How To Find The Best Student Accommodation In London

If you’re looking for student accommodation, London has many options. However, due to the city’s high numbers of students and fast-moving property market finding a place to live can be difficult.

Still, don’t despair. Thousands of students come to the city every year, so it’s clearly well worth it. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to find the best housing in the city. 

General Tips

It can be overwhelming trying to do figure out all aspects of your move at once. For the best results, go in with a clear but flexible idea of what you want from your UK experience.

Some important tips are:

• Do your research
• Know how much you can afford to spend
• Look up food and travel costs
• Use a well known and reliable agency

Most importantly, you should start your search early – and be ready to commit to a house fast!

It’s also crucial that you know what type of accommodation you want.

Types of Housing

It can sometimes be hard to understand the jargon estate agents and websites use when describing properties – and there are so many different types of student accommodation. Londonhas plenty of options, and before you start your search you should learn the following terms.

House Share

A house share means you rent a room or bed in a private house or apartment, usually with other students. Renting with other people helps keep prices down, but you have to be ready to organise taking out the rubbish and other chores yourselves. You’ll also need to compromise on things like bedroom and kitchen access.

Halls of Residence

This is the most common form of student accommodation. London’s halls of residence see large numbers of students living together in enormous buildings built and operated specifically for them. You’ll have your own room (usually fully furnished) and shared living areas will give you the chance to meet others in your building.

Another big benefit of halls is that they tend to be well managed, with staff available to keep communal areas tidy, fix broken lights and more. Having your own room gives you privacy, but you also won’t be cut off from other young people.

However, as they’re usually in the city centre, halls can also be quite expensive.

Homestay

A homestay means staying as a guest in the private home of a host family. Though they give you less independence than house shares or halls, homestays are a popular form of student accommodation. London is a big city with a lot to explore, and homestays give you access to the locals’ knowledge of both your neighbourhood and the wider city.

They’re usually close to public transport, and can be central or further out; the houses further from the centre are usually much cheaper. The best way to make the most of a homestay is to build a good relationship with your host family. Make sure to always be respectful and polite, and you can make lasting friendships. It’s also a great way to keep up with your English!

We hope these tips have been helpful. Again, the most important thing is to start looking early and be ready to make a decision quickly. Once you know what you’re looking for when it comes to student accommodation, Londoncan be a great place to live.

Author Plate

Sophie Smith works as an independent consultant and offers advice to young people looking for London-based student accommodation. London has a wide range of options when it comes to student living, and Sophie’s helpful suggestions make deciding where to stay even easier. Her expert tips and tricks stem from her first-hand experience studying in the city and living on a budget, so she is more than qualified to support others doing the same.