Independent living

Many students prefer to live independently in the local area rather than in halls of residence. You might choose to rent a room in a house or flat with other students, for example.

What are the advantages?

Living independently gives you lots of flexibility. You can:

live near your campus or elsewhere in the town;
choose your own flatmates;
find a property to suit your budget;
pay your rent monthly; and
choose your facilities (especially useful for couples or families).

What private accommodation options are available?

Private accommodation options in Kingston include:

rooms in house or flat shares with other students;
properties to rent as a group or family;
studio and one-bedroom properties; and
rooms in a property with a resident owner, sharing facilities with the householder (lodgings).

How will the University help?

We provide the following help when you're searching for a room or flatshare:

Daily Vacancy List
The latest vacancies in local rented acommodation, from single rooms and lodgings to full house and flat shares. The list is available online in the run up to the start of term (usually from June). Read more about the daily vacancy list.
Student-to-Student Noticeboard
Our noticeboard helps you get in touch with other students also looking for accommodation (available between June and September). Once you have identified potential flatmates, you can contact them and meet up to search for a property. The noticeboard is password protected to safeguard your information.

To register for either of these services, please complete our application form. Once you have registered, you can log on using the links below:

If you have already started your course, you can access the Daily Vacancy List through StudentSpace.

Other useful places to look include www.findaproperty.co.uk and www.loot.com. We also have information about local lettings agents who can help you find accommodation in the area.

Help and advice

If you want to live independently, view our information about:

getting started – what to think about before you start looking for a property;
finding and viewing property – including information about our Daily Vacancy List and local letting agents;
deposits and contacts;
your rights and responsibilities;
safety information – gas, carbon monoxide and fire safety; and
living together – including guidance about paying bills and council tax.

For more information, contact the University Accommodation Services.