How to find Student Accommodation in the UK?

With many of you accepting your offers, this is an ideal time to start looking for student accommodations. And, as a student, it’s important to find the right kind of accommodation. This will vary depending on how much traveling you plan to do, and whether you are able to find part-time work. Fortunately, international students are often eligible for student housing and, if you pick a student-friendly city, can benefit from a number of student discounts.

1) University Accommodation:
Across the UK, most universities have accommodation known as ‘student halls’ or ‘halls of residence’ which they rent out to students. Student halls are rooms with communal kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms. Meals are provided primarily at an additional cost by a "canteen." The rooms in halls are simple, but they provide more opportunities to socialize with students outside of your study programme.
Self-catering apartments / studios are generally self-contained units with fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms. These are slightly more expensive, but they provide more privacy.
Most university housing is on campus or close to lecture auditoriums and other facilities like gyms and libraries. Because there is always competition for housing, it is best to apply as soon as possible. Some universities, however, guarantee international students a place in university accommodation. The average cost for weekly rent for 2021–2022 is £166/week. You can check the university accommodation on the university website itself.

2) Private Student Housing:
Private halls offer a similar experience to university halls but are run by private companies. As these halls are not run by any particular university, you may end up sharing with students from a variety of different universities. There are certain student accommodation chains which provide accommodations at prime locations in your city. Eg: HouseHat, Amber Housing, UniAcco, etc. (If you’re looking at private student housing, make sure to check how far it is from your university.)
These generally include electric, broadband, gym memberships in the price. Private halls are typically maintained to a higher standard than university halls and many offer spacious communal areas. Many halls offer a choice between catered and non-catered accommodation. However, private halls are the most expensive of all three options. The rent averaged £155/ week for an ensuite room and £228/week for a studio.

3) Private Rentals / Renting a flat
Here, you have different options:
a) Paying Guest (Live in Landlord) - You live in a house along with the landlord. One typically rents out one room of the house. Some landlords include breakfast/ dinner prices in your rent.
b) Sharing a room in a flat - Here, a single room from the entire flat is advertised on websites for renting. A big advantage of this is, you get to live with people from different cultures.
c) Renting an entire flat - One can rent an entire flat for oneself or rent it with friends / fellow classmates. You divide the rent, and the living room/kitchen are communal areas.

Rented flats usually accommodate around four or five people. If you’re looking to rent on the private market, you can find an apartment through an estate agent or private landlord or websites like Zoopla, Rightmove, Sparerooms. The cost of rent fluctuates greatly depending on the location and standard of the house/flat but sharing with roommates can ease the pressure on your budget. You will have to sign a tenancy agreement, which is a legal document outlining the terms of your stay. Make sure you fully understand the terms and issues of the contract, and if you do have any doubts talk to your international student advisor who can assist you.

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