Finding other accommodation
University managed houses
The university leases a number of houses which are available for students who are prepared to live as a group and share a bathroom and kitchen.
The houses are fully-furnished, but you provide your own bed linen, utensils and cutlery. Average weekly rent is about £83 per week; heating and lighting charges are additional to this figure. You will have to pay a £226 non-refundable administration fee before you can move in. Most agreements are for 46 weeks (some are 50 weeks).
Each student rents a single room and shares the rest of the house with other students. Usually four to five students rent rooms in a house and share a bathroom and kitchen. This accommodation is usually let to second- and third-year students. A small proportion is reserved for post-graduate students.
There is a limited amount of accommodation in these properties for couples or for those who are single parents, but not for larger families. If you are coming to Oxford with your family it is essential that you make arrangements in advance.
If you are interested, you should apply as soon as you have a firm place on a course. If you wish to view properties, please call +44 (0) 1865 484660 to make an appointment. Also check our "current students" pages for available housing details.
If you are not going to be living in University accommodation you can use the many independent letting agencies to help you find somewhere to live. Most leases for houses, flats (apartments) and bedsits (studio apartments) begin in the summer vacation so you should plan to visit Oxford in the summer to view the accommodation as it will not have been inspected or approved by the University.
The services provided by agencies are by no means uniform. While some provide a very limited service merely introducing prospective tenants to landlords, others have a property management role which continues throughout the tenancy. This means that it is they who are responsible for repairs, inspections etc, rather than the landlord. Make sure you know with whom you will be dealing before you sign a contract. A booking fee, damage deposit and one month's rent is usually required to secure such accommodation.
Local newspapers
- Oxford Mail - printed daily
- Oxford Times - printed on Fridays
- Daily Information / Weekly Information sheets can be found in the Student Services Centre or in local pubs, cafes and libraries.
Local websites
- This is Oxfordshire
- Daily info
- Looking for local guesthouses - please click on the links depending on where are you looking - Wheatley, Harcourt Hill, Marston Road or Gipsy Lane areas.
Local shop windows
Local newsagents and Post Offices often have notice boards which carry offers of accommodation.
Advice on private flats
Before signing a contract, please make sure you completely understand what you have agreed to. Information on tenancy agreements, problems with landlords and other advice is available from the Students' Union Advice Centre.
