Accommodation

House hunting

Where do I start?

The place to begin your search is with us at Student Housing, located on the 2nd floor, Nuffield Centre, opposite the Students Union.

Office hours are 9:30am to 17:00pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00am to 17:00pm on Wednesday and 9:30am to 16:00pm on Fridays.  We can provide information and advice when looking for, and living in, rented accommodation.

A large proportion of students find their accommodation through our online housing search facility PortsmouthStudentPad.  PortsmouthStudentPad.co.uk is the only official database of properties registered to advertise with Student Housing and the University of Portsmouth.  All properties on PortsmouthStudentPad have to meet the Student Housing registration criteria before they are allowed to be advertised.

Any new student to Portsmouth looking at entering the private sector can access a web based house-hunting information module, e-intro to house hunting, and social networking group offering the information needed to successfully start the search for the perfect student home. To support the online resources, Student Housing offers regular housing support events running throughout the summer from July to September.  Please check e-intro to house hunting for the next confirmed dates.

Other Options

Letting agencies - you may consider finding housing through letting agents for private landlords. If you approach an agency please consider the following points:

• What are you paying for?
• Get receipts!
• Get a copy of what you sign
• See safety certificates  and check that they are in date
• Get an inventory.  If one if not provided, compare your own, supported by date marked photographs
• If you don't understand it, don't sign it!

Social Networking sites - beware and do not sign up to a peroperty without viewing first!

Local papers - The News, The Journal, Portsmouth Property Guide, (these are available from local newsagents)

Look at the Student Housing and the Students' Union noticeboards

Look in newsagent shop windows.

Checklist

It's important that you know what to look for when you are viewing a property to let. We've put together a checklist of questions to ask and points that you should note about each property that you see. This list will help you compare properties and choose the one that will suit your requirements.