Area Guide 2024

Viewing checklist

When viewing properties, pay attention to the overall condition, potential maintenance issues, and the atmosphere of the area.

Some landlords and agents use different methods to showcase their properties. These include 360-degree tours,

EXTERIOR

□ Check property exterior condition.

□ Ensure windows and external doors are secure with quality locks.

GARDEN AND SURROUNDINGS

□ Assess garden and its aspects.

□ Determine garden maintenance responsibility.

□ Evaluate the state of garage, shed, or other outbuildings.

□ Identify potential nuisances (traffic noise, nearby clubs, etc.)

INTERIOR

□ Examine window glazing (single, double, or triple) and frame condition.

□ Check for locks on downstairs windows.

□ Evaluate storage space availability.

□ Confirm central heating and inspect boiler/radiators.

□ Ensure gas safety certificate and electrical safety certificate are in place.

□ Check for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

□ Verify carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms.

□ Assess fire safety and means of escape.

□ Inspect furniture safety and compliance with regulations.

live video tours via WhatsApp, etc. A physical visit provides insights beyond online listings, allowing you to gauge the property's feel and uncover aspects that may impact your future living experience.

We strongly advise against paying any deposits or signing a contract for a property you have not seen in person.

KITCHEN

□ Test kitchen appliances.

□ Check storage and worktop space meets your needs.

□ Assess condition of furnished items.

□ Check pressure from taps.

□ Verify fire safety equipment (fire blanket, extinguisher).

BATHROOM

□ Look for signs of damp/mould.

□ Confirm ventilation (window or extractor fan).

□ Check plumbing (flushing toilet, draining sinks/bath).

□ Assess sealants around bath and shower.

□ Ensure hot water and good water pressure.

BEDROOM

□ Check if storage is adequate

□ Check mattress condition.

ADDITIONAL CHECKS

□ Inquire about rent, inclusions, and bills.

□ Ask for indicitive running costs.

□ Check broadband, and mobile signal.

□ Check proximity to public transport and amenities.

Take notes of anything the agent or landlord says in regards to repairs or providing furniture, and get these included in the contract before you sign it

When to start looking

Typically, the majority of private accommodation in London is only advertised one to two months before it is available. A few agencies specialise in student lets and may advertise earlier in the year, with a start date in September.

However, if you are looking on the open market, estate agents won’t know what properties are available for September/ October until June, July or August. If you start looking earlier than this, you may be expected to pay rent

on a property you aren’t ready to move in to.

Whilst some private halls allow you to reserve a room all-year round, many only release their availability for the next academic year in January.

Whatever accommodation type you choose, don’t feel pressured to make a quick decision. Before agreeing to any tenancy, check our contract course to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.

Search timeline

JANUARY

Start prepping! Attend our Private Housing Exhibition. Meet local housing providers, speak with experts and learn about house-hunting dos and don’ts.

If you want to live in Private Halls now is the time to make enquiries.

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST

This is a good time to look at housing providers on the open market; they will have a better idea of what will be available in September and October.

FEBRUARY

Start speaking to your friends about whether you want to live together.

Think about where you want to live and what budget you have.

SEPTEMBER

Left it to last minute?

Don’t panic and agree to a property that wont suit your needs. It may be worth getting short-term accommodation to ease your search.

MARCH, APRIL, MAY

If you’re getting serious about your search, join us at our pop-up events. During these months, we’ll have a stall where you can ask questions.

Some landlords who specialise in student lets begin to advertise properties and take advanced bookings.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MOVE IN! Relax and enjoy your new home.

Whether you are after leafy parks, vibrant nightlife or international cuisine, London has it all.

To help you get started we have identified some of the most popular areas for our students to live. We've collated the average rent rates for different property types, as well as travel options to South Kensington campus in order to help you choose an area which best suits your needs.

For more private housing support and advice, check out our Private Housing Masterclass

Private Housing Masterclass

Six, short online classes to guide you through each step of your private housing journey.

Take a look at all the classes today! >>>>>

Located in

Close enough to walk to College within an hour, it's an ideal spot to get your steps in! Discover numerous excellent riverside restaurants, pubs, and cultural venues,

Shepherd’s Bush

Shepherd's Bush and White City, offers an ideal living situation for students at both campuses. With a reasonable commute to South Kensington, these areas strike a balance between academic and leisure needs.

Shepherd's Bush is a vibrant area with diverse amenities, while White City features modern developments and the Westfield shopping centre. Both areas are well-connected, making them convenient choices.

Rent rates

Studio: £1000–£1500 pcm

1 bed: £1400–£1900 pcm

2 bed: £2100–£2900 pcm

3 bed: £2600 –£3500 pcm

4 bed:£3400–£4600 pcm

Travel times (in minutes from Shepherd's Bush station to campus)

23 30 15 50

Rent

Studio: £1500–£2200 pcm

2

3

4

1 bed: £2500–£3200 pcm

Wood Lane

Westfield

Shepherd’s Bush Shepherd’s Bush Market Shepherd’s Bush Green

Paddington, within walking distance to South Kensington, has excellent connections to both the campus and central London. With Hyde Park and Regents Park on its borders and the Little Venice and Paddington Basin offers a variety of entertainment.

While residential properties are somewhat limited in Paddington itself, expanding your search to Edgware Road or Bayswater provides a broader range of options.

Rent rates

Studio: £1300–£1900 pcm

1 bed: £1700–£2100 pcm

2 bed: £2100–£2600 pcm

3 bed: £2900–£3700 pcm

4 bed: £3500–£5000 pcm

Putney & Fulham

Straddling the north and south bank of the Thames, Putney and Fulham are popular areas with plenty of residential streets clustered around small high-street villages. Fulham Broadway and Putney High Street are the bigger shopping locations.

Transport links are a spread thinly in these areas, so consider the distance from nearest tube or bus stop if that's important to you.

Rent rates

Studio: £1100–£2000 pcm

1 bed: £1700–£2800 pcm

2 bed: £2200–£3000 pcm

3 bed: £2600–£4200 pcm

4 bed: £4200–£5750 pcm

Travel times

(in minutes from Fulham Broadway station to campus)

12 19 10 35

Acton

Battersea Park

BatterseaParkRoad

Battersea Park

Acton is a vast and diverse area, features distinct areas served by their own station within it (North Acton, Acton Town etc). As you explore options, carefully consider the unique locales and transport links each station offers.

It is especially popular for students seeking affordable house shares, given the availability of suitable properties at more moderate prices compared to other areas.

Rent rates

Studio: £1100–£1800 pcm

Battersea & Clapham

Battersea and Clapham are neighbouring districts in South London, each offer unique appeal.

Battersea, along the Thames, combines modern urban living with green spaces like Battersea Park.

It's undergone significant regeneration, creating a vibrant atmosphere with trendy shops and cultural hubs.

Clapham, known for its diverse and lively atmosphere, boasts Clapham Common, a vast green area ideal for leisure.

Rent rates

Studio: £1300–£1900 pcm

1 bed: £1700–£2100 pcm

2 bed: £1800–£2500 pcm

3 bed: £2600–£3500 pcm

4 bed: £3500–£5000 pcm

Travel times (in minutes from Battersea Park to campus)

Queenstown Road 25 20 13

A3

1 bed: £1500–£2100 pcm

2 bed: £1900–£2700 pcm

3 bed: £2500–£3200 pcm

4 bed: £3200–£4800 pcm

Travel times

(in minutes from Acton Town station to campus)

22

55 28 60+

Acton Park

TOP TIP

North Acton

White City

Shepherd's Bush

North Kensington

Notting Hill

King's Cross

Marylebone

Paddington Bayswater

Chiswick

Hammersmith Earl's Court

Fulham Putney

Student perspectives

Here students share their thoughts about the areas they live.

Putney

What do you like about the area?

It is the greatest place in the world other than my hometown. Mix of the convenience of London while having a community vibe with regular outdoor music, easy access to the heath, Richmond park and Wimbledon common as well as the boathouses. The commute goes across the river everyday and is relatively fast.

What don't you like about the area?

Reasonably expensive particularly given how far it is from campus.

Hammersmith

Journey times

A 30-45 minute commute in London is a realistic expectation for most people – whether that's a walk, cycle or journey on public transport.

Holborn

Covent Garden

While proximity to campus is certainly a desirable preference, it comes with higher associated costs.

Campus

South Kensington Chelsea

Pimlico

Vauxhall

Battersea

Clapham Common Clapham Junction

Avoid being scammed

Lambeth Stockwell

London areas feel more like a collection of villages than one homogenous city, with each neighbourhood having its own charms. With an extensive transport system, London is well-connected so take advantage and embrace the chance to explore diverse neighbourhoods.

With a 30 minute cycle, or a direct tube journey, you can find an area that best suits you.

Journey times to South Kensington Campus

30 minute public transport/walking

30 minute cycle

30 minute walk

Data from app.traveltime.com/

all journey times approximations

What do you like about the area?

Proximity to the university. Access to transport, good shops, feels safe.

What don't you like about the area?

Bit shabby and the streets are quite dirty

Blackhorse Road - Walthamstow

What do you like about the area?

Lots of breweries and great connection with zone1 (especially King's Cross), good green areas, good climbing gyms.

It's cheap and well connected thanks to the Victoria line.

What don't you like about the area?

It takes 45-50 mins to be on Campus.

You should never be asked to pay a fee to view a property. This practice was banned in 2019. If you are asked to pay to view, consider walking away as this is a common scam tactic.

What is rental fraud?

Rental fraud happens when potential tenants are tricked into paying an upfront fee to rent a property. In reality, the property does not exist, has already been rented out, or has been rented to multiple victims at the same time.

The victim loses the upfront fee they have paid and is not able to rent the property they thought they had secured with the payment.

Students looking for university accommodation are often the target of rental fraud. So it's important you recognise the red flags and be prepared to walk away if something does not feel right.

Identifying potential scams

• Unwilling to meet in person

• Applying time pressures

• Asking for money before signing a licence agreement

• The price is too good to be true

• Poorly written advert

• No tenant checks

18+ Student Oyster photocard

If you're 18 or over, a student and living in a London borough, you can save 30% on Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes with a 18+ Student Oyster photocard.

Apply at tfl.gov.uk

Protect yourself from scams

• Research the area and average prices

• Never send money before viewing a property

• Use a credit card for deposits, and avoid wiring money.

• Verify property existence through a visit

• Check the landlord's ID, and confirm ownership on the land registry.

For more info visit our scams page: bit.ly/ph-scams

Are

A

is someone willing to be responsible for payment of

or damage if you don’t pay it. If you do not have a UKbased guarantor, the agent or the landlord could ask you to pay more rent in advance.

You will need a reference in order to let a property. Most students have yet to build up a credit history to provide the kind of references required by agents.

The scheme is managed by the Student Accommodation Office. Visit our website to check if you are eligible and read our full terms and conditions. bit.ly/ic-rent-guarantee