Finding your home
Finding the right accommodation is the first important step in starting your off-campus experience. Don't rush to rent, there is plenty of time, and accommodation, in the local areas!
Once you have an idea of your preferences, where you would like to live and who you would like to live with the next step is taking a look at potential future homes. Below are some ways to source houses:
Housing Day
The SU Advice centre runs a Housing day every year- a chance to understand how to rent properties as a student, explore your options and make good accommodation choices. They often have representatives from both Warwick District council and Coventry City council who can give you more information around their localities.
Housemate wanted forumLink opens in a new window
The Student Union have created a space for students who are looking for flatmates (both those with spare rooms and those looking for rooms).
Warwick Studentpad
Warwick Studentpad is a student property portal exclusively for Warwick students, advertising properties local to the University. You can browse properties, liaise directly with the landlord(s) and connect with other Warwick students to find housemates and/or chat about your property experiences, all in one place.
Designed to take the stress out of your property search, we recruit landlords with properties in the areas you want to live, to advertise directly to you, offering you a wide range of choice.
Experienced professionals run the service and can provide guidance on local areas, what to look for in a property and what you need to know about your landlord. We encourage you to carry out your own due diligence before entering a tenancy with the landlord.
Online platforms/agencies
There are a lot of online platforms or local agencies that you can use to find student-specific housing. Be careful when using general online platforms (like Zoopla) as they may show you private-rented accommodation, but not ones that are available for students.
If you're not sure where to start, we recommend using Warwick Studentpad but there are other sites you can use, such as:
- Accommodation for students
- UniHomes
- Amber students
- Rightmove
- Zoopla
- OnTheMarket
- SpareRoom
You could also go through a letting agency, who act as middlemen between landlords and their tenants. Always do your research and look to see that they are a member of a professional body.Link opens in a new window Some even get additional accreditations (such as property markLink opens in a new window) to signify their adherence to higher standards.
Housing scams involve fraudulent individuals or organisations tricking students into paying deposits or rent for properties that don’t exist, are already occupied, or are not legitimately available for rent. Scammers often create fake listings, apply pressure tactics, and request money upfront, especially from international students or those searching remotely.
- You're asked to pay money before viewing the property: scammers often request a deposit or first month’s rent upfront to “secure the property,” even before you’ve seen it. Legitimate landlords will let you view the property first in person ideally.
- The listing seems too good to be true: if the rent is significantly lower than similar properties in the area, or the pictures look highly edited or generic, it might be a fake listing.
- You're pressured to act quickly: scammers create urgency by saying things like “other tenants are interested” or “you need to pay today.” or “you’ll lose it if you don’t secure it now.” Be cautious if you're being rushed into a decision.
- The landlord refuses to meet or show relevant documents/proofs: genuine landlords will be transparent and willing to meet (or have a letting agent act professionally on their behalf). If the person avoids video calls or won’t provide ID, it’s a red flag.
- You’re asked to pay via cash: requests for payments via cash are strong indicators of fraud. Always use traceable, secure methods like bank transfers to verified UK accounts.
- Communication is vague, unprofessional, or suspicious: look out for strange email addresses, or lack of information. If the person avoids answering specific questions or gives inconsistent information, beware of that.
Important to note: Agents are no longer allowed to charge fees for arranging a tenancy. If you are being asked to pay anything other than rent, the tenancy deposit, or a refundable housing deposit contact the SU Advice CentreLink opens in a new window!
If you have decided whether you would like to stay in a student home or a PBSA, the next step is to find somewhere to live that will satisfy all of your needs. Here is some guidance and resources to help you make a decision that’s right for you.
Top Tips
View multiple properties- in person, and don't settle for the first option
Check the property- use the SU Inspecting a property checklist, to ensure you're moving into the right place for you (think heating, mould/damp)
Talk to the current tenants about the property or PBSA- ask the students who currently live there about their experience, if possible.
Make sure it all works for you- Warwick Studentpad has pulled together a comprehensive guide of things to keep an eye out for
Budgeting- make sure that all of the costs work for you, be sure to ask any current tenants what the bills are like to get a better idea
Public transport access- how far away are you from public transport, and do you feel safe walking to/from there?
Video & guides
Hear from Warwick SU Advice centre for an overview of the house hunting journey
NUS House Hunting guideLink opens in a new window
the NUS have an entire Ready to Rent webpageLink opens in a new window who can help support you through your moving journey
Your guide to looking for accommodationLink opens in a new window
The SU Advice centre have pulled together a general overview of all the steps involved in looking for accommodation
What is it?
This is a UK law that requires all landlords and letting agents in England to verify that prospective tenants have the legal right to live in the UK before renting a property.
Does it apply to me?
All students need to prove they have the right to rent and this can be up to 28 days before signing a tenancy agreement.
With the exception of certain types of housing (such as PBSAs) almost all students need to verify they have the right to rent.
What do I need?
Depending on your nationality or your immigration status, this might change what you can use to prove your right to rent.