Accommodation
Short-term accommodation
We strongly recommend that you arrange short-term accommodation in advance of your arrival in York.
Arranging accommodation for the first 4 – 8 weeks will help to minimise the stress of your relocation. When you arrive you can then use the first month to get to know the city and view longer-term rentals. This will allow you to take your time and find a home that is right for you.
The University does not currently have on-campus accommodation for staff. However, the Rooms to Rent Scheme facilitates short-term lodgings with members of our community.
Rooms to Rent scheme
Under the Rooms to Rent scheme, you can lodge with a host family for around £90 to £140 per week. Many of our hosts are University of York employees, whilst others are members of the community who are keen to welcome newcomers to the city of York.
You will have a private bedroom, with access to shared household facilities such as the kitchen, bathroom and washing machine etc (a limited number of rooms are available with a private/en-suite bathroom).
The scheme is offered on a short-term basis, and most new starters stay for an average of six weeks.
Rooms to Rent is a popular scheme, so availability isn’t guaranteed. For more information, contact welcome-service@york.ac.uk.
Other short-term options
You may choose to rent a room in a professional or family household through external services such as SpareRoom. Most of these will be for longer-term stays of over six months, but you can also search for short-term lets.
If you would prefer not to stay in shared accommodation, you may consider booking a self-contained apartment or flat. This will be more expensive and availability may be limited in the peak tourist seasons, so plan ahead! Look at sites such as:
York has hundreds of hotels and bed & breakfasts (B&B’s) to choose from. Look at Visit York or booking.com for comprehensive listings and to get an idea of cost. If you are hoping to stay for several weeks, it is worth contacting some B&B’s directly to see if they are able to offer a deal on a longer stay. A number of chain hotels are also available in the city.
If you choose to stay in a B&B or hotel, remember to consider the additional cost of buying a lunchtime and evening meal, as you will usually not have access to kitchen facilities.
If you are on a tight budget, then you may consider hostel accommodation. Be aware that accommodation will be basic and usually consists of shared dormitory-style bedrooms. Some do offer kitchen facilities so you can prepare your own meals.
Long-term accommodation
York is a relatively small, well-connected city with bus and cycle routes, making it easy to commute to the University from the majority of York. During your first few weeks in York, take some time to explore different areas of the city. Do some online research and speak to colleagues to get their recommendations on where to live.
If you have children, bear in mind that the area in which you live will determine which schools they can attend. Find out more about catchment areas for schools.
Finding a rental property
Most properties are advertised approximately one month before they become available.
It is a good idea to keep a close eye on websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla. These websites allow you to browse properties from all the different letting agencies in York.
As soon as you find a property that you like, contact the agent to arrange a viewing. The rental market in York tends to move quite quickly, so it is not unusual for viewings to be cancelled. You should plan to view a number of properties.
The vast majority of tenancies are what is known as “Assured periodic tenancies”, which are rolling contracts that do not have a fixed end date.
Securing a rental property
To move into a rental property you will need to pay a number of costs upfront, so make sure you budget appropriately. To secure most rentals you can expect to pay:
- a holding deposit - This will take the property off the market whilst the agency run their checks, and can be up to one week’s rent. This will be offset against your first rental payment.
- tenancy deposit - This is usually 1.5 times the monthly rent. This will be held in a secure deposit scheme until the end of your tenancy.
- the rental payment for your first month
The Letting Agent should give you a clear breakdown of these costs before you begin the process. Ask if there are any other fees that you should be aware of.
Council tax
You’ll usually have to pay Council Tax if you’re 18 or over and rent or own a home.
Council Tax funds approximately 20% of local public services, including things like health and social care, waste and recycling, fire and police services etc.
The amount of Council Tax you pay will depend on the ‘valuation band’ of the property you live in. The Council Tax charges are reviewed every year.
- Current council tax charges (york.gov.uk)
- Check your property’s council tax band (gov.uk)
Utilities
Gas, electricity and water
The majority of rental agreements will not include your utilities: gas, water and electricity. You will need to manage and pay for these separately. The Landlord or letting agency should be able to tell you which provider(s) the previous tenant used.
On the day that you move in, take meter readings. Ring the gas and electricity companies and give them the meter readings as you do not want to be charged for any usage that happened before you moved in. Inform the companies that you are the new account holder and ask them to provide details of your tariff.
Suppliers will usually put you on the most expensive tariff, so as soon as you have registered you can compare the market and find the best deal to suit you. It can take a few weeks to switch providers.
Telephone and broadband
The availability of broadband internet suppliers is dependent on where you live. Many companies will offer you packages for both landline phone calls and internet access, and you can also choose to add TV entertainment packages. The best idea is to shop around to see what companies are offering.
It can take anywhere from two weeks to a month to be fully connected and online, so you may want to make this a priority when you move in.
TV Licence
If you watch or record live TV, use an online TV service or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer (on any device) then you have to pay for a TV licence. You can buy it online and pay for it in one lump sum or in instalments.
- Get a TV license (tvlicensing.co.uk)
Insurance
It is a good idea to insure your belongings against loss, theft, accidental damage and fire. In some rental agreements it is a written condition that you must have contents insurance, so check your contract carefully to see if this is the case. Price comparison websites allow you to shop around and find the best deal for your circumstances.