There are plenty of things to think about when you move abroad to study. Your visa, your program, what to pack, and then there is the question of where you are going to live.
Finding an apartment in a city you barely know is challenging enough. Doing it from another country, without being able to visit in person, adds another layer of uncertainty. Unfamiliar rental rules, unexpected costs and listings that look better in photographs than they do in reality can turn what should be an exciting new chapter into a stressful experience.
Alessandra knows this firsthand. Originally from Italy, she moved to London in the summer of 2023 with just a few weeks to organize her new life. Her first apartment was not quite ready when she arrived, and she quickly learned how much easier the transition could have been with the right preparation and support. When she returned to London the following year, she knew what questions to ask and what to look for in her next apartment. Today, London has become her city.
To understand what international students should know before making a move of their own, we spoke with Alessandra about her experience and with the Student Luxe team, who helped her settle into London and make the city her new home. Since 2019, Student Luxe has provided furnished accommodation to more than 4,000 students in destinations around the world, with its largest portfolio and team in London. Together, their perspectives offer practical advice on finding accommodation that works not just on paper, but in real life.
1. Start earlier than you think
London is not the kind of city where it is wise to leave your housing search until the week before your flight.
The busiest times depend on when your program begins. Demand builds in the weeks before the September start, and January brings another wave of students arriving for a new term. At both times, availability in popular areas can disappear quickly.
Summer can be busy, too. Programs such as the LSE Summer School bring students to London from around the world, so finding student accommodation near LSE takes some advance planning. If you are coming for a summer course, start looking as soon as you know your dates rather than waiting until your travel arrangements are finalized.
Alessandra learned how stressful a last-minute search can be. After finishing her degree in Milan, she decided to move to London in the summer of 2023 and had only a few weeks to find somewhere to live.
“I had to rely on online listings and photographs because I couldn’t travel to London to view apartments,” she says.
If you cannot visit in person, ask for a video tour and check that the apartment in the photos is the one you will actually be renting. Ask questions about anything that is unclear, and get important details confirmed in writing.
It is also worth asking your university whether it has a housing office. Many London universities offer residence halls and advice for international students, and some can point you toward accommodation providers familiar with the needs of students arriving from overseas.
2. Find out what documents you will be asked for
One of the biggest surprises for international students is the paperwork.
Depending on the provider and rental arrangement, you may be asked for identification, proof of enrollment, evidence that you can afford the rent, references or a UK-based guarantor: someone who agrees to cover the rent if you cannot pay. That may be straightforward for a student whose family lives in the UK. It can be more complicated when your parents are in Rome or Chicago.
Guarantor services exist, but they have their own requirements and fees. Some accommodation providers accept international students without a UK guarantor, so it is worth asking about this early.
You may also be asked to pay several months’ rent upfront, depending on the provider and the terms of the rental agreement. Alessandra did this for her first apartment, which added a considerable expense before her program had even started.
Find out what each provider requires before you fall in love with a listing. Otherwise, you can spend hours searching for the perfect place only to discover that you cannot meet the rental requirements. Before signing anything, check the minimum stay, the end date, the deposit terms, when payments are due and what happens if your plans change.
If you are arranging everything from abroad, take particular care with unfamiliar listings. Verify the property and the person or company you are dealing with before sending any money. Make sure you receive a written agreement, and be wary of anyone who pressures you to pay immediately or requests an unusual payment method.
3. Furnished does not always mean ready to move in
If you are flying in from overseas, you probably do not want to spend your first weekend in London buying saucepans.
“Furnished” can mean anything from a bed and a sofa to an apartment equipped with most of the essentials. Before you book, ask:
- Wi-Fi: Is it set up and ready when you arrive?
- Bills: Are electricity, water, heating and internet included?
- Kitchen: Are pots, pans, plates and cutlery provided?
- Bedding and towels: Will you need to bring or buy your own?
- Laundry: Is there a washing machine in the apartment or building?
- Cleaning: Is housekeeping included, and how often?
Alessandra’s first apartment was advertised as furnished, but some work was still unfinished when she arrived, and she had to buy extra household items. Not ideal when you are also trying to open a bank account, work out the Tube and remember to stand on the right on the escalator.
A few questions before booking can save you from unexpected shopping trips and expenses during your first days in the city. If anything needs to be completed before you arrive, ask for confirmation that it will be ready in time.
4. Think about the total cost, not just the rent
When comparing apartments, look beyond the number on the listing. Many London rentals are priced per week, so do the math carefully before comparing them with a monthly budget.
Then ask what is included. Utilities, Wi-Fi, insurance and cleaning can all affect your overall budget, while a deposit or advance rent can make the amount due at the start considerably higher than you expected. Full-time students are usually exempt from council tax, the UK’s local property tax, but you may need to provide proof of enrollment.
Check the dates, too. If your rental agreement runs past the end of your program, you could end up paying for weeks you do not need. Ask for a written breakdown of every cost before you commit.
Some providers of student apartments in London, including Student Luxe, offer furnished accommodation with bills and selected services included in the price. This can make budgeting easier, particularly for families planning the full cost of a year abroad. Inclusions vary by property, so check exactly what is covered and whether any additional charges apply.
It is also worth comparing different types of accommodation. University residences can be a good way to meet people, sharing an apartment may help keep costs down, and a private furnished apartment can offer more privacy. The right choice depends on your budget, the length of your stay and how you want to experience student life in London.
According to the Student Luxe team, many international students start with a private furnished apartment near campus for their first semester. It gives them time to get to know the city before deciding whether to move in with friends, share an apartment or stay in their own space.
5. Choose your neighborhood carefully
London is huge but well connected, and you do not necessarily need to live next door to your university. Where you live will still shape your everyday experience of the city.
Rather than choosing an area based on its reputation alone, think about what your routine will look like. How long will it take to get to campus? Is there a grocery store nearby? Can you get home easily after an evening class or a late night out? Are there parks, cafés or other places where you would enjoy spending time?
If you cannot visit before booking, use street-level imagery on a map app to explore the surrounding streets. Check your route home in the evening as well as during the day, look at transport options, and ask the accommodation provider about building access and the immediate area.
Safety is worth considering, but broad claims that an entire neighborhood is safe or unsafe can be misleading. Conditions vary from street to street. Pay attention to lighting, transport availability, building security and the route you would take home. If possible, speak to current students who know the area.
Check the real journey time to campus rather than relying on the distance shown on a map. A slightly longer commute may be worth it if the transport connection is convenient and the area suits your budget and lifestyle.
6. Think about who you are renting from
The apartment is only part of the equation. There is also the question of who manages it, and what happens when something goes wrong.
Before booking, find out who manages the property and how you can reach them. Is there a dedicated contact for maintenance or access issues? What happens outside normal office hours? Is support available on-site, or will you need to contact a remote team?
When Alessandra returned to London in September 2024 for a master’s degree, she approached her accommodation search differently. She was looking for a building with amenities such as a gym and found Student Luxe. This time, a team member guided her through the booking process, the costs were clear, and her apartment was ready when she arrived. There was always someone on site if she needed help at home, and the Guest Team was only a phone call away.
That made a difference. When you are living alone in another country, far from family and friends, even a small problem can feel overwhelming. Knowing there is someone you can turn to can provide reassurance while you find your feet. It mattered to Alessandra’s mother, too, who had helped manage her first rental from Italy and felt more comfortable knowing her daughter had a clear point of contact.
The level of support varies between providers and buildings, so ask what is actually available rather than assuming every property offers the same service. If support is important to you, make it part of your decision from the beginning.
7. Ask what happens when you land
After a long flight, the last thing you want is to be standing on the sidewalk with two suitcases and no way into the building.
Before you travel, ask how check-in works. Is there a reception desk, a key handover or a self-check-in code? What happens if your flight is delayed? If you land hours before check-in, is early access or luggage storage available?
Plan the journey from the airport to your actual address, too. The Tube is convenient with a backpack, but less so with two suitcases during rush hour. Save your address, check-in instructions and your accommodation provider’s contact details as screenshots on your phone, so you can find them without Wi-Fi if you have trouble getting into the building.
Then give yourself time to settle in
The London rental market can take some getting used to. But once you know what to ask, finding a place to live becomes much less intimidating.
And then you can get on with the important things: finding a favorite café for weekend breakfasts, working out which Tube line is actually the fastest, discovering that some stations are quicker to walk between, and eventually realizing that, somewhere between your first class and your first Sunday in the park, London has started to feel like home.
If you are planning a move to London and would like some guidance on finding the right place to stay, Student Luxe offers free accommodation consultations for international students. You can explore your options and speak with the team before making the move.
