Family accommodation

 

Finding somewhere suitable to live is a top priority for students coming to Liverpool with their families. We hope the following information will give you a brief overview of finding suitable accommodation.

 

If you are bringing family members with you, we strongly advise you to travel to Liverpool alone, in advance of starting your course, to make all the arrangements for housing and schooling and to get a sense of the local area, before bringing your family to join you. Deciding where to live may be affected by a range of factors including the proximity to schools and other family-focused services such as access to local shops and public transport. 

 

 

Do your research before you arrive

 

The universities within the city do not own or manage suitable family accommodation.  Students wishing to study and bring their families to the city are required to source accommodation independently of the usual student accommodation routes. 

 

You are able to search through the advertised accommodation on the LSH website and contact providers direct.  The accommodation accredited and advertised through Liverpool Student Homes is generally unsuitable for a family, however some individual flats might accept you and your family if you make an enquiry with the provider listed on the advert. There is a filter on the search section where you can tick ‘suitable for a family’, unfortunately the number of family dwellings returned will be very limited. If there are no properties showing as suitable, you will need to search for accommodation outside of the LSH service using possible alternatives such as Rightmove or Zoopla. 

 

If you are unsure about any aspect of accommodation, always contact the service to have a chat before signing and committing to a tenancy agreement.  LSH will support you in checking the details of the contract before you sign and exchange money.

 

 

Costs

 

Rental costs in the city for one or two bedroom properties have continued to increase recently, especially if the rental charge is offering utility bills included.  It is important to set yourself a realistic budget for the type of accommodation you are searching for. 

 

Fuel bills in the UK have risen since the beginning of 2022 and are set to continue to increase.  Remember when budgeting to allow for additional costs, which may not be covered in your rental charges, these will often include:

 

WIFI – Broadband – varies depending on the services provided between £40-£100 per month

Water charges – varies depending on the property could be up to £55 per month

Gas and electricity – will depend on usage but could be between £160-£200 per month

TV licence – if you watch live tv or BBC iplayer you will require a license - £159 per year

 

 

Sharing rooms with your family

 

There are restrictions on how many people can share a bedroom, so it is important to plan and search for the right size of accommodation.  The search facilities on the LSH website allow you to filter your choices based on rental costs and suitable for a family.

 

Typically, a one bedroom flat may cost between £130.00 - £200.00 per week.  Most accommodation providers will only consider a one bedroom flat suitable for a couple with a small child under the age of five sharing the single bedroom. (You officially count as overcrowded if you do not have a bedroom as a couple, a single person aged 21 or over, a pair of children under 10 regardless of sex or a pair of adolescents aged 10-20 of the same sex).

 

You may have to bring a travel cot yourself for your young child to sleep in.

 

Two-bedroom flats and three-bedroom houses are charged on a per bedroom per person rate. This means that a two bedroom flat may be offered at £110 per room per weekly, making the weekly rent 2 x £110 = £220* per week.  The same would apply for a three-bedroom house or flat where the individual room rate would be multiplied by the number of bedrooms in the property.

*approximate cost

 

You can see average rental costs of properties advertised on this page.

 

 

Deposits

 

Most providers will charge a damage deposit for the property, this can be up to six weeks rent. Once the deposit is taken the landlord/agent should notify you within 30 days of which government scheme it is being protected.

 

 

Guarantors

 

If you are requested to provide a guarantor for your accommodation and do not have anyone suitable in the UK, you may wish to consider using a UK Guarantor scheme.  You can search the internet to see a selection of schemes, many of which have partnerships with other universities.  There will be a charge to use a guarantor scheme so its best to have a look at the most cost effective for you.

 

The LSH website allows you to filter properties which do not require a guarantor.

 

 

Checks a landlord/agent will do before you rent

 

Please take care to prepare yourself for the 'right to rent' checks that landlords are required to carry out on the immigration status of you and your family members. Find out more on the UKCISA website.

 

If you are not able to arrange accommodation for your family before you travel to the UK we would strongly advise you to come on your own to begin with. You can then stay somewhere short term while you search for suitable accommodation. 

 

Please note that students with children are advised not to bring them to Liverpool until firm arrangements for accommodation are in place.

 

 

Childcare

 

If your children are aged between 5 and 16, they can attend government primary and secondary schools in the UK, as long as they are here as your dependants. You will not have to pay for this. However, schools may sometimes refuse places to children if they consider their stay in the UK will be too short, or if they have no free places.

 

Do some further research before your arrival on the areas you might wish to live in and the availability of schools or nursery places.

 

 

Unsure or have further questions?

 

If you still have questions regarding finding accommodation for you and your family you can contact LSH direct.  If we are unable to answer your query we will signpost you to a relevant source.

 

You can telephone the service on 0151 794 3296 or email us.

 

We can also arrange a virtual meeting with you via Teams or Zoom.