Key Highlights

Congratulations! You’ve passed your exams and have been accepted into university. It’s a new, exciting chapter of your life. For those choosing to study abroad and come to the UK, it opens up plenty of potential opportunities for education, work, and culture. However, even though you’re just a student you are still moving to another country, which can be daunting, difficult, and come with a lot of requirements.

It isn’t just about studying – it’s important to get the full student experience and this is heavily influenced by your home for the year. Here are some tips to remember when choosing a rental property for studying in the UK.

Tips for choosing your UK student accommodation

Early birds get the worm

Ask any veteran international student in the UK and they’ll tell you: get your accommodation sorted as soon as possible. The earlier, the better. Trying to find suitable and desirable accommodation can take months, even for national students. Starting early ensures that you can get all your paperwork and applications done on time and that you will have many more options for housing.

Prime location

Location is everything when you’re a student. You want to make sure that you’re close enough to your university or college, amenities, and fun. Students, if living off-campus, tend to opt for city centres where there are plenty of things to do and chances for part-time jobs. For those that choose private accommodation that is over walking distance from campus, then the chosen location should have good public transport options.

Others tend to prefer being closer to the university, such as in a walkable distance from campus. This offers freedom that you wouldn’t get in student halls, while still having the benefit of being nearby.

Choosing your accommodation

There are plenty of different types of accommodation when it comes to student housing. Your choice will reflect on your time there and can be determinative of how much you enjoy your academic year. Of course, there is university accommodation, which is usually halls of residence. The halls can be either catered or self-catered and often include utilities in the price. Halls of residence are often chosen for the first year by students before moving off-campus.

More and more students are opting to live off-campus right away to immerse themselves more in their chosen cities and their culture. Housing options can include private halls, shared houses and flats, and private rentals.

Budgeting

Pick a budget and stick to it. Student accommodation in the UK, particularly private accommodation, can be expensive. Prospective students should be aware of just how much their housing will cost, factoring in any letting agency fees, utilities, and other expenditures. Whether or not the accommodation is furnished and to what level should also be considered. 

Location is also a factor when it comes to budgets. Different cities cost more than others, with London being the most expensive. Private rentals can often be cheaper than campus accommodation, owing to greater choice and flexibility. Figure out what is reasonable and affordable for you and make sure you stick to your budget.

A lot of private landlords tend to ask international students to even pay 6 or 12 months’ rent in advance. Check your contract and finances first before making this decision, as it is costly and can backfire if your accommodation isn’t to a good standard.

Understand your contract

Make sure to read your tenancy agreement carefully before signing it. Make sure everything is how it should be and be aware of any penalties, notice periods, and length of the contract. It is also important to understand how much deposit you need to pay and what the conditions are in order to get it back.

Nowadays, a lot of contracts also include inventory checks. These are essentially lists that detail everything that’s included in the property, such as furniture and appliances. Check it thoroughly and be sure to report any damage as this could be deducted from your deposit later on.

Know your rights

It’s important to understand tenant rights in the UK before signing any agreement. Researching online can be beneficial, as can speaking to a private letting agency, who can offer expert advice based on your situation.

Double checking

House and flat viewings are absolutely essential when choosing a home in the UK. While viewings aren’t always necessarily needed for campus accommodation, they are crucial for privately rented apartments and houses. If you are able to, it is important to go see the advertised property so you can check that you are happy with the location, quality, and condition of the property. It is a great opportunity to be able to ask questions about the property’s availability and its condition. You can also be able to check the quality of appliances, furniture, and more. You can also travel to the property and use that time to assess whether you’re happy with its location. 

However, for a lot of international students, we understand that this isn’t feasible. In that case, a lot of letting agents who cater to students offer virtual tours. These can be pre-recorded videos that you can watch on the letting agents’ webpage or you can schedule a call with an agent who can show you via video call. Private rental letting agencies can help you find a great property that will match what you need and offer any advice or help during the process.

Summary

North Property Group is an end-to-end property investment and lettings agency. In addition to securing deals with local developers for investment purposes, we also offer a comprehensive lettings service in three major university cities in the UK: London, Manchester, and Leeds. 

We can offer advice on premium accommodation across England, helping international students find a home that suits them and their needs. We can manage the legal and financial aspects, providing peace of mind at a time when you need to focus on what really matters – education. Book a call with us today to find out more about our student properties.