New to UK as a postgrad student who needs to rent accommodation and open bank account

opz

Hi, does anyone have any advice for someone new to the UK who needs to find a place to rent as a postgrad student? How do I set up a bank account if I don't have an address or haven't lived in the UK (so no utility bills etc). And how do I rent to get an address if I need a bank account to do so? Any advice on how to get started? Thanks!

km1500

You will need an address to set up a bank account, so this should be your priority

You are unlikely to get a place to rent on the open market so maybe get some advice from the University ? They will have experience in this area

GDB2222

You haven't said which uni you are at, but here's the sort of thing that may help:

https://www.london.ac.uk/ways-study/study-campus-london/student-services-and-support/halls-residence-and-student-accommodation/housing-services

My parents had a flat above their surgery, and they used to be very happy with overseas postgraduate students as tenants, so I don't think it's impossible to find a private landlord. The university housing services may well have a list.

donutandbeer

I was a foreign (non-eu) postgraduate student in London. I rented a studio flat (ensuite & tiny kitchen in a room) in a private student accommodation building for the first year. Very common in cities with lots of uni students. I paid maybe 3-month’s rent in advance when I signed the contract. This was all done online, I didn’t need a UK bank account to do this. 

I know a lot of foreign students choose to come to the UK a month or two before their term starts (so in summer), they live in either airbnb or rooms that are sublet by students who are away in summer (note: this is often against the rules/illegal but very common), so they can look for a room to rent in person. If you are not from the EU and have no UK guarantor then likely you will have to pay 6-month’s rent in advance. I have friends who always had to pay 6-month’s rent in one go (e.g. 1 year contract: pay first 6-month’s rent at the start and then another 6-month’s rent after the first 6 months). 

As for opening a bank account in the UK: most school will provide foreign student with a “bank letter” as a proof of address for you to open a bank account in the UK. You will have to provide your address to your school (no proof needed), and they will produce a “bank letter” with your name and address on it. I successfully opened a bank account with Barclays using just the bank letter. Most major banks will accept this. I only opened my UK bank account two months after I arrived (inefficient admin of our school to provide my bank letter..), but it wasn’t a huge problem, as most supermarkets accept mastercard credit cards. 

Edited: I strongly recommend joining your school’s facebook groups (often there’s one for your year). 

macman

in your position you will have no credit history in the UK, so you may require a guarantor or a 6m or 12m upfront rent payment.
You should be aware that the UK rental market is in a state of extreme turmoil with nowhere near enough properties to satisfy demand at present, as so many BTL LL's are exiting the market.

dimbo61

Check out the University website !
Many if not all Universities have a housing accommodation office and staff who can help you.

katejo

opz said:

Hi, does anyone have any advice for someone new to the UK who needs to find a place to rent as a postgrad student? How do I set up a bank account if I don't have an address or haven't lived in the UK (so no utility bills etc). And how do I rent to get an address if I need a bank account to do so? Any advice on how to get started? Thanks!

Have you considered just renting a room in a shared house/flat initially to give you time to set up a bank account and gain a good credit record? The criteria are not as strict and you can usually give just a month's notice before moving on. Have a look at Spareroom  SpareRoom for flatshare, house share, flat share & rooms for rent
I used to let out a room in my house in this way. Homeowners who let rooms in this way get  tax relief and don't have to pay extra council tax if the lodger is a student. 

opz

Thanks for all the helpful information!

dimbo61

https://www.manchesterstudenthomes.com/Accommodation

This is the student accommodation  website run by the 5 universities  in Manchester.
Great advice on how to find a safe, secure student home.
Full of good Landlords trying to provide  decent housing for students.
Accredited  and checked, licenced hmo,s