Cost of student house-share in London

[Comefromaway]

It’s looking like dd will be going to London for postgrad. We’ve been told by the college that private halls type accommodation is very expensive and mostly populated by international students with money. Plus they advise sharing with others on a similar course (performing arts).

The areas she’s been advised to look at are places like Acton & Ealing. Does anyone have any experience of student housing in these areas and the kind of costs involved?

Maybe @PresentingPercy might be able to help. Both areas are fine, but not the cheapest.

I was told it’s a lot cheaper there than Kensington or Hammersmith.

Sorry I think I meant the Kensington or Holland Park

@Comefromaway, definitely cheaper than Kensington or Holland Park which are now some of the most expensive areas in London to live, particularly as a student.

@Comefromaway does her course have an Instagram or Facebook postgrad page. Your DD might be able to find others looking for a house or flat share there. Has she checked www.thestudentroom.co.uk/ they have a active performing arts thread, not sure about postgrad.

I think once she actually accepts and pays the deposit there will be some king of social media meet up. She is awaiting one more decision in Scotland but deadlines are looming.

Many colleges also have their own halls and not just "private" ones. Is that not the case where your DD will be studying?

If not then there are two other possibilities which may help. If the college is part of the University of London (and just about every college in London is with the exception of Imperial) then your DD can apply to stay at one of the intercollegiate halls:-

halls.london.ac.uk/

Prices start from around £220 per week, although there are a few cheaper options.

There is also a housing service that the University run that puts students in touch with accommodation providers here:-

housing.london.ac.uk/

and here is a list of the colleges etc whose students can use the service:-

housing.london.ac.uk/about-us/member-institutions

Birkbeck, University of London
Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD)
City University London
Courtauld Institute of Art
Goldsmiths, University of London
King’s College London (KCL)
London Business School (LBS)
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Royal Academy of Music (RAM)
Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL)
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
The School of Advanced Study
The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
St George’s, University of London
University College London (UCL)

Queen Mary, University of London, does not subscribe to the ULHS service. QMUL students who want support with private accommodation should contact Residential Services and Support at QMUL.

External Colleges

Architectural Association - School of Architecture
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
London Contemporary Dance School
Pearson College
Ravensbourne
Royal College of Art
Sotheby's Institute of Art
University of the Arts, London (UAL) consisting of:

Camberwell College of Arts
Central Saint Martins (CSM)
Chelsea College of Arts
London College of Communication (LCC)
London College of Fashion (LCF)
Wimbledon College of Arts

Many moons ago when I was a postgrad in London the university helped to find people other postgrads to share a house with. Has she asked if they do so?

Where is your DD's college? Having an easy commute and being near other students (some universities have particular areas where most students prefer to live) can make a real difference to quality of life. Living further out can end up being a false economy once you factor in travel costs. Living within walking distance of lectures, the student union, main bars/pubs etc that people go to and near a big supermarket saved my DC £30 pw on a travelcard, which significantly upped their rent budget.

Do you have a budget?

The average at my DC's uni last year was £160-185 pw in private house shares (based on a survey). That said, their pre-covid flat was £1900 pcm and is currently on the market for £1550 pcm. Prices dropped last year and are dropping again, particularly in the more central boroughs. It's also been easier to negotiate break clauses this year, which will save money if her course is less than 52 weeks.

They don’t have halls. They are a very small, independent performing arts college whose courses are validated by a Midlands based university.

She’s in halls at the moment and it has been problematic as when they were on zoom her flatmates objected to her doing dance and singing classes in her room. The college will help them be put in touch with each other.

I just wanted an idea of costs involved as she’s currently in a much cheaper northern based city.

Looking on the SpareRoom website, rooms in house shares in W3 start at about £550 per month.

It might be an idea to check which tube line would be most convenient. Not so good finding a nice cheap room if the nearest station is a mile away and then on a line necessitating awkward changes.

It’s sort of between Notting Hill,Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush.

Someone from the college said a lot live around Ealing & Acton close to UWE.

UWL I mean.

I was going to ask if it’s Arts Ed, which is in Chiswick. A lot of their students live in Acton and Ealing as they’re nearby but much cheaper. I don’t think it is, but it might be worth your DD looking online somehow to see if she can see what they tend to pay and where, or what Arts Ed recommends to its many students. Who knows, there may even be a group with a a spare room.

It isn’t, but she has a friend starting there in September.

Not the same but my d is a student at imperial. She lives in a shared flat of 6, between hammersmith and fulham. The flat has a lounge, kitchen, 2 bathrooms and an additional loo, all bedrooms have a double bed and a desk (plus other furniture). They pay £170/week plus bills - water, energy, internet, tv license - and they chip a bit extra into the bills account to cover loo roll and cleaning stuff.

At the moment dd is paying £120 including bills! I hope to goodness she can get a job on the weekends!

Lots of TV people are near Chiswick and like Acton and Ealing by the way so it can be an arts type of place. I am not sure about student housing there. It might be worth trying to find out where people who did the same post grad course last year lived as there may be houses where everyone plays music and are set up for that and neighbours used to the noise etc. I would imagine it would cost about £600 a month to rent a room in Ealing

If she wants cheaper then Hounslow Borough is generally slightly cheaper (excluding Chiswick/osterley bits of Isleworth) and there are cheaper places in Ealing..such as Hanwell/Southall .but would need to check travel ...tube vs train vs bus...but not sure if student orientated

You may already have this in your radar but some London councils are very strict in issuing HMO licences so check that the properties you may be considering have one in place.
We’ve learnt from some agents that they don’t advertise everything they have on their books so might be worth contacting some local ones to discuss what is available within your own budget. It does seem though that they think they are catering more for wealthier/international students though - my DC was asked by one agent whether it was a requirement that their accommodation had an on-site gym, pool and concierge service!

HMO licences are a good point. Of the areas you are considering:

RBKC doesn't allow properties to be let to sharers without a separate living room.

Hammersmith and Fulham require an HMO licences for 3 or more sharers and all rental properties on certain roads.

Ealing require an HMO licence for 4 or more sharers if there are 2 storeys and all rental properties in certain wards (3 of the wards are in Acton).

A lot of the modern developments have a secure parking, gym, concierge, if not a pool or cinema, and are a similar price to flats in house conversions with the same number of bedrooms. The rooms tend to be smaller though with an open plan kitchen/reception room. DS looked at a few that worked out at £145/£150 pw pp (another Imperial student like HostessTrolley's DD so looking in the same areas as OP's DD).