Everything you need to know about finding and securing student accommodation
For over 25 years, Accommodation for Students has been helping students to find their new home. We have become the UK’s number one student accommodation website, supporting individuals from across the world to find and book accommodation which meets their requirements.
Here, we have used our years of experience to create the ultimate guide to finding student accommodation, to help you get ahead in the race to find the best place to live. This guide covers everything from the different types of accommodation available, when to start looking and how to decide what property is best for you.
We also cover all the more ‘complicated’ stuff – tenancy agreements, guarantors and deposits. By the end of this guide you will feel ready to start your student accommodation search.
What type of student accommodation is best for me?
When you start looking for accommodation it’s important to understand the different options you have and which one will meet your requirements.
Halls of residence
These are owned and managed by the university and are catered towards first year students. You may be presented with different options such as the number of people you share with, whether you have an en-suite or not and the choice between self-catering or catered.
Typically you can expect to pay £154 per week for this type of accommodation.
Purpose Built Student Accommodation
These are similar to halls of residence, but they are privately owned. Because of this, you might find yourself sharing with people from other universities in the city. However, you will find a few more options such as studios or rooms to share with a partner, for instance.
Some PBSAs may also come with more amenities such as an on-site gym and cinema room. On average, you can expect to pay £163 per week.
Private houses, flats and apartments
After your first year of studying, moving out of halls is common and many students opt to share either a house, flat or apartment with friends. Accommodation for Students has the largest selection of properties available across the UK.
In addition to your rent, you may have to factor utility bills into your weekly cost, or you could search for properties which have bills included.
Typically you can look to pay around £133 per week for a shared house. The cost will vary across cities though, with Bristol, York and London being some of the most expensive. For example, the average monthly cost of rent for students in London is £996-1114 per month.
Purpose built flats and co-living spaces
These are not exclusively for students but they’re becoming increasingly popular. They are similar to purpose built student accommodation, often with quality amenities and typically offer more flexible contracts.
Homestays
This is where you rent a room in a house where the landlord lives. It’s important to check that the landlord does live in the property – if they don’t it can indicate that something is amiss. Nevertheless, this could be a good option if you’re looking to save money or if you have left searching quite late.
When should I start looking for student accommodation?
Unfortunately, there is no right answer as to when you need to start looking for student accommodation. If you’re about to start your first year, your university will often contact you after receiving your offer to give some guidance, with your room being secured once your place is confirmed.
Alternatively, if you receive your place late, or through clearing, it’s likely you will still be offered accommodation or you could look at a PBSA – if you find yourself in this situation, we are available to support you.
However, for those looking for post-first year spaces it can really vary. This is because different cities have different levels of supply and demand. At Accommodation for Students, we recommend that you start looking when you’re ready to.
The benefit of starting to look early is that you will have the widest choice and range of options available to you. If you leave it later you may be left with less choice and sometimes higher priced properties.
Another thing to note is not all properties will be available at the same time. Some landlords may choose to advertise later than others. There’s also the case where under the Renter’s Rights Act, students can give two months (England) or 28 days (Scotland) notice that they wish to move out – and this can be given at any time. It’s important to note that this is not the case for every property and is dependent on the contract they have signed, but it’s something to be aware of.
How to save time when searching for student accommodation
After deciding the type of property you are looking for, the next step is to plan your search. You can make your life a lot easier if you make your search more focused. Here are a couple of things you might want to consider:
The price
The amount of rent you pay is ultimately going to determine your accommodation search. The cost of rent will vary depending on the type of accommodation you have chosen, and its location. For example, living closer to the university may be more expensive, but it will save on travel costs compared to living further away.
Accommodation also varies in cost between cities, as previously mentioned. It’s a good idea to write down all your monthly outgoings: bills, subscriptions, any car finances, transport, groceries, etc. to work out what you can reasonably afford.
Also, if you’re looking to share with friends, it’s recommended that you discuss your budgets at the start of your search to ensure they align.
If you decide on a property that doesn’t offer a bills inclusive package, we suggest you get a quote for your student utility bills. With Fused, you pay for all your bills (energy, water, wifi and TV licence) in one monthly payment. The cost is also split between housemates meaning you only pay for your share.
Location
For most students, location is the most important aspect of their accommodation. Students often want to live close enough to university that they can walk, but also be able to access a supermarket, pubs and other venues.
Typically, university halls of residence are located on or close to campus, with private halls being close by. However, you might find that shared houses are generally further away or could involve a short bus ride or journey to class. Some universities will provide their students with free or subsidised travel.
In many university towns and cities you will find dense pockets of student housing – such as Cathays in Cardiff, Hyde Park in Leeds, or Fallowfield in Manchester. This density can provide students with a sense of community and is convenient for visiting friends.
Other towns and cities, like Bristol or Portsmouth, have student accommodation spread over different areas. To find out more about your university town and city, and where students live, you can read our university guides.
Who should I live with?
If you want to live in either university or privately owned halls you won’t have much of a choice when it comes to who you live with. Some universities will send out questionnaires and pair you with individuals with similar interests but most of the time you will be placed randomly. This gives you the chance to meet new people whilst also being able to retreat to your own room.
However, if you’re looking to move into a shared house or flat then the chances are you can choose who to live with. It’s very important that you consider who you want to live with as this can be the difference between having an amazing university experience or a bad one.
Before committing to a group it is worth making sure you are compatible. As mentioned, it’s a good idea to discuss your budgets before house hunting. You might also want to ensure you have similar interests and like-minded outlooks on social activities and cleanliness. Because of this, it’s crucial that you don’t rush to make decisions.
There can be a lot of pressure when it comes to finding student accommodation, with many often stating you need to have something secured prior to Christmas. However, it’s good to remember that there will be plenty of options so you don’t need to rush. It’s better to compromise on your choice of houses than housemates.
Now you have made those all-important decisions, it’s time to start searching!
How and where to search for the perfect place to live
This is where Accommodation for Students comes into its own. There is the full range of accommodation options available to you on the website. Furthermore, once you find something that you like you can make direct contact with the property to find out more. While it might seem obvious, all of the places on the site are just for students.
This is important because there are many ‘student’ accommodation websites out there that list non-student accommodation, which might mean that you end up living in a non-student area. Also they tend to list a limited range of accommodation choices – for example just Private Halls, which will limit your search from the outset.
While you should find everything you need through Accommodation for Students you might also want to try the University accommodation office, many of which publish lists of properties available at certain times of year. Each area will also have a range of student specialist letting agents, which are often clustered together, if searching online is not your thing.
What to ask at a viewing
When you have found some places that meet the criteria you have selected, you need to organise a viewing. It might seem like a pain, but students who view the property before moving into it are happier with their accommodation than those that did not.
The only exception to this are usually halls of residence. Universities may show a limited range on their open days but often students find that they end up living somewhere they’ve not viewed before. It’s a good idea to read some reviews online from previous students to get an idea of the different halls available.
If you are able to view a property, it’s a smart idea to go prepared with a list of questions to ask the landlord or letting agent.
Here’s a handy list we have prepared for you:
- How long has the property been on the market? – If it’s been available for a while it could indicate that there’s something wrong with it.
- How much is the deposit and how is it protected? – All deposits must be held in a protection scheme and should be around one month’s rent.
- What is the length of the contract? – Find out if it is a fixed term, such as 12 months, or if it’s a rolling contract where you just serve notice if you wish to move out.
- Do I need a guarantor? – Typically students will be required to have a UK based guarantor; if this is not possible they may ask for rent upfront, or for you to use a guarantor scheme.
- What type of contract would I be signing? – Find out if it’s a joint or single contract, and if it’s an assured tenancy or under a licence agreement. These can all have different implications should someone want to move out, or if someone fails to pay their rent. You can find out what they all mean in our ultimate guide.
If the current tenants are in the property at the time of viewing, it’s worth having a chat with them too. They can tell you what it’s actually like living there: if it’s loud or quiet, if there have been any issues with mould or damp, how good the water pressure is, the speed of the wifi, etc.
Signing the contract
Most landlords will present you with an assured tenancy agreement. This is the contract tenants sign to confirm they will be renting the property. These can be open ended or with a fixed end date for properties over two beds. You will be able to give two months notice to leave. These contracts are mainly used by landlords and agents in shared accommodation.
Alternatively you could be presented with a licence agreement – Licence agreements – these are fixed term contracts with defined start and end date. These are mainly used by halls of residence or some landlords. Halls in Scotland and Wales will use a variation of this agreement. Most homestays will use a type of licence agreement.
In Scotland, a private residential tenancy might be used. It is an open ended contract which can be terminated with 28 days notice. This is mainly used by landlords and agents. In Wales, a standard occupation contract can be used. This can be fixed term or open ended. The agreement, mainly used by landlords and agents, will specify.
Before signing it is crucial that you read through your contract as it will contain all the information you need to ensure a successful tenancy and to give you the best chance of getting your deposit back when you leave. Once signed, you are liable for the rent and any other conditions from the date of commencement.
Paying a deposit
There are two different types of deposits to be aware of when renting a property: a holding deposit and tenancy deposit.
Holding Deposit
This is the sum of money paid to a landlord or letting agent to reserve a rental property before the signing of a tenancy agreement – in other words, it takes the property off the market so no one else can get it. A holding deposit can be non-refundable if you wish to withdraw your application for tenancy.
Some private halls of residence will call this a booking fee and will convert this into a dilapidation deposit when you occupy the room. Note: the maximum amount that can be charged is 1 week’s rent and it is not legal to request a holding deposit in Scotland.
Tenancy Deposit
This is the amount of money held by the landlord throughout the tenancy; and will be used at the end of the tenancy if any repairs, maintenance and/or cleaning is required by fault of the tenants, to bring the property back to the condition it was in at the commencement of the tenancy.
The sum of money can vary, but is capped at five weeks rent in England and two month’s rent in Scotland. If the house has been let in a satisfactory condition, the money will be returned back to you.
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) forces landlords to protect their tenants’ deposits with one of the three authorised schemes. At the end of the tenancy, the Landlord must return the deposit to the tenant, or pass it over to the authorised scheme and register a dispute.
The scheme will provide a free alternative dispute resolution service, but if either the landlord or tenant(s) do not agree to this, then the dispute will be resolved in the courts. Landlords must tell their tenants within 30 days of moving in which scheme the deposit has been registered with.
Note: In some circumstances landlords may not be required to protect the deposit, for example if they are renting a room in their own primary residence. It is important to check what the landlord plans to do with your deposit if you are looking for somewhere to live. We would normally recommend thinking very carefully about choosing to live in accommodation where the landlord has taken steps to avoid protecting the tenancy deposit.
What is a guarantor and do I need one?
A guarantor is someone who becomes jointly liable with you for the terms of the tenancy you have signed. Essentially, they’re there to pay the rent if you were unable to. In theory, anyone can be a guarantor.
However, many landlords will have certain criteria that your guarantor would need to meet. This could be proving they can meet the financial requirements or that they’re based in the UK. This is so the landlord can take them to court to cover arrears, if needed.
Guarantors are required because most students don’t have an established credit or rental history, so the landlord has to look elsewhere to guarantee that security.
If you don’t have a suitable guarantor, one option is to pay your rent in advance. However, if you’re in a shared house under an assured tenancy the landlord will not be able to request this. This means that instead of paying rent in advance you’ll need to pay for the service of a guarantor company.
However, landlords using licence agreements or Halls of Residence can still request rent in advance. This could be a better option if you’re an international student and are struggling to find a UK guarantor.
What is an inventory?
Finally, make sure you get an inventory when you move in. An inventory is a record of the contents and condition of a property at a specified date. It is an extremely important document as it can be used to settle disputes at the end of the tenancy. If you have one in place, you are much less likely to become involved in a dispute over the return of your deposit.
The first thing you should do when you move into the property is take photos of everything! It could also be handy to take a video of each room. You can then do the same when you move out. Both can be used as forms of evidence should you need to raise any breakages at the start of your tenancy, or a dispute at the end.
Here are some key things to note:
- You should be provided with an inventory at the beginning of the tenancy.
- Many inventories contain a clause stating that if you don’t request amendments within seven days, you are deemed to have accepted the contents of the document.
- Take your time going through each section of the inventory, and take note of any imperfections, even something as trivial as a small scuff on the wall. If the landlord is at the property whilst this is being carried out, make sure you point out any issues.
- If your landlord doesn’t provide you with an inventory, take photographs to email to them, along with a list of any existing damage to the property and its contents.
- Any disputes about the deposit at the end of the tenancy will be resolved by reference to the inventory, so make sure it is carried out as accurately – and in as much detail – as possible.
Now you have followed these steps you should be in your ideal student accommodation and be perfectly set up for the year ahead.