Resources for renting in St. Andrews
Renting for the first time can be stressful, as fellow students, the money mentors have been in your shoes and have written this article to help point you in the direction of useful resources.
Accommodation subcommittee
The Accommodation Subcommittee exists to assist all students residing in private flats or halls of residence with any issues they may encounter during their time in St Andrews. While they don’t handle the logistics of halls or private letting directly, they offer invaluable guidance and resources.
Contact the Student Accommodation Officer at SRCaccommodation@ for assistance with individual cases, advice on landlords, letting agents, saving money, and more. For independent, confidential, and non-directive advice, you can contact the HR Manager via HelpHub@. They can check your lease, advise on your rights, and help disputes with landlords, flatmates, or neighbours.
Additionally, the subcommittee publishes an annual guide on renting which holds all the key information for student renters, including a list of the main letting agencies in St. Andrews. You can find the guide here: How to rent guide.
Money advice team
The Money Advice Team offers confidential financial advice to all students. If you’re facing financial difficulties, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. You can reach them at +44 (0)1334 46 2720 or email [email protected].
The Money Advice Team also manage the University Discretionary Funds, including the Discretionary Accommodation Award, which assists students experiencing financial hardship due to accommodation costs. This fund is assessed on a needs basis, and access to the online application is via the Scholarships and Funding Section on MySaint. You can apply here: Accommodation discretionary award before the July 21, 2024 deadline.
Studentpad
For and students and staff StudentPad is a useful point of departure for finding private accommodation in St Andrews. Student pad also has a house hunting guide which will help you avoid all the common mistakes thousands of students make each year when moving into their new student house: House hunting guide.
Campaign for affordable student housing (CASH)
CASH, a student-run campaign, offers numerous schemes and resources to aid students in renting. They have developed a Rent Transparency Form where individuals can share rental information, helping others make informed decisions. Check out their St. Andrews Rent Map for valuable insights into rental prices around St.Andrews: CASH St.Andrews rent map.
Tips from Students
- Be consistent, checking letting agencies facebook pages and websites (which you can find in the guides above) on a regular basis will give you the best chance of finding a house that is right for you.
- Consider housing options outside of St. Andrews, not only can it be much more affordable, but there is also lots of support for commuter students.
- Do not be scared to use facebook pages like Get a room St. Andrews, but do be careful of any scams(view houses in person when you can).
- Know your not alone if you feel overwhelmed by the rental market and make the most out of the University resources.