to move to Potchefstroom next year to start their higher education at North-West University (NWU) or who are planning to return to the city after studying from home during Covid-19 should start to look for accommodation now.

On 13 September a popular student complex, hosting males and females, posted on its Facebook page that applications are open, signalling that the season for finding a place to stay in 2022 is in full swing.

But what should you look for when searching for a place to stay?

Potchefstroom has many types of student housing such as residences on campus, ‘residence’-type accommodation near campus, rooms to rent on a month-to-month basis, flats, townhouses, and 120 to 200 commune student houses. Some are located across the road from the NWU’s various entry gates, others may be a few kilometres away and require a bicycle or a vehicle to drive to campus.

Rent can cost you anything from R2190 to about R8000 per month. In some instances electricity is included, but there are accommodation types where students buy their own electricity, experts in the renting and management of the student housing sector said.

Natasha Isherwood, a house mother at various student complexes said, “for first-year students, all types of student housing will demand a single deposit equal to the monthly rent. When students depart, the money will be returned to them after 30 days once  the owners have inspected the room to see if it is still in the same condition.”

Inspectors use an inventory list to make sure they cover all the parts of the room. If anything is broken in the student’s room, his/her deposit won’t be returned when moving out.

Edward Nkeyana, a third-year law student said that there are many factors that make student housing better than others but the most significant one is safety.

“Everyone likes to feel safe, especially when they are moving into a new location,” he said. According to Edward, parents are more concerned about their children’s safety, especially when they are unfamiliar with an area.

Onkarabetse Baoboditse, a third-year health sciences student, said that when she was choosing accommodation, her main focus was on security and safety and the distance to and from campus.

“Because accommodations differ in relation to their distance to the campus, I prefer an accommodation that is a walking distance and safe to walk from campus,” she said.

On the other hand, students also want their belongings to be protected in their chosen home away from home. This contributes to many students opting for the residence-type accommodation that offers 24-hour security and are located near campus.

Happiness Mpopoma, a third-year education student at the NWU, said that she wants affordability, but also quality and privacy.

She said that the cheaper the student accommodation, the lower the quality appears to be. This could mean “living in conditions that are inhumane,” she said.

Furthermore, students prefer accommodation with Wi-Fi because it is more convenient for their studies, as they will be able to do assignments and take online examinations without having to rush to campus.

Some students prefer accommodation where the noise is limited, as opposed to other environments where they can make noise and throw parties until the next morning.

According to Diedrick Botha, a third-year communication student, noise is really a distraction, and he cannot fully concentrate and be productive in noisy places.

“I prefer a place which has noise restrictions and order,” Botha said.

“The most common issues within student accommodation in Potchefstroom are geyser problems due to icy weather in winter which can cause burst pipes, electricity problems like load shedding, and even poor Wi-Fi connections that hinder students from carrying on with their studies,” said house mother Isherwood.

This can be avoided if the student does proper research by first contacting the house mother or caretaker of the specific accommodation, he or she is interested in and then by asking the right questions.

The process that the student must follow when reporting a problem includes asking if the accommodation has an alternative for the power supply such as generators if the electricity goes off.      

This will help to prepare a student when there is an electricity interruption. They will know whether to rush to campus and complete their work or stay calm in their rooms knowing there is plan B.

According to Isherwood how management teams deal with problems is important.

“Once we receive a phone call from the student with a problem, I contact our maintenance person and he deals with the problem on the same day,” she said. – Dylan Isherwood, Lerato Mamabolo, Constance Moholo, Tshepo Mogotlhe

Questions to ask when looking for student housing

How much is the rent?

What is included in the rent?

What is the kilometre distance from the accommodation to the campus?

Do you have rules about noise and how are they enforced? How do you
deal with other tenants’ noise?    

Is the complex or flat near a busy street or pavement that may cause
traffic and pedestrian noise?

What should I expect in the room I will be using?

What is the kilometre distance from the accommodation to the nearest
supermarket and town?

Is the accommodation fully furnished? (Ask for a list of items
provided). 

How and by whom are complaints handled?

Is electricity part of the rent or is there a pre-paid system?