Types of Accommodation
Private Student Halls
Privately owned student buildings are popping up all over London and there are a good range of locations and prices to choose from. The standard set up is a self-contained room within a fully serviced building, with the cost including all bills and access to any extras on site, such as a gym.
Host Families
Some families in London with large houses rent a room or a small annex to a lodger. Sometimes this can include bed and breakfast, or bed, breakfast and evening meals during the week. Rent often includes heating and household bills. The bathroom, kitchen and living room is usually shared with the family. Check the full details of this with your landlord on arrival, including laundry arrangements and use of the telephone. The cost of host family accommodation varies throughout London.
Shared House/Flat
Shared housing can be a fun way to meet people while you're studying. Normally you will have your own room in a shared house, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. You will have to do your own cooking and cleaning and will pay rent, gas, electric, water and other shared bills.
The landlord may also ask you for a security deposit which will be returned to you at the end of your stay; provided all bills have been paid and there has been no damage to the property. Your landlord may also ask you to sign an inventory of all the items listed in the property.
Renting a studio/one-bedroom flat can be quite costly so a shared flat with other students is usually a more cost-effective option.
A few examples within reach of KLC:
- Lightfoot Hall, Chelsea
- Fulham Palace Studios, Fulham
- Park House, Earl's Court
- Pure Living, Hammersmith
- DIGS, Ravenscourt Park
- GradPad, Shepherd's Bush
- Halpin House, South Kensington
- Belvedere House, Gloucester Road
- GradPad, Clapham Junction
- The Hub, Vauxhall
- Spring Mews, Vauxhall
- Garrow House, Notting Hill
- Chapter, Portobello
- Wellington Lodge, Waterloo
- Urbanest, Westminster Bridge
- Central Studios, Ealing
- The Stay Club, Willesden Junction
tip - If you don't want to live in a 'party house' then make that very clear from the start - there's nothing worse than discovering it two weeks in!