Accommodation
A first step in flat-hunting should be to calculate how much you can spend. This Student Budget Calculator is a very useful tool to help you plan out your finances and understand what you can afford. Knowing your budget for accommodation might also determine which property or area is most suitable for you. The SP Jain London School of Management campus has excellent travel links meaning you can either live locally or look further afield. Accommodation based in central London (Zones 1 & 2) will likely cost more than accommodation in the outskirts of London (Zones 3 to 6).
If you are unsure what you want when you arrive, or need somewhere to stay for a few weeks, short-stay accommodation may be the answer. This gives you flexibility at low prices, so you have the time you need to think about where you would like to live.
SP Jain London School of Management has some excellent links with local providers and a team who can give you impartial information and support with your accommodation search; if you need any help email registry@spjain.ac.uk for more details.
Student Halls
Below are some recommended Student Hall accommodation providers:
CRM STUDENTS
CRM Students’ Great Court is near Bermondsey tube station, just an 11-minute Journey on the Jubilee Line from Canary Wharf. There are a number of great communal spaces on site including a lounge, movie and gaming theatres, gym, and study areas. Room choices range from private studios to rooms that have a communal kitchen and dining areas. Rates start from £275 per week.
HOMES FOR STUDENTS
Homes for Students has 12 properties in London. Their Landale House accommodation is the closest to the SP Jain campus, and you could even walk home after class in under an hour. Homes for Students offer budget-friendly accommodation with a mixture of ensuite and shared facilities, with on-site communal rooms and free gym membership. Room rates start from £205 per week. Homes for Students can also offer stays as short as 2 weeks, or you may want to stay there for a single semester.
URBANEST
Urbanest has eight student properties located in the heart of central London (Zone 1). Every ‘nest’ offers social space and flexible study areas and has an on-site team available for you 24/7 with tips about making the most of London or just as a friendly face if you need to talk.
SCAPE
Scape have properties in all corners of London. Ensuite rooms start from £299 per week. Rent includes all bills and wifi and students don’t need a guarantor to book. Each property includes generous shared social and study spaces, large communal kitchens, a cinema room, games area, onsite gym and 24/7 reception. Scape Canada Water is the closest to SP Jain and their property in Wembley (Zone 4) offers their cheapest rooms.
UNITE STUDENTS
Unite Students is the leading provider of student accommodation in the UK with over 30 years' experience in student housing. They regularly build and invest in new properties, featuring state of the art facilities and created with sustainable methods.
Unite’s Moonraker Point is closest to the SP Jain campus and has a spacious common room, complete with pool and ping pong tables. Room rates start from £320 and those on the upper floors have great views of London. This property also accepts students who are 17 years old. Unite’s Stratford One is a huge property with 1001 rooms located 19 minutes away from campus on the Jubilee Line. Room rates start at £275, and we advise interested students book as early as possible as rooms here go quickly. This property also accepts students who are 17 years old.
CHAPTER
Chapter London has 13 properties and offer on-site gyms, study spaces, cinema rooms, sky lounges and more. Chapter offer a variety of studio, en-suite and apartment rooms for a range of budgets across London. Chapter Lewisham is just a 19-minute commute on the DLR from the SP Jain campus.
SANCTUARY STUDENTS
Sanctuary Students’ Manna Ash House is a newly refurbished property located 35 minutes from the SP Jain campus, near Southwark tube station on the Jubilee line. Communal areas include a garden and common room and rooms on upper floors have great views of the city. Rooms can be reserved with just a £1 advanced rent payment and we advise interested students book as early as possible as rooms are booked early. This property accepts students who are 17 years old.
FRESH
Located 45 minutes from the SP Jain campus, Fresh’s Spring Mews property is close to Vauxhall Station. This large property has generous amenities which include a gym, swimming pool, cinema room, lounge and study areas. Room rates start from £299 and we advise interested students to book as early as possible as this property is popular. This property accepts students who are 17 years old. For those on a budget, Fresh’s Pavilion Court in Wembley has rooms starting at £170.
AA4S (AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED)
AA4S is a not-for-profit organisation with 378 affordable bedrooms for undergraduates and postgraduates. They are a forward-thinking provider of student accommodation with a tradition of strong pastoral care. They have 2 sites, one in Bethnal Green and the other in Hackney, and room choices vary from single occupancy rooms in student halls to shared flats.
LONDONIST DMC
Londonist DMC is a student accommodation agency providing students with short and long-term accommodation. They have over 20 locations across London, with a portfolio that includes student residences in nearby Lewisham, Greenwich and Stratford. They have stylish en-suites, studios and apartment rooms. Residents can use all the on-site facilities such as gym, cinema, social and study spaces, and rely on a 24/7 security team.
IQ
IQ Student Accommodation offers en-suite student rooms, private studios and student flats from East London to West London and the city centre. IQ’s Flinders House property offers student rooms and private studios in South East London by the O2 Arena in North Greenwich, just a 10-minute tube ride to Canary Wharf on the Jubilee line.
LONDON NEST
London Nest has a range of properties to offer. The Helix in Wembley (Zone 4) has rooms starting at £255, while their Lewisham Exchange property is closest to SP Jain and has rooms from £384.
CANVAS
Canvas have two locations in London, and both are around a 45-minute commute to the SP Jain campus. Both residences have a 24-hour onsite team and gym, and social and study spaces that are available to access whenever needed.
OPTIVO
Optivo Students provide friendly, comfortable and affordable accommodation. They offer a variety of rooms and include all utilities and (up to) 150Mpbs Wi-Fi in your rent. Staff are on hand 24/7, so you’ll always have someone there to help if you need it. Optivo run events across the year to help you get to know your fellow.
Search for availability at multiple Student Halls simultaneously:
Helpfully, there are now a number of agencies which work with student accommodation providers, and these allow you to filter your searches by location, room type, length of stay, price, etc. and to even book your accommodation through them:
Private Rented Accommodation:
You may prefer to rent a room in a house or block of flats which somebody else owns or rent a whole property to share with friends or classmates. Private rented accommodation is where you rent directly from the landlord or through a letting agency as part of a managed property.
Private rented accommodation is often cheaper than residential accommodation (Student Halls) but bills (gas, water, electricity, WiFi, etc.) might not be included and you will need to budget for this. Rent can either be advertised weekly or monthly (pw or pcm).
You will often be asked for a damage security deposit before you move into private rented accommodation, and you will usually pay your first month’s rent up front. Typically, the deposit is equivalent to four to eight weeks’ rent. London is a metropolitan and diverse city. The SP Jain London School of Management campus is located in Zone 2 and has excellent transport links meaning you can either live locally or further afield. Private rented accommodation based in central London (Zones 1 & 2) will likely cost more than similar accommodation options in the outskirts of London (Zones 3 to 6).
Finding private rented accommodation:
The following sites might be useful in finding the perfect private rented flatshare for you and your classmates. You can filter options to suit your ideal location, budget, type of housemates and even properties with bills included in your rental price:
Tips for choosing your private rented accommodation:
If possible go and view the flat/room before you sign a contract. It can be very different in person compared to pictures on a website and you can get a feel for the area you’ll be living in.
Some tips when searching for a private room to rent:
- Filter to “most recently added” to avoid older advertisements appearing. The London private rented accommodation market is fast-moving so it is worth checking these sites regularly.
- If possible, view the property in person as soon as possible. Some sites are good at hosting virtual or video viewings, too, if you are unable to visit in person. The sooner you view, the more likely you are to secure your ideal space.
- Check the transport links from your preferred accommodation, and ensure you have a reasonable commute to and from the SP Jain London School of Management campus.
Homestay Accommodation:
Homestay accommodation is when you stay with any members who reside at your chosen home. This can be a great way to experience some of London’s local culture and customs during your studies at SP Jain London School of Management.
HFS London is an experienced provider of quality homestay accommodation in Zones 1 to 4 and is registered with the British Council. Their purpose is to connect international students, interns and tourists with local, trusted homestay hosts for an authentic ‘home away from home’ experience. Living with a host family can also help you improve your English and help settle you into a new city.
Host Family accommodation can be booked by the week and is a particularly good option for those seeking a short or mid-term accommodation option in London. Furthermore, there is no security deposit required. Prices start from £200 per person per week for a single occupancy homestay on either self-catering or bed and continental breakfast. However, there may be supplements charged, depending on the meal plan or accommodation requested, the time of year, any special dietary requirements and the age of the student.
HFS also offer twin rooms for 2 people (e.g friends or siblings) to share. A twin room will usually contain two single sized beds (or possibly a bunk bed) and there is a per person discount if you wish to share a twin room.
Applying for Accommodation:
The application process will be handled directly with the accommodation provider you have selected. If you would like to discuss your accommodation needs and options further, the SP Jain London School of Management team are here to help you: registry@spjain.ac.uk
Financial Considerations:
Whether you opt for furnished or unfurnished accommodation or live in a shared or private space will depend entirely on your needs and budget. When making your final decision, ensure you factor in the cost of bills, including gas, electricity, water and internet.
Some accommodation will include all bills within the rental cost while others will require you to set these up and pay for them yourself. Depending on the type of accommodation you choose, you may be able to share your bills with your flatmates.
Council Tax:
As a full-time student at SP Jain London School of Management, you will not be required to pay Council Tax. You will be able to apply for this once you are fully enrolled as an SP Jain London School of Management student. You will need a formal letter from the registry team confirming you are a full-time student. Upon enrolment, we will be happy to provide you with this upon request to:registry@spjain.ac.uk
For more information about Council Tax, visit the gov.uk website.
