Liverpool has become increasingly popular among students for its affordable and well-connected student accommodation, with halls, flats, and housing typically within a commutable distance of the various universities or on campuses.
The proximity of the universities to the city’s eclectic restaurants and bars, green space, and culturally significant locations make Liverpool a huge draw for students across the nation and the world.
If you’re looking to join the city for your studies. In that case, you should understand that accommodation is a significant part of your student experience, not just because you need somewhere to live but because it can affect how you structure every part of your day and degree. So, finding somewhere that benefits your educational, financial, and social needs is essential.
To help you navigate the rapidly growing options, we’ve assembled this comprehensive guide on how best to prepare, detailing how student accommodation in Liverpool works, how to find it, where and when to look, and how to make the best choice for you.
How Does Student Accommodation Work? How Do I Find It?
In order to get any form of student accommodation, you first need to know your budget. Whether you’re getting a maintenance loan or you’ve saved up to cover costs, you need to find out how much you can afford to spend on rent, meals, transport, and any additional bills.
You’ll also want to make a list of desirable assets or other things you want to factor into your budget. For example, if you want parking, proximity to transport, and nearby facilities like gyms, you should include these in your search.
Once you’ve gauged your yearly budget, you then have to decide which type of accommodation you want.
Students have three main choices for accommodation: university-managed accommodation, privately rented property, or staying at home, but if you’re reading this article, chances are the last option isn’t on your radar.
University accommodation typically consists of halls of residence, which function like blocks of flats or sometimes take shape as a collection of smaller houses.
This is usually the favoured choice for first-year students looking to find their feet in Liverpool, as they are usually built around catering to individuals who need some help easing into their newfound independence rather than plunging you into the deep end unaided.
Halls nearly always have furnished rooms, shared bathroom and kitchen facilities, and easy payment methods (often termly payments every 3.5 months on average, with bills included).
Uni halls also help new students with socialising, with halls typically being organised by year, meaning you’ll likely be sharing the area with 5-8 people in the exact same boat as you (so there’s no need to be nervous).
Depending on your needs and finances, catered accommodation and en-suite or studio rooms are also an option. Catered halls provide meals to students at set times of the day, with the trade-off of a more basic kitchen to make your other meals in.
The en-suite and studio rooms are more expensive but provide the obvious benefits of a personal bathroom or larger rooms with better furnishings.
The second option is private student accommodation. This can also be houses or flats or even halls of residence. The difference is that a landlord or a private company runs these properties.
Universities don’t run private halls, but you will still be put with other students, usually from a mix of universities.
Properties run by a landlord can be a room in a block of flats or a student house to be shared by a group of friends. You can find any of these properties listed online or book meetings with student property agents and arrange property viewings.
This option tends to be more popular amongst students in their second years and up, with groups of friends – or solo students – seeking greater independence and distance from campus (to be closer to the nightlife!).
Private houses may have more amenities than university halls, depending on what you can afford, but with this comes more significant bills. Payment is usually made in monthly instalments, but you should also check if bills are included or separate before locking yourself into a contract you can’t afford.
Not all private and university-managed accommodation provide a contract that allows 365-day access to the property for however long you stay. Still, confirming this beforehand is essential, especially if you can’t or don’t want to go home over term breaks.
Insurance may be included in your contract for either form of accommodation, but it’s worth ensuring this is the case in advance. If not, it can be worth paying a little extra to put your mind at ease should anything go missing or get stolen.
If you’re struggling to find trustworthy private properties, it’s worth asking your university for a list of recommendations. Your university should have safe and trusted landlords with whom they can connect you. Additionally, universities will help find you accommodation should you apply too late.
When Should You Start Looking for Student Accommodation? Is It First Come, First Served?
The short answer for first-year students? It’s never too early.
If you’re booking university-managed accommodation, you should get in touch as soon as possible to reserve your spot. This is usually only possible for your firm choice, but there’s no harm in asking your insurance choices, either.
Keep in mind that universities reserve accommodation places for students going through clearing as well, so they could have space available. They won’t mind you asking, even as an insurance choice – that’s what they’re there for!
Universities want to attract as many students as possible, so they provide as much information about their facilities as possible. Open days are a great way to assess whether the university’s accommodation is for you, and you can ask staff and students on the day what the best options are.
Even if you can’t make it to the open days, universities will upload detailed content to their websites, typically with photos, floor layouts, and interactive tours. Online reviews can also provide some insight into things the university might not want to mention, so keep an eye out.
On the other hand, private accommodation is the more popular choice for second year students, but it’s still important to organise and research long in advance. Private accommodation doesn’t usually adhere to the same timeframes as university-managed accommodation, so you may be able to start searching even earlier.
The biggest difference with private accommodation is that student homes go fast. If you leave it as late as first year university accommodation, you might really struggle to find property that suits your needs.
It’s important to note that university-managed and private accommodations can have deposits that must be paid in advance. This may be expected before your student maintenance loan arrives, so make sure you have enough money saved up. You’ll receive this money back at the end of your agreement, provided you don’t breach the contract in any way.
If you can find a close group of friends to live with early, you should start viewing potential houses immediately. With first-year terms starting in September, most people find their friend groups within the month of October, and it just so happens this is also the best time to begin searching for accommodation for next year.
It may seem early, and you may not know enough about the best areas near your university, but it’s the best time to start researching.
Landlords will often advertise their property for the next academic year within these autumn months, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these new listings as early as possible.
You can also find websites that compare properties and filter by any preferences you or your group may have. You can then book a viewing to see the property first hand.
Around 25% of students start looking for next year’s accommodation before December, so it’s better to be early than risk missing out on all the best properties. After the Christmas break is when most students begin actually securing their property, and you’ll find accommodation choices decrease rapidly.
This second term of university is when you should really try reaching an agreement, as property listings will be sparse by April. The summer months are very late for finding accommodation, but don’t worry; you will find somewhere, and you may just need to sacrifice some of your preferences. This could be finding a property with insufficient/too many rooms, or a longer commute to university.
Even if it seems hopeless, you can find spare rooms in student houses, even though you may not be with friends. Some people leave after falling out with flatmates or transferring universities, so replacement tenants will be sought.
What’s Next?
In short, the main takeaway is to be aware of your budget, your preferences, and the best times to search (early on!). TJT Students can help you find affordable student accommodation in Liverpool city centre, and universities will provide guidance if you’re feeling lost, confused, or unhappy with your accommodation. Remember that the earlier you start, the more you’ll thank yourself later.
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