By Alexandra Claudia Loreza (Student of MSc Digital Innovation Management)

Moving to London to pursue a postgraduate degree is an incredibly exciting milestone, but if there is one thing that routinely causes anxiety for incoming international students, it is finding a place to live. The London housing market moves at a breakneck pace and operates quite differently from many other global cities. As a student at Loughborough University London, I went through this exact journey. In this blog, I want to share my personal experience, the strategies that worked for me, the challenges I overcame, and my top tips to help you secure a comfortable, stress-free home in the capital.

My London Home: Life in East London

Currently, I live in private rented accommodation in East London. It is a fully furnished, charming 2-bedroom house where I rent a private bedroom and share the common spaces, like the kitchen, bathroom, garden, and reception room—with a housemate. My private bedroom serves as my personal sanctuary and is equipped with everything a student needs: a comfortable double bed, a nightstand, a spacious wardrobe, and a dedicated study desk where I spend hours working on my assignments.

One of the biggest advantages of my location is its not too far from Loughborough University London campus, which is situated in Here East (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park). From my house, it takes me roughly 25 minutes to get to campus using the Bus 241, or 2 train stops to Stratford. Alternatively, if I want to get some steps in, it is a pleasant 35-minute walk to Stratford Bus Stop X, than continue with free Here East Shuttle Bus from that bus stop.

The Secret Weapon: Tapping into Cultural and Student Communities

When I first started looking for accommodation, standard commercial platforms felt overwhelming and highly competitive. As an Indonesian student, I managed to find my current house through the Indonesian community WhatsApp Group.

Many nationalities and student groups maintain active networks specifically to support one another. Organizations like the Indonesian Student Association (PPI), Southeast Asian Student Community, Vietnamese Student Community, Indian Student Community, and Singaporean

Student Community have dedicated Instagram accounts, WhatsApp groups, or Telegram channels. In these groups, current students or departing alumni frequently post sublets, rooms for rent, or entire flats before they even hit the open market. This community-focused approach bypasses a lot of the traditional rental market stress and if you prefer to share a house with someone that came from the same place like you.

Top Tips for a Successful Accommodation Search

Based on my successful search and what I saw other students go through, here are my absolute golden rules for finding accommodation in London:

• Be Aggressively Early: The moment you have paid your tuition deposit or received your CAS/visa confirmation, start looking. Do not wait until August or September, as that is peak student migration season and prices skyrocket while availability plummets.

• Check Platforms Daily (and Act Fast): Good rooms in London can disappear within hours of being posted. Make it a habit to check student communities and rental platforms multiple times a day. If you see something you like, message the provider immediately. Speed is everything.

• Leverage Your Network: Don’t be shy! Ask your friends, seniors, family or anyone you know who already lives in London if they know of an available room or a tenant who is moving out soon. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful.

• Prioritize Personal Comfort: Remember that as a master’s student, you will spend a massive portion of your time in your room studying, writing essays, and resting. Ensure the environment is one where you feel safe, comfortable, and productive.

Overcoming Challenges: Navigating Remote Viewings and Avoiding Scams

I personally did not face any major contractual disasters during my search, but the biggest challenge I encountered—which almost every international student faces—was managing the search remotely. When you are overseas, you cannot attend property viewings in person, leaving you to rely strictly on pictures or pre-recorded videos.

To overcome this hurdle and ensure I wasn’t falling into a trap, I used a couple of key strategies. First, if you have a friend, relative, or acquaintance already living in London, ask them nicely if they can do an in-person viewing on your behalf. If that is not possible, explicitly ask the landlord or agent to send a live, updated video walk-through of the room and flat, or request a live video call via Zoom or WhatsApp. Additionally, always conduct in-depth research on the property owner or letting agency. Look up their reviews online, check if they are registered with a professional body (like ARLA Propertymark), and never transfer money unless you have a legally binding contract and verified credentials.

What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Looking

If I could go back in time and give myself one critical piece of advice, it would be this: Understand London’s transport infrastructure deeply, and do not rely on just one line!

London transport is fantastic, but Tube and rail strikes happen fairly regularly, and lines occasionally undergo maintenance. If you live in an area that relies solely on a single Underground line, a strike can leave you completely stranded or facing exorbitant Uber fares. I highly recommend finding a location with excellent multi-modal transport options—somewhere that gives you quick access to a reliable Tube line, multiple bus routes, the DLR, or the Elizabeth line.

Stratford is a perfect example of a multi-modal hub, which is why staying near campus or around East London is highly advantageous. Living near campus not only saves you significant amounts of money on daily transport fares (which add up quickly!), but it also insulates you from travel disruptions.

Good luck with your accommodation hunt! London is an incredible city, and finding the right place to live is the first step toward an unforgettable student experience at Loughborough University London.

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If you require additional support, our Student Services team can provide guidance on tenancy agreements, renters’ rights, and budgeting for accommodation costs. Visit our accommodation support page to learn more about the support available.