UK Tips & Accommodation.

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What nobody tells you before you land.

The things we wish we'd known before we arrived.

Budgeting

Accommodation Budgets

What to realistically budget for rent in different UK cities, and why the first quote you see is rarely the final cost.

Safety

Scam Warnings

The most common scams African students face when house-hunting remotely. Know the patterns before you send any money.

Money

Hidden Costs

Deposits, broker fees, council tax, energy setup, first-week groceries. What nobody tells you before you arrive.

Tools

Apps Every Student Needs

Monzo, Citymapper, Rightmove, SpareRoom and a handful more that will genuinely make your first month easier.

Tax

Council Tax Exemption

Full-time students don't get exempted automatically. Here's how to claim it so you don't get billed by mistake.

Housing

Energy Performance Certificates

Why the EPC rating matters before you sign a tenancy, and how a bad rating can cost you hundreds in winter bills.

Accommodation

Finding somewhere safe to live.

The honest playbook for finding housing in the UK without getting scammed in the process.

Most UK universities use the IASL (International Accommodation & Support) system or a partner portal to help students find housing. These are a decent starting point, but they aren't the whole story. The majority of affordable options live on SpareRoom and Rightmove, two sites you should bookmark before you even fly.

Filter aggressively by city zone, price, and bills-included status. Always cross-check a listing against multiple sites. Scam listings usually get reposted across several platforms with slightly different photos.

Red flags to never ignore

  • Never pay deposits or holding fees via WhatsApp, Western Union, or crypto
  • Always verify the landlord's identity and the property address independently
  • Always request the EPC before signing
  • If the landlord refuses a video tour, assume it's a scam
  • If the price is meaningfully below market, it almost always is a scam

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