One of the biggest challenges faced by international students studying in the UK is not passing exams, or even the countless hours of study, but finding and renting student accommodation. For most, the whole process is stressful, time consuming and, more often than not, very expensive if unprepared.


Nevertheless, you don’t need to panic. There are a few things you need to know in order to make the whole process much easier and hassle free:


1. Finding the right student accommodation for you

Not all students will want to rent privately owned accommodation. Some students, depending on their budget and preferences, will prefer to stay in student halls. Student halls are great for people who want to spend more time socialising, and get a taste of a party-filled student lifestyle. Typically, they’re located just off your university campus, which could be a bit of a blessing if you’re in a rush to make a Monday morning lecture.


However, if you decide that you would like to rent privately, there are plenty of options to choose from on StudentTenant.com. Typically, they’re a little bit further away from your university campus, but they’re usually a much cheaper than university student halls.


We’d recommend to start looking for your student accommodation around November/December for the following academic year to give you time to find the best properties, and avoid disappointment. Looking earlier than everyone else will ensure that you find the perfect place to live, and at an affordable price for your budget. It’s always best to get in early and find the right place, than being forced to rush into finding someone and realise it doesn’t suit your needs.


2. Viewing the accommodation

Typically, it’s quite difficult to secure student accommodation before arrival. You’ll usually be required to organise viewing and visit the property before booking – but don’t worry, some landlords on StudentTenant.com offer “Skype viewings” so you can still organise a viewing – and we highly recommend viewing the property before booking it. Otherwise, if you’re in the UK and you’re available to travel around and view properties, you must plan when and where you’re going to view properties in advance – you don’t want to be over-spending on hotels or travelling across your university city in taxis, if you don’t need to. Carefully planning your route could save you hundreds in costs!


If you’re looking for housemates, it’s worth checking out our find a housemate tool. You’ll be matched with like-minded students automatically based on your interests and requirements. We’ll do all the leg work, and match you with students, and all you’ll need to do is message them!


3. Learn your rights as a student tenant

Whether you live in university provided accommodation or a privately rented property, it’s important to completely understand your tenancy agreement, and your rights.

If you’re living in university provided accommodation, you’ll likely have basic protection which means that your rights are limited and as long as your “landlord” follows the correct legal process, you could be evicted quite easily. Therefore, you must have a strong understanding of your rights and responsibilities before you sign your tenancy agreement and move in.


If you choose to live in privately rented student accommodation, you must always ask for a copy of the tenancy agreement before you sign it. Your tenancy agreement will outline everything from your rights, responsibilities and obligations as a tenant, to the rental price, how it’s paid and what happens if you don’t pay. If you’re unsure of what are your rights and responsibilities are, there’s plenty of useful information about privately renting here.

4.Check the accommodation for problems and ask for an inventory before you move in

Before you move into your student accommodation, we highly recommend taking a good look around the property for any signs of mould, damp or anything which could be hazardous to your health. If there are any problems, you should report it directly to your landlord in writing and make sure you take some photos to backup your claims.


As well as health and safety issues, you should also create a report of any damage to the property. Make sure you’re checking that the heating and hot water works, there are no stains on the carpet, and if there are any signs of leaking in the bathroom or kitchens. Test the light switches, plug in appliances into the outlets to make sure they’re all working, check the smoke detectors, shower, door locks, as they should all be in working condition.


Everything which is damaged should be documented in an inventory (a detailed list of all the goods and their condition in the property) before you move in. If your landlord, or the managing agent of the property, doesn’t provide you with an inventory, you should insist that they provide you with one. Inventories are incredibly important at the end of your tenancy, so it’s worth taking your time to log anything you see before you move in, as you could end up paying for damage from your deposit which wasn’t caused by yourself if you cannot prove it wasn’t you.


5. Moving into your new student house!

Once you’ve finally found a place where you want to live, signed your tenancy agreement, and got the keys, it’s important to make sure you turn your house into a home with our 10 cheap ways to brighten up your student room. You’ll be busy with university work,adapting to a new country, and meeting new people, so settling into your new home in the UK might become a low priority. Turning your room it into a space which you can call home will really help you settle in.