Many students planning to study in London worry the most about their stay. It is not easy to find a safe and comfortable place in a new country. Moreover, there are always some or other scams happening. If you are also worried about the same, read this to know about all scams about student accommodation in London and how to avoid them. So, let’s get started with the basics of student stay.
A Quick Insight into Student Accommodation in London
London has some of the top universities in the world. So, students from across the globe enroll in these and need a good place to stay. Though there are in-campus options, some prefer private housing or sharing flats. Moreover, finding a good rental place within an affordable budget is a tough task. On the other hand, there are a few scams that happen with international students who are new to the country. Thus, all these can become stressful. So, let’s first look into how to find the right student accommodation in UK that is comfortable, affordable, and safe.
How to Find the Best Student Accommodation in London?
Here are a few steps to help you find the right stay in the country. Follow these steps carefully to get the best results:
Start Early
Firstly, start the process early. This gives you enough time to thoroughly check each option. Moreover, you have more options when you start soon and you also have time to compare your options and make the best pick.
Know Your Options
Secondly, check your options. There are in-campus student accommodation in London, private stays, and shared flats. So, choose the option that matches your needs. Moreover, prepare a list of all options to analyze them better.
Set a Budget
Thirdly, have a clear budget in mind. You can find a place for cheap and also very expensive. In addition, the price depends on multiple factors like location, size, amenities, and more. Thus, to make it easy for you, set a realistic budget.
Pick a Safe Location
Fourthly, pick a safe location. You can choose a peaceful neighborhood, a place with students staying around, good commute options, a city center, and not far away from the university. Moreover, find a place with good security like key-card entry to student accommodation in London and CCTV cameras.
Use Good Sources
Finally, use good and reliable sources for options. You can count on your family who already are staying in the UK, in-campus options, or online platforms that provide the right options. Moreover, avoid random social media advice as they can be paid promotions and not fully true.
These are the steps you must follow to find the right student accommodation in London. Now, let’s take a quick look at the ways to avoid scams during this process.
How to Avoid Scams When with Student Accommodation in London?
Who wants to end up in a scam that too in an unknown country where all you have is yourself? Thus, find these red flags and avoid them to not fall into any traps:
Too Good to Be True Deals
Firstly, there is no such thing as too good to be a true deal. If something looks like a steal deal, it is probably to steal you. Moreover, low rent, attractive pictures, and unrealistic expectations are big red flags. In addition, many pictures turn out to be fake and stolen online.
No Visit to Place No Payment
Secondly, there shouldn’t be any payment transactions done before you see the place. You can either opt for a virtual visit or the best, a physical visit to the place before you pay anything. You cannot be sure it is there and as it is in the pictures, if you didn’t see it with your eyes.
Check the Tenancy Agreement
Thirdly, read the agreement multiple times and make sure every point is clear. Check full names, addresses, rental costs, payment schedules, duration, deposit, termination, roles of tenants, and more. Also, check if the tenant or agent is listed and verified with a residential registration body.
Use Government-Backed Deposit Schemes
Fourthly, use Government-backed deposit schemes to legally protect your money. You can choose Deposit Protection Service (DPS), Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) or MyDeposits for this. Moreover, check the owner’s details before you make the deposit.
Use a Verifiable Payment Process
Finally, make payment through a medium you’ve proof of. Avoid cash, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Cryptocurrency. Instead use bank transfers or online payment platforms. Moreover, check the details of the receiver’s name and the bill details with the agreement details.
These are a few ways to avoid scams with student accommodation in London. Moreover, be extra careful with any social media listings of property, and do not take a call in a rush.
Conclusion:
Students who are planning to stay and study in London need a good place to live peacefully. Since there are a lot of scams happening with international students, they need to be extra careful. Thus, here you read about the ways to find the right student accommodation in UK. In addition, you also looked into the different scams and how to avoid them. Moreover, you can avoid all scams and find the best spot if you make wise decisions after careful analysis. Wish you luck!
