How to find accommodation as an international student

Advice before arrival

Curiosity goes a long way. Before setting a foot in your host country, it’s crucial for you to be on top of researching all the possibilities. Seek and familiarise about the places in the city you are moving to, and then see what accommodation options you’ve got. Here are some resources that’ll make your accommodation search smooth sailing:

Extensive Research -

You will need to research various neighbourhoods, rental prices, amenities, and transportation options before you book accommodation. If you already have someone you know in the city where you are about to move to, it’s even better considering they can give you a rough idea of your surroundings and the kind of environment that you would be living in, that way it’d be much easier for you to make a decision. Virtual tours are also provided by some homeowners, so feel free to ask for one if you are wanting to view the house. See whether the accommodation has bills included or not. And also take a look at whether the landlord is asking for a guarantor or not.

Be vocal and do not be afraid to ask for all the details. The landlords will answer your question about all the necessary steps and documentations you require without having to deal with the annoying process later on and missing something which jeopardises the whole booking process.

University Assistance -

One place you can look is over at the university website. They have some form of accommodation assistance to help you with your search. You can also take a look at university’s accommodation and get to know more about it. That way it’d be easier for you to get the gist of what to look for in accommodation; including the amenities and pricing range.

Asking people around you -

Your family, friends, relatives, or acquaintances who may have studied or lived in the same city or country. They may know a vacant accommodation, or more luckily they might be willing to host you for the entirety of your stay, which is even better. So do not hesitate to ask for a favour, cause sometimes, a small text might just be all you need for having your accommodation set for you and help you with saving a bit of money.

Online resources for searching

Luckily, student cities like Leeds, has various websites and offices catered to helping the international students. I’ll list down few of the popular websites for you to aid your accommodation search:

Unipol -

I’d say this is my personal favourite, and this is the easiest service to use to find that perfect accommodation. I got my first accommodation via Unipol as well. I am still with them, and recently signed another contract for new accommodation. Unipol is catered to help with the needs of all types of students, fitting all your budget and your requirements. The easy to navigate website gives you the option to change preferences based on location, budget, facilities etc. Once you are done booking, and do the virtual viewing, the contract signing process is pretty simple and straight forward. And a bonus point, if you do not have a guarantor, since Unipol is a student accommodation website, most of the landlords won’t ask for a guarantor. Definitely recommend it!

Rightmove -

Rightmove is good for various reason. One, it is budget friendly compared to other websites, meaning it’s got cheaper options compared to others. I did a viewing for a few houses via Rightmove, and the process was pretty simple. The only difference between Rightmove and Unipol is that, Unipol is catered to student only, but Rightmove is also for working professionals.

Haus Student -

While Haus is on a slightly pricier point, you can still find some really cheap properties if you browse through it. You can even have an option of paying the rent either bills inclusive, or not. I did a viewing of an accommodation from them, and they were very helpful and guiding. They have good properties as well, so worth giving a shot.

University assistance

If you want any more assistance in the regards of booking your accommodation before arriving to the UK, LBU offers various resources and services to assist international students in finding suitable accommodation:

Student Accommodation Office -

Leeds Beckett as a dedicated department for providing guidance and support for students seeking housing. They can help you answer your questions on various things including advice on rental agreements, tenant rights, and resolving accommodation-related issues.

Accommodation Fairs -

Sometimes, there might be online events or fairs for accommodation seekers. I myself attended the Unipol event before arriving in the UK, that way I knew about them before coming to study, and found my personal accommodation. Make sure to reach out to people at the university to let you know if any such event is coming up. These different events provide an opportunity to explore different housing options and make informed decisions where you may be able to meet with landlords, property managers, and accommodation providers.

Leeds Beckett Accommodation -

Finally, why look further when you have accommodation closer to the university provided by the university. University accommodation is a great way for first year students to get to know the variety of options you’ve got in variety of locations. This allows you to plan for your next year if you are an undergrad student. It may not be for everyone but it is one of the options you can explore. Closer to university, with other like minded individuals, there are loads of benefits of it.

To sum it all up, finding an accommodation as an international student requires a lot of research and careful planning, as you won’t be here physically. So, you have to be very careful while doing the booking, by either booking your accommodation via a trusted site like the ones I mentioned above or maybe getting help from someone who is already here.

This way, you are avoiding a struggle in your first week, and also unwanted expenditures on hotel rooms. So, be wise, and book your accommodation before you arrive in the UK, secure your place and make it an easy transition. Transitioning your life from living in your cozy home to student accommodation might sound scary and draining, but with right guidance and research you can find yourself a home away from home. Good luck on your accommodation searching!