Student lets and how to secure student accommodation

Back to school is upon us and there will be a sense of anticipation even for those entering the highest levels of education. While uniform and packed lunches will be a preoccupation for the under 18s, those at university have other considerations – chiefly accommodation. 

Navigating the world of student accommodation can feel daunting, so Viewber has put together this useful guide to the type of accommodation available, where to find it, when to start searching and how to narrow down what really matters. 

First year undergraduates 

Many courses tempt students by guaranteeing accommodation, which can be beneficial in a competitive market. The accommodation will usually be ‘halls of residence’ (often referred to as just ‘halls’). These are clusters of apartments close to campuses or city/town centres, usually with bedrooms, shared kitchens/living rooms and on-site facilities. Halls are either owned by the university or by a private supplier of student accommodation.  

Halls are the preferred option among first year students as they are a low-risk introduction to university life, with ample opportunities to make new friends. It’s worth noting, however, that students will have little to no control over who they live with in halls. 

Second year students and beyond

As undergraduates get to know their locale, grow in confidence and form friendship groups, thoughts quickly turn to life outside of halls. 

Although individuals and groups can choose to stay in university-provided accommodation, it may become more difficult to do so from the second year, especially if the university guarantees halls for first year students and needs the units back. Many second, third, masters and PHD students move into privately rented accommodation as this usually offers more freedom in terms of location, style, privacy and sometimes lower rental costs. 

Where to source student accommodation 

Students can use the UCAS accommodation finder to source student accommodation. The search tool will ask for the university name and the year the student is in, and the results will be categorised into: university-owned/privately provided purpose-built student accommodation and homes offered by private landlords. 

In addition, there are a number of property portals specifically for students, including mystudenthalls.com and accommodationforstudents.com 

Students looking in the private rental sector can use portals including Rightmove and Zoopla to find available rentals. It’s wise to set up property alerts so new houses and flats to rent aren’t overlooked. Students can also register with local letting agents so they hear first about new rentals coming to market and about students coming to the end of their tenancies.  

When to apply for student accommodation 

If you are applying for a halls of residence property, you can apply to the university’s accommodation office for a place once your UCAS application is accepted. 

Students hoping to rent in the private sector don’t have such a rigid application process. The lettings industry sees a peak of enquiries from students in October and November – that means first year freshers may need to consider potential housemates and properties for their second year just weeks into their course. There tends to be another peak in enquiries in late January when friendship groups are more established.  

How much rent do students pay? 

The National Student Accommodation Survey 2024 found among those who pay rent, the average cost was £550 per month. This jumps to an average of £778 for students studying in London.  

Understanding tenancy lengths  

Students who live in halls may sign a tenancy agreement that lasts for 44 weeks or less, which means they are expected to return home during the holidays. It’s always worth checking the duration of the tenancy before signing on the dotted line  

Students who rent in the private rental sector are often asked to sign year-long tenancy. This enables them to stay in the property during holidays, coming and going as they please. On the flipside, the student will be paying for weeks of accommodation when they may not be living there. Year-long contracts are known as fixed-term tenancies. We are closely monitoring the Government to see if it makes changes to tenancies in its forthcoming Renters’ Rights Bill. Reform might affect the type of tenancies offered and there could be greater flexibility for students ahead. 

Viewing student accommodation 

Undergraduates can normally get a feel for halls accommodation when they attend a university’s open or taster day, with guided tours available if the accommodation is close by. The university may also have photos or a virtual tour of the different types of accommodation offered, which can be viewed in advance. 

Established students choosing a property in the private rental sector will need to perform viewings in the same way as the general public. These can be booked with the letting agent. 

What if I can’t get to see the accommodation? 

There are a number of reasons students may not be able to physically see the student accommodation they are interested in. For example, they may be attending an open day where the halls are off site, they may be applying for a place through clearing and have no time to view what’s available, or a property may become free when they’re away on a placement or during the holidays. These situations can be compounded if the student is moving to a university far away from where they currently reside. 

We can help provide peace-of-mind when a student can’t view a property. A Viewber can be booked to visit any accommodation anywhere in the UK. While there, they can take photos, compile a report and even hold a live stream video call with the student, so they experience the next best thing to being there in person. 

With Viewber, there is no contract or minimum order – use a Viewber to visit just one property if it suits! 

Student accommodation checklist 

Before you start looking for student accommodation, it’s a good idea to answer the below questions so you can narrow down your search:  

• Are you working to a budget? 

• Did you want an apartment or a house? 

• Does the university guarantee a room in halls of residence? 

• How many people are you happy to share with? 

• Do you want an en-suite bathroom? 

• Are you happy with a communal lounge and kitchen? 

• Do you want bills to be included in the rent? 

• Do you want to live in a secure development? 

• Do on-site facilities, such as a library, café and gym, matter? 

• Do you need accessible accommodation? 

• How far from the campus are you happy to be? 

• Do you need somewhere to park a car? 

• Do you need to be close to a work placement? 

• Do you need to be close to public transport? 

• Would you prefer halls for specific people, based on gender, sexual identity or religion? 

• Are you looking for a place in ‘quiet’ halls? 

If you would like help with viewing potential student accommodation, please contact Viewber and book a ‘viewing on your behalf’.