Once you have accepted your university offer, you need to start thinking about where you will be living for your academic year. Here are three main options for student accommodation:
1. Halls of Residence - provided by your universities at low prices, organised by university accommodation offices.
2. Live at home - cheapest option but at the expense of longer commuting time if you live far from city.
3. Share a rented house/flat with other students - and hope that everyone gets along well together

Typically, renting inside London zone 1 is waaaaay too expensive!
You get more value for money from properties in zones 2-4 with good transport links because the potential rent savings will more than offset the additional cost of travel.

Please note that students are exempt from paying council tax but any non-students in the household will still have to pay their fair share of council tax.

Where you want to live will be influenced by the location of your university and how you wish to get to your lectures e.g. by tube, bus, bike or by foot. The areas most popular amongst students are:

• North London = Camden, Islington, Finsbury Park, Stroud Green, Caledonian Road, Tufnell Park
• East London = Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Whitechapel
• South London = Borough, Bermondsey, Peckham, Surrey Quays, Camberwell, New Cross

Average rent postcode map (courtesy of ULU housing service):

Once you have an idea of location, number of bedrooms and budget, you may start searching for rented accommodation:

• Word of mouth, recommendation by friends or relatives
• Newspapers e.g. Loot
• Student housing websites e.g. University of London housing service or www.studenthousing.lon.ac.uk/
• Messageboards Online e.g. gumtree but be careful when meeting with strangers!!!
• Letting Agents who will listen to your requirements and take you to look round many properties in areas they cover but will charge an agency fee for doing this.

Be careful because there are untrustworthy estate agencies in London so stick to reputable ones and check whether they are a member of a professional body:

• ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents)
• NALS (National Approved Letting Scheme)
• NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents)

Agents also advertise on recognised websites like: http://www.findaproperty.com/ or http://www.fish4lettings.co.uk, which can be good places to start.
It is advisable to start looking a couple of months before you want to move in to make sure that you have time to look around the area and get a property that suits you.

When renting you have to pay a deposit when you move in, this will be held in the government tenancy deposit scheme, which prevents the landlord from taking this money and not returning it at the end of the tenancy. For more visit:

• www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit
• www.depositprotection.com
• www.thedisputeservice.co.uk
• www.mydeposits.co.uk

The Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) is the standard tenancy contract for students If you rent your home form a private landlordand your agreement was signed on or after 28 February 1997, you will very likely be an assured shorthold tenant. Amongst other things, this will mean that:
You have exclusive right to occupy the tenanted room or house (but see Joint Tenancy Agreements below)

• You are entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the premises without being disturbed by the landlord
• You have the right to occupy the tenanted room or house for at least 6 months
• If you have agreed to rent for a fixed term, you have the right to occupy for at least the duration of the fixed term
• If you have agreed to rent for a fixed term, you will be unable to end your tenancy before the end of the fixed term unless you have negotiated a break clause
• Landlords can gain possession of the property at the end of the fixed term (or after 6 months if there was no fixed term agreed), but you are entitled to at least 2 months notice (in writing) that possession is required
• You cannot be evicted unless the landlord obtains a court order
• Landlords have certain obligations for carrying out repairs
• All other terms on the contract should be open to negotiation and fair to both parties

ASTs can be granted in two ways:

1. Individual Tenancy Agreements

• Each tenant has the exclusive right to occupy his/her room and has a shared right of access to common areas
• Each tenant has a separate agreement and is individually responsible for paying his/her rent
• If one or more of the other tenants move out or is unable to pay his/her rent, the landlord’s legal remedy is only against the defaulting tenant(s)
• Your landlord will have a right of access to common areas without your consent
• Your landlord has the right to bring in tenants to replace those who move out
• If you have a TV in your room, you will need a separate license

2. Joint Tenancy Agreements: (A single tenancy granted to a group of people)

• The tenants, together, have exclusive right to occupy all of the premises
• Joint Tenancies enable your landlord to impose “joint and several” liability for observing the terms of the contract
• If one of the group of tenants is in breach of the agreement, the landlord’s legal remedy is against all of the tenants
• If one or more tenants move out or is unable to pay his/her rent, the landlord can lawfully demand that the remaining tenants make up the shortfall.

When looking for accommodation in the private sector, remember it is not just a case of finding the best property near to campus. Always remember the financial implications of your choice, and if you are looking to share with others, have the 'big chat' about finances before you start your search. Rent, Utility Bills, TV License and Insurance will all have to be considered but if you live in a house/flat of exclusively students, you will be exempt from council tax and should write to your local council to confirm this.