Where to Look for Student Accommodation

Here are some of our top recommendations on where to look for your next student accommodation. If you have tips on where to look for a place to live specific to your local area - we would love to hear about them in the comments below!

When and Where to Start Looking for Student Accommodation

University Managed Accommodation

Your university may offer student accommodation in halls or other university owned properties in the nearby area - especially in your first year. Best to visit your university website directly to find out more about these.

They can be convenient and close to your campus, but spaces can be limited, and you don’t have the flexibility you could have by finding your own place. Often these are limited to 1st year students. But it is worth taking a look though as they can give you some idea of the rent you can expect to pay.

When and Where to Start Looking for Student Accommodation

Trusted Letting Agent

Letting agents are of course a logical place to turn when looking for accommodation. Before you do go ahead with a letting agency you may want to check if they belong to an accreditation scheme of some kind.

If they have been accredited, it can mean they have better training and knowledge of the local market. Some popular schemes are The National Approved Letting Scheme and ARLA Propertymark. So why not take a minute to check these out before going with a local letting agent. Also, be sure you know exactly what they are talking about when discussing the contracts, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Of course they are looking to let properties, but they should be more than happy to help you feel comfortable and informed when it comes to a potential property. Don’t be pressured into signing a contract that you are not sure about.

When and Where to Start Looking for Student Accommodation

Campusboard Flatshare Community

We may be a little bit biased, but here at campusboard.co.uk we do genuinely feel we have loads on offer for any student looking for accommodation. Whether you are looking for your own flat or a spare room in a shared house, we have made it easy for you to find the perfect place. The site is tailored to you and we verify every student profile, work with trusted landlords and agencies, as well as offering a platform that is constantly improving to make the process of booking accommodation as easy and efficient as possible for you - and best of all there is no cost for you to use the site 🙂.

Our aim is to make finding your next accommodation as simple and hassle-free as possible, so why not sign up for free today and have a look at our flatshare community.

Word of Mouth

You may know someone who is looking to move out of their current place, or perhaps an acquaintance who has very good things to say about a particular letting agency or landlord. It is always worth asking around when looking for a place, to see if anyone you know can offer some insight or maybe even knows of a room that is going to be available soon.

What advice do you have when it comes to looking for accommodation? Do you have your own tips to make things easier - let us know in the comments below. 👍

Whatever route you take we definitely recommend you take a quick read over our guides on when to start looking for student accommodation and how to avoid student housing rental scams.


Are you looking for university accommodation? Campusboard is a free platform that allows you to compare all student halls in a single place and book them safely. Browse student halls near your university today.

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