When renting a house, there are some unique factors that mean you need different considerations from apartment rentals. 

These factors can determine if a house is the best option for you if you are looking to rent in Galway. Below are four crucial things that you should keep in mind when opting to rent.

1. Utility Bills

The costs of renting an apartment might be inclusive of the utility bills. Still, you may find the rental house has an individual utility account whose monthly bills are independent of the rent.

Moreover, the utility costs can differ depending on factors like your need for air conditioning, heating, and hot water. That is why it is best to review the tenancy lease to know which utilities you will be paying for and which the landlord will cover.

2. Garden Maintenance

Renting a house is also an opportunity for you and your family to enjoy the pleasures of having a garden. However, it is a perk that comes with responsibilities that ensure the place looks clean and presentable.

That means routine landscaping and other lawn upkeep tasks. You must mow the grass, get rid of weeds, water the grass and plants, care for garden items and trim the bushes.

Check to confirm if the tenancy contract specifies who is responsible for the yard maintenance, is it you or the landlord?  If you are responsible, you also will be tasked with caring for the walkway and driveway. If you’re still interested, then look here to try 

3. Pets

Pets are family, and thus it is hard to leave them behind or send them to an animal shelter when moving house. But owning one also comes with the need to ensure your rental home allows tenants to have pets. Furthermore, you should confirm the rental provides enough space for your pet to roam freely. 

Some places that let tenants keep pets might still put rules regarding which type of animals are allowed and could charge you additional monthly fees. Such stipulations also vary from landlord to landlord.

It is best to look for a house with a backyard where your pet will have plenty of free space for paying. Go through the lease to verify the terms and conditions of having pets.

4. Parking

It is wise to find out if the house you wish to rent provides a space for parking your car, and this is also subject to how many vehicles you own. Where are the parking spots located? It also is something worth finding out because people in rental apartments might park in a basement parking lot, on the street, or in a garage (with an additional fee). Renting a home in the suburbs might have you parking in the driveway or a garage adjacent to the main house.

For many people commuting by foot or even via bicycle can be a good way to get around and can be equally as quick as doing so via car or even public transport. These are worthy considerations if renting in Galway

The four issues mentioned above are a few of the many issues that stand out, differentiating the costs and responsibilities of renting a house compared to an apartment.

Other noteworthy factors are privacy, living space, and storage. Overall, your budget and the terms and conditions in the lease, and the local and state laws will also be vital issues that should inform your decision to rent a house.

Town versus gown is an age-old struggle. Cities steeped in academic excellence revel in the reputation their universities bring, but people often push back when those from the outside encroach on local life.

Nowhere is this battle between townsfolk and students more apparent than in the accommodation sector.

Student housing has been a bone of contention in Galway and university cities across Ireland for decades.

Locals want the reverence and tourism that universities bring, but they don’t want the streets lined with students. Nor do they want students clogging up the rental sector. It’s a Catch-22 situation that often results in sky-high rental rates and less than desirable living conditions.

Students Are Paying a Hefty Price for their Education

A 2015 article in the Independent revealed that a housing shortage in Galway City meant students were sleeping on sofas. Fast-forward to 2020 and little has changed. As well as students in Galway sofa-surfing, a report by the Journal found that some students from University College Dublin are sleeping in cars because they can’t find a suitable place to live.

But why can’t the students just live on campus? Herein lies the issue. National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) has 17,000 full-time students. There’s not enough room on campus to house them all. However, even if it could, the cost is too much for most students to afford.

In addition to registration fees for university topping €3,000, campus accommodation costs have skyrocketed in recent years. A shared room at NUIG costs between €3,750 and €6,942 a year.

Go on rent.ie and you can find rooms to rent in a private house for under €200 a month. Yes, campus accommodation might cover bills and, in some cases, food. However, it’s little wonder that students are eager to get out on the open rental market as soon as possible.

Of course, as we know, that puts pressure on local housing which, in turn, creates tension between the town and gown. There is no easy answer. However, one solution could be building affordable campus accommodation using modern construction methods.

Prefab Technology Could Drive Down Costs

Instead of building large units from scratch, NUIG and other universities could use prefabricated products. Take, for example, Hydrodiseño. This Spanish company uses cutting-edge technology to create, among other things, student accommodation bathroom pods. The pods are premade in a factory and come in self-contained, ready-to-install units.

The modular construction not only ensures consistency in quality and spec, but dimensions. Thus, they can be easily slotted into place without the need for dozens of people from different trades.

Indeed, with the pipework, tiling, units, and flooring all in place, they can be dropped in with relative ease. This cuts down on time and labour costs, thus creating the opportunity for affordable housing.

The same strategy can be used for other parts of a construction project. In fact, there are companies out there that can build an entire shell and have it dropped onto a building plot.

Again, this cuts down on time, costs and hassle. The end result would be a more streamlined construction process and affordable housing for students. Indeed, if a project costs less to complete, the university could pass the savings on to students.

Would it be a massive saving? Possibly not. However, if it can drive down the average cost of campus accommodation by 10%, that’s a win.

The student housing crisis is one that will continue as long as more people attend university. However, if academic institutions can take advantage of modern construction methods, it could save everyone money and, in some small way, help the student housing crisis.