Living in the United Kingdom - accommodation

If you are not a European national, the Immigration Rules state that you must be able to meet the cost of your accommodation in the UK without working or claiming welfare benefits. If your family is with you in the UK, the accommodation must be adequate for their needs. In addition, it is very important for you to have suitable accommodation while you are studying. The standard of your academic work and your health can suffer if your living conditions are not satisfactory.

In many areas of the UK there is a shortage of student accommodation, so you must start making arrangements as soon as you have been accepted on your course. This is particularly important if you are planning to bring your family with you to the UK.

Before you leave your home country try to arrange some form of accommodation for when you arrive in the UK, even if it is only temporary.

There are two main types of accommodation:

• Accommodation owned, managed and provided by your institution, or in partnership with a private company

• Accommodation owned by private landlords or external organisations, which you will have to find and arrange either by yourself or with the help of advice and suggestions from the accommodation office at the institution.

Accommodation provided by your institution might be the most suitable type if you are coming to the UK for the first time. It will provide you with opportunities to get to know other students and become involved in the social life of the institution. The main types of accommodation provided by institutions are:

• Halls of residence. These are usually large buildings occupied by many students. Residents live in study bedrooms, either alone or sharing with another student. Bathrooms and other facilities are usually shared, but some rooms have their own facilities attached to them (this is called "en suite"). Telephones are normally provided on each floor, but some institutions may provide one in each room. Recentlybuilt halls may also offer internet connection in the rooms. Halls can be single sex (male or female only) or mixed (taking both male and female students). Halls of residence can be catered, with breakfast and an evening meal included in the price; or self-catering, which means that you buy and prepare your own food. Catered halls can be a good option in terms of your budget, but the food may be basic and very different from the food at home.

• Flats and houses. Many institutions own flats and houses in the local area and rent these to their
  students. As in self-catering halls, you buy and prepare your own food. You will share the kitchen and bathroom with the other students. Some institutions also have a small number of self-catering flats for students with families, but there is usually very high demand for these.

Some other types of accommodation are available:

• Purpose-built student accommodaton - this is usually halls of residence style but provided by a private company. Your institution can give you details.
• Hostels - these are normally owned by charitable organisations. Some hostels provide rooms for both single and married students. They usually provide some meals or have cooking facilities and allow students to prepare their own food. Staying in a hostel can give you the opportunity to become familiar with the area where you are studying and this is an advantage if you want to find private accommodation later. If you wish to apply for a place in a student hostel, you should do this in advance because many hostels have long waiting lists. You will have to pay a deposit to secure your booking. In some parts of the UK it is difficult to find hostel accommodation, although hostels are more common in London. Lists of hostels are available from the British Council office in your home country. The British Embassy or High Commission will give you the address of your nearest British Council office; or you can find it on the British Council website at http://www.britishcouncil.org/.
• Lodgings - this means renting a room in a private house. The landlord/landlady will also live in the house, perhaps with their family. You will probably have to share the bathroom and kitchen. You may have to fit-in with the family’s lifestyle and respect the customs of the household. For example, if there are small children, they may wish to have quiet evenings. Meals may be provided or you may be able to use the kitchen to cook your own food. Lodgings can provide you with good company and support but you will not be completely independent.
• Bedsits - a bedsit is a single room, which is both bedroom and sitting-room. There may be several bedsits in one building and these may be occupied by people who are not students. There may not be any cooking facilities in the bedsit, but rather a shared kitchen elsewhere in the building. Bathroom facilities are also shared. You will have to clean your own room, do your
  own laundry and provide your own bed-linen and towels. Heating can be quite expensive. In a bedsit you will be independent and have a lot of freedom, but it may be lonely. Bedsits vary in size and quality so you should never take a room without seeing it first.
• Flats and houses - after you have been in the UK for some time and have found a small group of friends, you may wish to share a furnished flat or house together. You will share the rent, heating and lighting bills, the food bills and the cleaning. This sort of accommodation can be cheaper than the other types but large houses can be difficult to find. Again, you will have to provide your own bedlinen and towels and do your own cleaning. Note: In the case of bedsits, flats and houses, do not sign any contract you do not fully understand. If you are unsure, take a copy of the agreement to your college accommodation office or welfare officer for their advice.