Students - when to start looking for flats for next academic year?

[Rose3434]

DD is currently living in student halls whist studying at LSE. LSE is in London WC2.

She wants to look for a flat for herself and two friends for next academic year. Is it too early to look?

The accommodation she is looking at is hugely expensive. I am wondering how students manage to find anywhere affordable in Central London?

In area where my DC were students, the best properties got booked up in December/January/February Doesn't mean it's too late already, as landlords sometimes do up new properties and put them with agencies a bit later. But as early as possible is when they'll have most choice.

I think the London student rental market is different from other student rentals, and house hunting happens a lot later on in the year.

Students don't tend to live in central London though, unless they're very well off.

DD is at uni in Edinburgh. Flats don't tend to be on offer before July - her and a friend started looking end July. There's a shortage of flats there, but they didn't get a flat until mid September. Started off just two of them looking, then another two in with them if there was a flat for four, then another three in with them in there was one for seven. Ended up with a flat for three and sharing with a girl they'd never met, worked out ok though.

Yes, I think DD might have to adjust her area of search to further a field as prices in Central London are so high 😮