A student's advice about finding private rentals in London

Looking for a new flat as a student can be stressful and nerve-wrecking, especially if you are far away from home.

To help you with securing your dream home Gardens House communications lead, Karan Kwok, has put together some tips, resources, and advice to hopefully make this anxiety-inducing topic more manageable.

Hopefully, you will gain some new insight from this article and settle into your ideal accommodation next year! 🏘️ 

1) What type of accommodation would you prefer? 🤔💭

Most of you probably already have a good idea regarding your ideal living arrangements next year, but plans sometimes fall through and issues can arise— always keep your options open and have a backup plan until a contract is secured. Here I have put together the most common living situations for uni students, some of their pros and cons, as well as some useful apps and sites to hopefully make flat searching easier for you! 

2) Prepare a list of must-haves and deal-breakers ⚖️📝 

Preparing a list of your must-haves, good-to-haves, and deal-breakers is essential to the renting process, especially if you are sharing a flat with friends. Not only will this test for compatibility between potential flatmates and avoid disagreements down the line, it will also force you to sit down and have a serious think about your needs. My tip is to list it as a spectrum rather than bullet points, so it would be easier to spot room for compromise.

3) Consider your budget 🏦 

If you are not planning to stay in University Accommodations, remember to take bills, cost of furniture, and possible maintenance costs down the line into account on top of rent. The good news is that your household might be exempt from council tax if everyone is a full time student, but do double check on gov.uk based on your individual circumstances.

Rent in London also varies greatly depending on the area— even within a borough! This visual guide and ranking by SpareRoom is really helpful for reference when comparing rental costs across postcodes. 

4) The rental market in London moves fast! 🏃💨 

A piece of advice I received is to start looking during the summer months. As all the third years will be moving out, you will get access to a larger variety of student-friendly homes. Unfortunately, this also means a lot more competition. The housing market in London moves really quickly during peak season, so don’t stall too long on a good opportunity, but also don’t be rash and think things through before settling! A good rule of thumb is to begin your general search 3 months in advance, then start attending viewings 4-6 weeks prior.

5) Guarantors and Documents 📑🪪 

If you are a student or a first-time renter, the landlord or rental agency might ask for a UK based guarantor—someone who agrees to pay your rent if you are unable to. If you do not have a guarantor available, it’s standard practice for them to ask for 6-month’s rent upfront. This might be tricky for international students, so remember to do further research regarding your options.

It is also important to prepare documents such as bank statements, references, visas, and passports to make the whole process smoother. You will be able to find more information and support on the UAL website.  

6) Get support from the UAL Private Accommodation Adviser! 🏡🫂 

Last but not least, do not hesitate to check out UAL’s webpage on private accommodation advice if you have any queries or require additional help. Not only do they offer one-on-one guidance, they also offer free contract checking services and legal advice. Take a look at all the resources UAL has to offer to put your best foot forward! 

For more tips, check out our guide to private accommodation in London. 🏡