London Colleges Association of Colleges London Region

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Accommodation

London is famous for many things. Unfortunately, a wide availability of reasonably priced accommodation isn't one of them.

Many 16-19 students will be lucky enough to live with parents or guardians, while many 19 plus students will already be familiar with the problems of finding accommodation in London.

If you are combing study in London with finding somewhere to live for the first time, there are several things to bear in mind. For most students sharing a house or flat will be the only affordable option. You may choose to move in with friends, or look for a room in a house or flatshare.

Here are some tips if you're looking for somewhere to live:

  • Check the local newspapers, free ads papers and regional magazines, as well as letting agents.

  • When visiting somewhere, take a friend if you can. It always helps to get a second opinion.

  • When setting your budget, remember rent is not the only cost involved in living somewhere, you will need to pay council tax, bills and sometimes share other living expenses.

  • Find out what the deposit is, the landlord can ask for up to two month's rent, by law, and you will also have to pay one month's rent in advance.

  • Remember areas can be different at different times of day, particularly at night. However it can be easier to judge the state of repair of a property in daylight.

If you have any worries or are having difficulties with your living circumstances, you should talk to someone about it. See the section on advice and guidance for more details.

Useful links

Loot

London based free ads paper with accommodation listings.