Student Accommodation in London
It is estimated that London has a student population of roughly four hundred thousand*. There is a huge demand for University places, and finding accommodation can prove difficult when there is so much competition. Letting agencies, local citizens advice bureaux and University accommodation services should be able to advise you on finding appropriate student housing. You will often be given the option of registering interest in University owned accommodation when your application for a study place is accepted. You may be able to reserve a place in the student halls of residence in this way, although priority will usually be given to first year and international students. Halls of residence are usually large buildings with a number of individual rooms for students, and large kitchens and bathrooms for communal use. There will be separate bathrooms for men and women, and sometimes single sex halls are available.
Halls of residence can be catered or self-catered. Catered halls will usually be situated near to a canteen and/or bar which are run by the University. You will normally be able to eat breakfast and dinner between set meal times, and buy drinks in the evening. Self-catered halls will have better kitchen facilities than catered halls, such as large fridges and freezers, an oven, hob and microwave and cupboards for each student where you can store groceries and crockery. Many students aim to live in halls of residence when moving to a new city to begin studying. They provide a great opportunity to meet fellow students and make friends, and can be a good way to find your feet in a new place. Many halls of residence will also offer extra services for students, such as cheap internet, a laundry room and even a gym. However, catered halls are expensive and you may find the set meal times restrictive and the choice of food limited. If you have never shared a space with a group of people before you may not find it easy to adapt to other people's standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Places in the halls of residence are allocated by the University's accommodation service, and you will need to apply in advance to guarantee a room.
There are other accommodation options which the University can help you with: most accommodation services will have a list of approved landlords, letting agencies and even available properties. Recommended properties tend to be a reasonable size, price, and offer a fair standard of comfort. Approved landlords will usually offer a good service, solve any problems quickly and renovate the property on a regular basis. You will find it easier to afford the rent on a private property if you agree to share a house or flat with other students. Many accommodation offices at Universities will have a notice board where students are able to advertise rooms available for rent, or request a room in a shared house. You may also wish to consider staying with a family as a lodger if you cannot find appropriate student accommodation and are happy to rent a room in a family home: you may find rooms offered in local newspapers. The vast majority of students will stay in halls of residence for their first year at a new University, then move into private accommodation with a group of friends. However, in London the halls of residence are usually the easiest, cheapest and most practical solution to your accommodation needs because private sector rentals are so expensive.
Halls of residence in London cost on average £126 a week for catered accommodation and £110 a week for self-catered accommodation**. Private accommodation begins from £70 a week for shared dormitory-style accommodation, and from £150 for a room in a shared flat or house. These prices do not include utility bills or food, and often the properties are rented unfurnished. In addition, you will have to cover the costs of transport, books and entertainment. Over a typical forty week University year, you should expect to pay between at least £4,400 (€5,600) and £6,000 (€7,600) for basic accommodation: a more expensive rent will increase the amount that you will pay, and these figures are for the room only, exclusive of food and utility costs.
* Based on data from hero.ac.uk (official online gateway to Higer Education institutes and research in UK)
** Based on current figures from the following London Universities: University of London, UCL, LSE and KCL.
