North London
Hampstead
There’s a saying in dating that “you have to kiss a lot of frogs in order to find your prince”. Well, the same can be true when it comes to finding student accommodation in London, as you sometimes have to view several before finding “the one”. Much like dating, student accommodation viewings are an opportunity to find out more about a potential match and if they tick off everything on your checklist (be it proximity to university, price, or privacy). We’ve created this guide to student accommodation viewings in London to help you in your search for the perfect match...
Going on student accommodation viewings takes time so starting as early as possible is advised.
The answer to the all-important question of when you should start looking for student accommodation depends on your course start date and when you receive your offer. In an ideal world, you should start looking about 6 months before your course starts. This gives you enough time to go through the full process comfortably.
Let’s say that you’re going to start studying in September and receive your offer around the start of that year. You should ideally have started the process of looking for student accommodation by March.
But if for any reason you do not have that much time, don’t panic. There will still be some options for student accommodation available to you, you’re just more likely to have to compromise on your ideal checklist.
There's a whole lot more to viewings than assessing the interior design and decor.
So, in an ideal world, you’ve started your search 6 months before your course is due to start, you’ve favourited a few student neighbourhoods in London, researched student accommodation in the area, contacted a few providers to check availability and now it’s time attend some viewings. Here’s what you should look out for when viewing student accommodation…
Before we get into how well decorated a student flat is or the feng shui of the space, what security measures are in place to keep you safe? London is a relatively safe city but as with anywhere, there are some areas that are safer than others and security measures should always be in place just in case. Likewise, the safety inside your home is just as important as the security from potential risks outside it.
When you’re viewing a property, take note of whether it has the following:
Be sure to also get a vibe for the local and surrounding area when you attend a viewing. Does it feel safe? Are there plenty of street lights on the road? It’s important to feel safe where you live so don’t ignore any red flags when viewing.
Most student accommodations come furnished which is a great way to save money and time in the moving process. When you’re viewing a property, be sure to ask exactly what furniture is included as some might belong to the existing tenants. Take a note of this and the size of the space, as you might want to add some of your own furniture too.
Assuming that all student accommodation will have a strong and stable WiFi connection is a mistake that will have you banging your laptop against the desk when you’re trying to study. Be sure to find out what the WiFi speed is by asking the landlord or student accommodation provider.
You can even go one step further and take matters into your own hands... Ask to connect to the WiFi when viewing a student flat and running a quick speed test on your phone or laptop. To do this, simply search “internet speed test” in Google. Then use Google’s native speed test or click on any of the search options listed. A WiFi speed of about 25 Mbps should be adequate for studying.
A student flat can look different in person compared to online pictures, for better or for worse, so we recommend taking a video when viewing. This will allow you to have a more accurate reference after the viewing and to more accurately compare with other flats that you’ve viewed.
You’re likely to have already researched how to get to and from university from a student flat before you view it. As well as researching this, it’s also good practice to actually do the journey yourself. After a viewing, try to walk, bus, tube or bike the journey to university. This will give you a real feel for how far you’ll have to travel each day.
View student accommodation options from the comfort of your home with a virtual viewing.
Virtual viewings are a life-saver for international students and those living outside of London, or if you’re unable to attend a viewing due to any restrictions. Gone are the days of simply having to rely on pictures online and hoping for the best on moving day, as virtual viewings give you much more of a feel for a property.
Be mindful of the safety, furniture, and WiFi considerations in the section above (What to Look Out for When Viewing Student Accommodation in London). If you don’t see something in the virtual viewing, like an entry phone system for example, then ask about it and get confirmation that they are to your standards. This can be in the form of pictures sent after the virtual viewing or information in writing (rather than over the phone so that you have a record).
Be sure to take your time and properly examine the student flat in detail whilst doing a virtual viewing. Feel free to also ask for a second virtual viewing if you have more questions, or even an in-person one if you’re able to travel to London.
Ensure that you use all of the online details that you have access to in order to make an informed decision, and avoid relying on the virtual viewing alone. By this we mean online pictures, descriptions, and floor plans. These, alongside the virtual viewing, will give you a better idea of the space.
Conduct more online research into the local area as, unfortunately, a virtual viewing will not give you a feel for the neighbourhood that you can get with an in-person viewing. Look into the local area, its population, nearby amenities, and other details to build up a better picture of where you’ll be living.
Asking questions whilst viewing student accommodations could save you a lot of headache further down the line.
Viewings are the perfect opportunity to get some of your burning questions about a student flat answered. As well as asking any questions that you might already have, consider asking the below questions:
Make a note of the answers to all of these questions so that you don’t forget. You can also refer to them when choosing which student accommodation you want to rent.
Now comes the fun part...Finding the right student accommodation in London for you!
We hope that this guide will serve you in your search for the perfect rental match for you. With so many universities and students, student accommodation in Central London can get snapped up pretty quickly. So it’s important to express your interest if you see one that you like.
At Student.Studios2Let, we manage and rent private student accommodation across London, including neighbourhoods that are close to University College London, the University of London, and Imperial College. We make renting in London easy with both in-person and virtual viewings on all of our student studio apartments. Need any extra information or advice on finding affordable student accommodation in London? Get in touch and we’ll be glad to help!
