Study Abroad: What Are the Types of UK Student Accommodation?

For those looking to study abroad in the UK the prospect of where you’re going to live may be daunting if you’re not sure of the choices available. Yet, there are a whole array of student accommodation to choose from that caters to a diverse range of needs.

Each of these accommodation types come with their own advantages and disadvantages so it is important to have a good grasp of what works for you when deciding where you want to live.

Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity to expand your horizons, experience a new culture and gain lifelong skills – but as your accommodation will form a backdrop to your exchange it is of upmost importance that it suits your individual needs!

This guide will explore some of the different types of student accommodation in the UK and outline the pros and cons of each type of accommodation:

Parent Purchase

A popular style of accommodation – for international students in particular – is the purchase of a residential unit by the parents of the student who will then act as their child’s landlord by renting out the property to them and their friends.

If private student accommodation is a better fit for you, you can employ the services of amber. They provide affordable and hygienic amber student accommodation in the United Kingdom. Their one-click platform minimizes the hassles of paperwork and provides a transparent and secure booking process.

This kind of buy-to-let style investment will usually see the parents handing over the property management to a local letting agent who will handle tasks such as repairs and general upkeep.

Pro’s:

• It is typically a much more cost-efficient form of accommodation renting from a parent landlord as opposed to an unknown one.
• There tends to be more leniency with the rental rules – for example, parent landlords will be less strict about decorating the property.
• Parent landlords tend to be much more proactive in the maintenance and upkeep of the property as they have an established relationship with the tenant.

Con’s

• If you’re living with someone who’s parent is also the landlord then you may feel more pressure within certain living arrangements which has the ability to strain the friendship.
• In turn, raising these issues may be more difficult as opposed to when you rent from an unknown landlord.
• Parent landlords have the tendency to visit at anytime which may not be ideal to the other residents.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in then it may be worth consulting a investing in property UK guide to explore this option further!

University Halls of Residence

Halls of residence are exclusively owned and operated by the university and are typically a first choice for first year and international students alike.

Some halls of residence are catered – meaning food is provided for you via a canteen – they are usually more expensive, but you will save time on cooking, shopping and washing up so it will be worth considering what’s best for you.

You will have to be proactive in your approach if you think this style of living is for you as halls of residence tend to be in high demand and space can fill up quickly which means you may not always get your first choice of residence.

Pro’s:

• Halls of residence are usually very conveniently located on campus which puts you in close proximity to your classes as well as social events.
• They provide a great direct way of making new friends – with some halls even having their own social media presence to organise social events and meet-ups.
• They are a good steppingstone to becoming independent and encourage building new life skills – especially if living in self-catered accommodation.

Con’s

• As they are very competitive you may not get your first choice of accommodation.
• They are more bound to stricter rules – such as curfews in some instances and maintaining that fire doors are shut at all times, for example.
• Most halls are only on offer to first year students so there is less opportunity to settle.

Privately Rented Accommodation

Statistically the most popular form of student accommodation, privately rented accommodation is housing that is rented from a private landlord. For international students it is important to note that this requires a UK guarantor – if you cannot find one then you will have to make a rental payment upfront (usually 3 or 6 months though this can vary).

You could rent a property entirely to yourself or opt to share with a group of others – privately rented accommodation can span across a diverse range of housing units (some purpose-built, for example) and are not always centrally located to the campus.

Pro’s:

• You can usually choose your housemates and the type of accommodation you want to live in – this tends to be less competitive than halls of residence.
• It is more flexible in terms of your surroundings – you may want to feel closer to the local community by moving out of a central campus location.
• It gives you much more freedom and independence which is important in any study abroad experience.

Con’s

• It will require budgeting and balancing your rent and bill payments and can be more expensive than other accommodation options.
• Depending on your wants – privately rented accommodation may require a longer commute as they tend not to be centrally located like halls of residence are.
• You run the risk of getting a private landlord who does not maintain the upkeep of the property – in turn, you will be responsible for the cleaning and general tidiness of the space.

Conclusion

Overall, the best student accommodation comes down to each individual’s needs and expectations for their study abroad experience.

It may be that you are happy to commute to your classes – or that you don’t want to share a house with four others and would prefer to live alone. Whatever your needs, the UK offers such an extensive range of student accommodation that there will be something for everyone!

Ultimately, wherever you live, you are guaranteed a rewarding experience studying abroad in the UK, but it is important to research into the best living arrangements for you.