What you need to know before you start looking for somewhere to live

• Accommodation provided by your educational institution
• When to start looking
• Contract length
• Types of accommodation
• Rent and hidden costs
• Quality
• Renting as a group

When to start looking

• As a first-year student when should I start looking for accommodation?
• As a returning student when should I start looking for accommodation?

Q: As a first-year student, when should I start looking for accommodation?

A:  If you are applying for University or College accommodation, then you need to return your application forms by the relevant deadline. An application for accommodation will normally be sent to you when you have confirmed that you intend to study at that institution. If you are in doubt about the procedure, look on your Accommodation Office Website or telephone them and ask.

If you want to live in private sector accommodation, or if you have not been able to get a University or College provided room then start looking as early in the summer as possible.  Students who are reliant on A-level results will have to wait until mid-August before they can look, but others don’t.  So if you’re in a position to look for a house before mid-August, do it.  There will also be local factors which affect when existing students start looking for the following letting year.

Q: As a returning student, when should I start looking for accommodation for the following year?

A:  If you want to remain in, or move back to, University or College accommodation then you need to contact your Accommodation Office just before you leave for Christmas and see what their system for returners is. If you want a short let, contact them at any time of the year and they maybe able to help, depending on when you want to live there.

You arelikely to come under early pressure from the private sector to start looking for accommodation for the next letting year as early as November or December.  This pressure will largely involve alarmist messages that all the good properties are snapped up at this time of year for the following year.  Beware – this is marketing puff to suck you in to paying over the odds.  Also, the earlier you look for a house, the longer the period you will be expected to pay rent for.  Although there is some element of local custom and practice, the bona fide house-hunting season doesn’t get going until February or March, and we recommend that you hold off signing up until at least this time.