Student Housing Tips for Living Off-Campus

Finding accommodation in the UK can be intimidating, especially if you are still in Canada while looking. Below we’ve compiled some tips that can help you know what to research while looking for accommodation. While not a comprehensive list, we hope that this will help you begin your search!
 

Student Accommodation – On-Campus

For most UK universities, if you are a first-year international student, accept an offer, and apply for residence before the university deadline, you will be guaranteed a spot!*(can vary depending on the university). Most students choose this route, as it can be cost effective and the easiest way to make sure you have a place to live on your first day of class. University supported residence is safe, reputable, and up to a good standard. If you’re a mature student (older than 21), it’s also possible that your university will place you with other older students when available! 

There are still students every year who prefer to live on their own, off-campus, and for these there are some important items to consider. 
 

Student Accommodation – Off-Campus

When you are starting out your search for off-campus housing, it’s best to use the resources that your chosen university offers. They will be the best help available to you! 

Not sure who to contact? Speak to your Canada Law From Abroad advisor and we can help put you in touch with the appropriate team at your university.

In the UK, rolling monthly leases are quite rare and so you should expect to sign a full one-year lease when renting off campus. This means if you plan to go home for the summer months during your studies, you may need to consider subletting your room in advance. 

When looking for accommodations ahead of your studies, it’s a good idea to start looking for your accommodation around August (or sooner) to give you plenty of time ahead of your classes. As an international student, it's important to watch out for scams as there are a number of con-artists who try to trick international students into paying large deposits upfront for apartments that don’t exist. Be careful when reviewing accommodations, and use common sense when on your apartment search. Always be careful when paying online deposits and if ever uncertain about anything reach out to your university's team for advice. Even when looking at off-campus housing,  your university can be a great resource for students. You can also review credible resources like those available by UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs). 

Ultimately YOU are responsible for finding and verifying your accommodations. Any leases you sign, or deposits paid, are at your own risk.
 

FURNITURE

Most UK flats come fully, or at least partly, furnished. This means you will likely only be responsible for things like bed linens, towels, and basic kitchen supplies when moving in. But if you do need to pick up some furniture there are lots of charity shops where you can find lightly used items for cheap. You may also consider lower-cost shops like Ikea, Primark, Tesco or others once you're in the UK. 
 

GUARANTORS

As you are a student without a steady income it is common to be asked to provide a signed Guarantor on your lease. This is usually a family member or close friend who is legally agreeing to cover your rent should you be unable to uphold the financial terms of your lease agreement. The tricky part is that many landlords want a UK Guarantor. As you may not know anyone in the UK who can sign for you, you may end up having to pay upfront.
 

REFERENCES

Much like in Canada it is common for letting agents and landlords to ask you for references. The best references come from previous landlords. However, if this is your first time living on your own you may be able to use a professional reference. You should have these already on hand for when you start flat-hunting so that you don’t loose out on the perfect flat!

LETTING AGENTS VS PRIVATE LANDLORDS

Using a letting agency is very common in the UK. A letting agent helps landlords and tenants connect and may or may not manage the property throughout your stay. If you decide to use a Letting Agent rather than lease direct through the property owner themselves, make sure that they are registered members of a self-regulating body such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents or National Association of Estate Agents. A Letting Agent is not permitted to charge you a sign-up fee for registering with them, but there will likely be administrative fees once they find you a home and start processing your let (rent) agreement.

COUNCIL TAX

In the UK there is something called Council Tax with costs varying by location. Lucky for you, if you live in accommodations where all occupants are full-time students you will be exempt from paying Council Tax – so don’t forget to fill out a Council Tax exemption application form when you move in! However, if you live in a flat share with working professionals you may find yourself with this extra bill.

RENT AND LIVING COSTS

Cost of accommodation varies greatly based on which of the options you choose, as well as the area you live in. Expect to pay more living in Central London than you would in a small town like Colchester or even mid-size cities like Leeds. You will also need to factor in things like cleaning supplies, food, internet, gas/electric, water, and transportation costs – things you may not need to worry about if you lived on-campus in catered accommodations. 

TV LICENSE

Yes, you read that right! In the UK you need to pay for a TV License if you plan to watch television or stream live TV shows, even on your laptop or mobile devices. If you are sharing a flat, talk to your flatmates about sharing the cost of the TV License for the year. It’s a great way to minimize the cost per individual.

Note: You do not need a license if all you intend to do is stream from subscriptions services, such as Netflix, Amazon, or Disney+.
 

DEPOSITS

Much like in Canada, UK landlords will typically require you to pay a damage deposit upfront. This usually amounts to one or two months rent and will be released to you when you move out on the condition that no substantial damage was done to the property. It is illegal for landlords to hold this in their personal accounts and the money must be put into a TDP (Tenancy deposit Protection Scheme) within 30 days. This holds and protects your money until you move out, and if damage has taken place to the property assists in the alternative dispute resolution attempt.