Looking for family accommodation in Leeds, Bradford or Nottingham?
There is a general shortage of family accommodation. If you have not yet arrived in the UK you are strongly advised not to travel with your family unless you have found suitable long-term accommodation. Short-stay accommodation tends to be very expensive and is also difficult to find, particularly as a family. Once in the UK, if you are unable to secure family accommodation quickly, having to stay in short-stay accommodation will have a serious negative impact on your finances.
The advice below details alternative ways to search and hopefully find family housing for students studying in Leeds, Bradford and Nottingham.
Types of accommodation provider
In the UK the main providers of accommodation suitable for families are landlords and agents who let and manage houses in the private rented sector.
There is no dedicated family accommodation offered specifically for students in Bradford or Nottingham, either by the Universities or by other suppliers. In searching for suitable accommodation, you will therefore be reliant on the private rented sector.
In Leeds the main providers of accommodation suitable for families are:
- Unipol Student Homes
- the University of Leeds
- landlords and agents who let and manage houses in the private rented sector
There is small amount of dedicated family accommodation offered specifically for students in Leeds - some is reserved for students studying at the University of Leeds and some is available for all students coming to Leeds. This accommodation is very popular and often over-subscribed. If you are interested in applying for this accommodation please visit Unipol Housing for families to register your interest. If you are studying at the University of Leeds you can also register your interest with the University of Leeds, as they have additional family accommodation units not managed by Unipol.
Join the Unipol Family Mailing ListIf you are a student at any other Higher Education institution in Leeds you can still join Unipol's family mailing list as we do have a small number of family properties open to all students (subject to availability). However due to high demand you should also start looking in the private rented sector. Stay in touch with us throughout your time as a student in Leeds, to be informed about social events for students with families (including inviting you to events that we organise as part of an annual programme. Please join our family facebook group to stay connected.
Types of accommodation available for students with families or couples
In the UK, accommodation suitable for you and your family is likely to be of one of these types:
A house may be detached, i.e. a stand-alone building; it may be semi-detached, one of a pair of houses which together form a single building; it may be terraced, one of a number of houses which each share a side wall with the neighbouring house(s), together forming a row of houses in a single building; or they may be back-to-back, where the house, as well as being terraced, shares its back wall with the house behind.
Self-contained apartments / flats are generally arranged over a single floor within a larger building containing similar units. None of the facilities in a self-contained flat are shared: it should have its own bathroom, toilet and kitchen, in addition to bedrooms.
Maisonettes are a type of self-contained apartment in which, generally, the rooms are laid out over two floors and which have their own exterior entrance.
A bedsit is a room which contains some form of self-contained amenity, normally a small kitchen or separate washing facility. Bathrooms and toilets are usually shared with other residents. Bedsits are usually for one person, but larger ones may be suitable for a couple. They account for only a small part of the accommodation for students in Leeds.
A studio flat will typically have a kitchen-diner with sleeping accommodation fully integrated into the living space, plus a separate bathroom / WC. Although usually for one person, larger studio flats may be suitable for a couple. You need to be aware that studio flats are normally the most expensive type of accommodation available to students and you should think seriously about the cost before renting.
The type of contract you will be invited to sign is unlikely to vary according to the type of provider and the type of accommodation you choose – the contract that the vast majority of students have is called an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. There is some variability on whether or not utility costs are included. Utility costs are the costs for the energy you use, and the provision of water and internet services. Always check before signing anything. For most accommodation let by private landlords, water charges are included. You will need to check whether internet services are included as part of the offer: whether these are included in the rent; or whether it is up to you to sort out and pay for this service with an internet provider directly.
Click here for more information on rent, bills and hidden costs.
Finding accommodation in the private rented sector
If you have been unable to find accommodation through your university or Unipol's website we advise you to use alternative popular search engines to look for accommodation outside of the city in which you are studying. This should provide more search results and although it is further from the University campuses, you should have more success in finding accommodation in these areas.
The most popular websites for finding accommodation in the private rented sector are:
- Rightmove – www.rightmove.co.uk
- Open Rent – www.openrent.co.uk
- Zoopla – www.zoopla.co.uk
Top tip! - Set up alerts/notifications for accommodation sites to ensure you are the first to see when they add new properties that match what you are looking for.
Other considerations when looking for accommodation
Although it might be disappointing not to be able to find accommodation close to your university, it is important to find more permanent accommodation so you can settle in to your studies quickly. This is likely to mean living in an area which could be located a significant distance from your university. Please consider:
- If you are a Postgraduate student you may find that you have a low number of contact hours at University and this would therefore limit the days you would need to commute in to campus. This would enable you to look further afield for your accommodation.
- Even though accommodation is in short supply it is still advisable to ensure you are happy before accepting a property, as once agreed it is a legally binding contract and you cannot change your mind.
- When you are looking in the non-student private rented sector most rental properties are likely to be unfurnished. This will mean you will need to find furniture for the property such as beds, sofas, a desk etc. There are a number of outlets where you will be able to find affordable secondhand furniture, which you will then be able to sell or donate when you leave the UK. You should also look in to whether any white goods are provided, such as a fridge, washing machine etc. Please click here for more information on where to get affordable furniture from.
- The tenancy length may not match the academic year and you could be asked for a UK guarantor, or a large deposit, some landlords will ask for 3-6 months’ rent in advance if you are unable to pass a credit check. See guidance on contracts.
- Please bear in mind that the cost of utility bills has increased greatly in the last 12 months. Always ensure you are able to meet the cost of these bills as well as your rent.
- Warning: There have been several incidences of students being victims of contract scams. This has involved signing contracts for properties that don't exist and sending and losing money after trying to secure a property. This is rare but please read our blog on this and follow the advice.
Suggested areas to look for family accommodation
Below you will find a list of some areas/ locations worth looking at for accommodation in Leeds, Nottingham and Bradford. The list is not exhaustive but is aimed to give you a starting point. You can do your initial searches by using the websites above but also do a more general internet search using words such as 'properties available to rent in ......', this will bring up local managing agents that you can then contact. Try to leave your details with them even if they have no current availability. We would recommend that you continue to contact them, for example once a week as properties turn around more regularly outside of the student market.
For students studying in Leeds, we advise on searching for accommodation in the following areas:
Wakefield – 20 minute coach ride for £3.20. Trains also run every 30 minutes for £4 - £8
Holbeck – 37 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Morley – 1 hour bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Gildersome - 32 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Castleford - 20 minute train ride for £3 - £5 (cheaper with a railcard)
Normanton - 28 minute train ride for £3 - £5 (cheaper with a railcard)
Other areas around Leeds also include Armley, Colton, Beeston and Hunslet. These are within the boundaries of Greater Leeds but may have some availability.
Click the link below for more detailed information for families on accommodation, childcare and living in the UK.
For students studying in Bradford, we advise on searching for accommodation in the following areas:
Pudsey – 44 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Halifax – 46 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Huddersfield – 36 minute train ride for £3 - £6 (cheaper with a railcard)
Shipley - 33 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Keighley - 59 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Click the link below for more detailed information for families on accommodation, childcare and living in the UK.
For students studying in Nottingham, we advise on searching for accommodation in the following areas:
Mansfield – 39 minute train ride for £3 - £6 (cheaper with a railcard)
Derby – 24 minute train ride for £5 - £8 (cheaper with a railcard)
Long Eaton - 20 minute bus trip for £1.20 (student price or £2 for non-students)
Other areas to look at are Beeston, Arnold and Carlton. These are areas outside of Nottingham city but may have some availability.
Look also at the Robin Hood card for discounts on all modes of transport.
Click the link below for more detailed information for families on accommodation, childcare and living in the UK.
Property standards
If you can, always look to rent with an accredited landlord. In the UK, like anywhere, standards in rented accommodation are variable, so you need to be alert to sub-standard properties, amenities, fixtures and fittings when you are looking for somewhere to live. If problems emerge once you have moved in and the landlord is reluctant or slow to put things rights, you should think about contacting your local council, which is the statutory authority for these purposes.
Your local council’s housing standards team can respond to tenant complaints about hazards in rented housing and about landlords failing to get repairs done in reasonable time.
Accreditation is an important feature of the student rental market in Leeds and Nottingham. When looking for any type of family accommodation to rent, make sure you check that the accommodation provider is part of the Unipol Code, on the membership list for the Leeds Rental Standard or a member of the Nottingham Standard. All Unipol Code accredited landlords are also members of The Leeds Rental Standard.
Further help and advice
Click here for further help and advice.