Looking for Accommodation

1. The Private Rented Accommodation Register

The Private Rented Accommodation Register includes properties available for groups and individuals. You can see an up-to-date copy of the list at the Student Accommodation Services Offices, Room 1D11, Frenchay Campus (near the main reception area) or your Students' Union Site Office.

2. Accommodation Agencies

The properties that accommodation agencies advertise to let, tend to be shared houses or flats with joint tenancies but some will also advertise individual rooms.
Remember:

• Don't forget to check the safety of any property you rent through an agency.
• Don't pay the agency a fee until you have secured the property.

3. Newspapers, Noticeboards and Shop Windows

Remember that anyone advertising using any of these methods may not have properties that are compliant with current laws e.g. gas safety. Make sure that you always remember to check out how safe somewhere is yourself.

For more information see the Advice Centre leaflet entitled 'Finding a Place to Rent'.
Some Suggested Websites

• The Accomodation section on the UWESU forum .
• UWE's Student Accomodation services vacancies webpage.
• Student House Hunt - To save time and hassle going around all the letting agencies in Bristol (and there are quite a few!) or looking through all their websites, go to www.studenthousehunt.co.uk - all their student houses are listed (with their agency fees!) on one database.

If you are looking for housing for the next academic year then it is crucial to not only to look for the right house but to also ensure that you want to live with your chosen group for the next year. Don’t fall into the trap of just agreeing to live with current housemates if you don’t really get on. It is likely that you will all be living together for at least the next 9 months so taking time to form your group will probably result in a much better experience overall.

It may be useful to agree to some ‘house rules’ in advance or as soon as you move in to avoid any potential conflicts arising. These could include drawing up a house cleaning rota, investing in a small board and marker for messages, agreeing to each contribute a certain amount of money per week for household essentials (and sticking to it!) and ensuring that you all communicate with each other to stop minor frictions escalating into more serious arguments.