Homestay Rental Guide: All You Need to Know

Flatshares vs. houseshares: which should you choose?

By Rédaction Roomlala 05/03/2017

Among the many types of accommodation on offer for students, flatsharing and housesharing is one of the most practical, and most popular. Affordable on a tight budget, it’s also perfect for meeting new people and strengthening friendships. Some groups prefer a house, while others prefer a flat. Here is a couple of things to think about when choosing which way to go. Flatsharing: the pros and cons Flatsharing is a booming sector, and subsequently there is a lot on offer in large cities, par...

What to do in Stockholm in 3 days

By Rédaction Roomlala 05/01/2017

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is a city at once modern and ancient, natural and designed. Stockholm is sure to give you a change of scenery wherever you come from. Under 3 hours from London, the city – which comprises fourteen islands – is a must visit due to its vast array of attractions. Roomlala has cooked up a 3 day itinerary so that you don’t miss anything on your weekend trip – as well as a couple of accommodation tips. Day 1: discover the city centre To kick off your visit to Stoc...

Where to live when you're a student in Portland

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/28/2017

Portland, Oregon is an exciting, modern city that is one of the largest in the United States. Students at the many universities and colleges are never short of things to do, with a vibrant art and music scene as well as an impressive social and restaurant offering. Ranked as the 8th most popular city to live in, Portland is sure to be a great destination for any aspiring student. It’s known for its friendliness, microbreweries and coffee houses, and the city’s unofficial slogan is ‘Keep Portland...

Stay in a spare room during your business trips

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/26/2017

Between business trips and training events, businesses have many reasons to send their employees all over the country and even abroad. These trips can be costly even if they do count as business expenses. Renting a spare room can be a great way to reduce expenditure for businesses and allow employees a more homely, interesting experience when travelling for work. Accommodation for business travel: a high cost For firms who regularly send employees away for work, the cost of accommodation c...

How to prepare your room for your new tenant

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/24/2017

Thinking of renting out your spare room to a lodger or student? Here are a few tips on how to prepare your room before they arrive. Things to think about before renting Before renting out your room, it is important to ensure that the room is big enough for the lodger or lodgers who wish to occupy it. Under the Housing Act of 1985, a room of less than 50 square ft (approximately 4.5m²) cannot be used as a bedroom and a room between 50 and 70 sq ft (approximately 6.5m²) is only half a bedroo...

Moving to Christchurch as a student

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/21/2017

Christchurch is often considered the gateway to the South Island, but the city has more than enough to offer right on your doorstep. Students coming to study in Christchurch at one of the universities, colleges or higher education schools will be pleasantly surprised by the city, its people and the wealth of activites on offer. The University of Canterbury has over 10,000 students, of which 2,000 are international students. The city has been rebuilt following devastating earthquakes in recent ye...

Tips to optimise your kitchen space

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/19/2017

Getting the balance right in the kitchen between careful interior design and storage space is always tricky. Between cutlery, crockery, tea towels and saucepans, there’s always slightly too much stuff in a kitchen. Roomlala has come up with 6 tips to help you optimise your kitchen space and maximise your storage space. Furniture hooks In order to optimize your storage space in the kitchen, you could attach hooks to your existing furniture. Hooks on the backs of doors or under the shelve...

What to do in Grenada in 3 days

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/17/2017

Grenada and the Alhambra are part of one of the most historically exciting regions in Europe. Aside from the culture and history, the magnificent landscapes around the city are enough to attract a huge number of visitors each year. Roomlala has prepared an itinerary for a three day trip to allow you to discover Grenada in a weekend – and find accommodation. Day 1: Grenada town centre For your first day in Grenada, we suggest that you take the time to explore the centre of the city. Start w...

Studying in Newcastle: What to do and where to stay

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/14/2017

Newcastle-upon-Tyne is one of the UK’s most exciting student cities, with the University of Newcastle and Northumbria University both high in the rankings. The two universities boast a vast combined student population and the city has a huge amount of affordable student housing as a result. If you’re considering studying at either of the city’s universities, read on to find out all you need to know. What to do When it comes to nightlife, Newcastle is the place to be. The main student nights ar...

How to move house on a budget

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/12/2017

The costs of moving house can often suddenly pile up. Whether you’re moving across the country or moving down the road, it’s important to organize yourself and prevent unnecessary costs. Here are our 10 tips for a cheap, easy move. Tip 1: Choose your method carefully First things first, you must choose how you’re going to move house. You can call on your friends and family and rent a car or van through various sites, which is often the cheapest option. However, you must consider how you’re g...

Finding a flatshare in Paris

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/10/2017

Rent prices in Paris can be a real problem for students looking for accommodation in the French capital. The city is magnificent and has a whole host of opportunities and things to do, which makes it all the more important to find affordable accommodation so that you have enough money to make the most of this amazing city. Students often find that flatsharing is the best way of solving their problems. Roomlala is here to help you find a flatshare in Paris. Paris: the City of Lights, where eve...

Where to live when you’re studying in Leeds

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/07/2017

One of the best student cities in the UK, Leeds has a lot going for it – with some of the best nightlife and trendy destinations, students at the 4 main universities are never short of things to do. Now the UK’s third largest city by population, Leeds’ housing market is massive and there’s a whole lot on offer for students. You might find a great place to live near your university, near the city centre or somewhere else entirely. No matter where you choose, this up and coming Northern city is su...

What to do if your landlord doesn't give back your deposit

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/05/2017

A deposit, sometimes called a guarantee or damage deposit, is a sum of money collected by a landlord at the start of the tenancy for security against damage or non-payment of rent. It protects the landlord against damages or degradations in the property caused by the tenants and unpaid bills. A description of what the deposit covers should be provided by your landlord, whether in the tenancy agreement or another document. If you are affected by a dispute surrounding your deposit or the non-refun...

Flatsharing in Spain

By Rédaction Roomlala 04/03/2017

Spain is one of the dream destinations for students studying abroad on the Erasmus programme. The attractive climate, the low cost of living and the beautiful towns and cities across the country go some way to explaining its appeal for Students. Roomlala has come up with the advantages of flatsharing while in Spain and a how you can cut your accommodation costs at the same time. What are the benefits of flatsharing in Spain? Flatsharing is one option which has a great many benefits for s...

Studying in Sydney: What to do and where to stay

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/31/2017

Sydney is hugely attractive for students, both Australians and foreigners. It’s not hard to see why: consistently ranked in the top cities in the world for students, a multicultural atmosphere and chilled way of life draw students from all over. Not only does the city benefit from amazing natural beaches, walks and weather, there’s also a whole host of things to do and opportunities that would impress any seasoned traveller. There’s also a huge variety of places to live : with six universities w...

DIY : 5 ways to store your cutlery

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/29/2017

The DIY trend is getting more and more popular as a way of easily resolving day-to-day problems. As a student, you might not have much time to tidy your place up, so it’s a good idea to think of solutions that will help you keep it in order in the long term. By making your own cutlery storage, you can find a cool, fun way of avoiding cutlery being left all over the kitchen Tip 1: Re-use tin cans Tin cans have great re-usage potential around the home, especially as a way of storing things. T...

What to do in Edinburgh in 3 days

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/24/2017

A 3 day break in Edinburgh is just enough time to explore and discover the Scottish capital. Edinburgh is both a modern city and an ancient one – making it a perfect stop for a weekend break! Roomlala has drawn up a quick itinerary to make sure you don’t miss any of Edinburgh’s highlights. Day 1: The Old Town In a city like Edinburgh, centuries worth of history is at your fingertips. Start off your trip with an unmissable visit to Edinburgh Castle. As one of the most popular attractions, ...

Find a flatshare in Cardiff

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/22/2017

As the biggest city in Wales, Cardiff is one of the UK’s most popular student cities, with a huge number of students living and studying at the University of Cardiff and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Living in Cardiff you will have the choice of a huge number of events, attractions and activities. As a bilingual city, living in Cardiff gives you an introduction to the unique Welsh language. All of this makes Cardiff hugely attractive to students, and the student housing market is always expan...

Landlords: Top 3 benefits of accommodation in exchange for work

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/20/2017

Accommodation in exchange for work can be an enriching experience not only for the tenant, who benefits from a greatly reduced rent, but also for the landlord, who can use the help for household tasks, babysitting or free up their time in other ways. Students often choose accommodation in exchange for work because of the benefits compared to a student job, but we have also come up with the top three reasons why it can be beneficial for the landlord. A strong relationship Landlords who choo...

Studying in Montreal: What to do and where to stay

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/17/2017

Montréal recently became the best city in the world for international students – a title held by Paris for the last four years running. And there’s plenty of reasons why : QS’s rankings measure 6 factors including ‘Student View’, which aims to measure things like ‘friendliness’ and ‘good nightlife’, alongside other factors like university rankings. The bilingual Canadian city always does well in rankings for quality of life and affordability, making it a prime location for students from across t...

Decorating tips for a cosy home

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/15/2017

Coming back to a comfy, warm, welcoming home is just the pick-me-up most people need at the end of a busy day. It’s easy enough to transform your home into a cosy nest and it doesn’t require any feng-shui. Roomlala has some decorating tips for making your home a comfier place to be. The importance of colours Colours are a very important element of interior design. To create a warm, cosy feel, we recommend soft colours like pale shades of grey, pink or green. To make your home really feel l...

5 times apps are awesome when you’re flatsharing

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/13/2017

Sharing a house with a bunch of strangers is mostly exciting, sometimes terrifying and, frankly, a rite of passage you need try at least once in your life! Of course, once you’ve found a place to call home, the challenge is in keeping things sweet, tidy and within budget – but it’s no sweat when you’ve got one of the bad boys below to hand. Our top app picks are either free or cheap as chipolatas, too: what’s not to love? 1. When you’re the new kid on the block Whether you’re in town to...

Preparing to move: mistakes to avoid

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/10/2017

Preparing to move house is a daunting tasks, but a necessary one. Even the most laidback, carefree soul needs to think through their move so that all goes well on Moving Day. Here is a list of the most common mistakes to avoid if you want to minimise stress and avoid disaster on the day. 1. Don’t forget your admin Moving house is not simply packing boxes and moving to another place. It might be the least fun aspect of the adventure that is moving house, but there are some crucial things ...

Find a spare room in London

By Rédaction Roomlala 03/08/2017

London is one of the most popular destinations for tourists, students and expats in the world. It is almost unrivalled in the amount of things to do and see across the city, with some of the most iconic sights in the UK. The capital city offers nightlife, culture, music, history and pretty much anything you could ask for. Unfortunately, that does not include low rent. Taking a spare room in a private home will offer you a cheaper option for your studies, weekend break or long term move and will ...

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