Student Accommodation in Reading

How Much Does Student Accommodation in Reading Cost?

Although Reading may be less than 30 minutes away from London by train, the cost of renting in Reading doesn’t have any of the capital city’s high costs. Reading rents will vary more based on your distance to the University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus or to town center rather than any kind of London zone system. This way, your budget will not explode. In case you are looking for the cheap student accommodation Reading per week, a shared room in HMOs in Earley/Tilehurst area starts at GBP 90 up to GBP 115, whereas an en-suite room in PBSA in proximity to campus or town center costs between GBP 150 and GBP 220 a week. In regards to your question about how much is student accommodation in Reading per month, expect somewhere from GBP 400 to GBP 950.

Most student accommodation halls and PBSAs will cover their bills, such as gas, electricity, water and Wi-Fi in that weekly cost, hence the reason why most students seek student accommodation Reading bills included, it simplifies monthly budgeting. Private HMOs are quite different as the bills are often shared among the tenants and may add an extra cost of GBP 15 - GBP 25 per week to the rent.

Types of Student Accommodation in Reading

Student accommodation in Reading covers a fairly wide spread, so there is usually something to fit both your budget and how you like to live. Here's a rundown of the room types you will come across while flat-hunting in the city:

• En-suite Rooms - Your own bedroom and private bathroom, with a kitchen shared among flatmates. En-suite student accommodation Reading is the most requested PBSA room type because it offers privacy without the studio price tag, usually from around GBP 150 a week.
• Non En-suite Rooms - A private bedroom but a shared bathroom and kitchen. This is generally the most affordable PBSA or university halls option, starting from roughly GBP 115 a week, and it's what most first-years in Whiteknights halls end up choosing.
• Studio Flats - A fully self-contained space with its own kitchenette and bathroom. A student studio flat Reading suits postgraduates and anyone who had rather not share, though you will pay for the privacy - typically GBP 220 to GBP 340 a week depending on the building.
• Shared Houses (HMOs) - Private rented houses shared with other students, common across Earley, Caversham and Tilehurst. These HMOs tend to be the cheapest overall option, though bills are usually split or paid separately by each tenant.
• University Halls - Run directly by the University of Reading across Whiteknights and London Road, these are the default choice for first-years and fall under the same purpose-built student accommodation umbrella as privately run halls.

Best Areas for Student Accommodation in Reading

Where you live in Reading will have a greater impact on your life than you think. It impacts your travel time, how far away it is to go food shopping, even how easy it is to get into town after dark on a Friday. Reading is not an expansive city in British terms, and all of the major student areas in Reading are within a short bus journey of Whiteknights.

Ask most students where to go for a good place to live in Reading as a student, and chances are that they will direct you to Earley; it is just up the road from Whiteknights, has its own railway station and there is always going to be plenty of shared accommodation available after your first year. Caversham, located just across the river, has a more residential vibe to it, whereas Whitley is known for having the cheapest rents nearby. Of course, for those of you who attend classes at the London Road campus, then living in town is probably the better option for you.

Student Accommodation Near Top Reading Universities

• Near University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus -This central 130 hectares’ campus of the university is located approximately two miles to the south of the town centre and is surrounded by parks, lakes and woods. Accommodation for students around the Whiteknights Campus includes Earley, Christchurch Green, and the university’s own halls like Bridges Hall and Stenton Hall, which are usually located in about 10 to 20 minutes’ walk or bus ride (White Knight 20 and Claret 21) away from the campus.
• Near University of Reading, London Road Campus -Located closer to the town centre than the first campus, London Road Campus houses the Institute of Education and several departments of humanities. Accommodation for students around London Road Campus, such as Kendrick Hall, 79 Silver Street, Student Castle, Berkshire House, etc. will normally be in the vicinity of Christchurch Road and Redlands Road.
• Near Henley Business School -Most of the full time students attending Henley Business School located in Reading tend to be housed in Crown House, Kendrick Hall, Student castle, Queens castle, and more because the classes for undergraduate and MSc programs run there.
• Near Reading College -Reading College, which is a member of Activate Learning Group, is located right off Kings Road in the center of town. Student accommodations near Reading College can be found in Earley, Caversham and Woodley, thus providing college students with housing choices like Town Centre, Crown House, Royal Heights, 79 Silver Street, etc. with the added advantage of proximity to the bus station and shops.

Student Accommodation in Reading for International Students

If you are arriving from overseas to study in Reading, here is what's worth knowing about finding international student accommodation Reading before you commit to anything.

• No UK Guarantor Required - Most purpose-built student accommodation in Reading does not ask international students for a UK-based guarantor. Instead, providers typically request rent paid upfront for a set number of months, or offer an international guarantor service through a third party. HMO landlords are far more likely to insist on a UK guarantor, which is exactly why student accommodation Reading without guarantor is so much easier to find through PBSA and university halls.
• When to Book - For a September intake, start your search from January if you can. Rooms near Whiteknights and the town centre fill up fast, often by April or May, though some providers offer conditional options like “No Visa No Pay” so you are not left exposed if your visa or place falls through.
• Getting Around Reading - Reading Buses and Thames Valley Buses cover the whole city and surrounding areas, with single fares capped around GBP 2 to GBP 3 and a weekly pass costing roughly GBP 18 to GBP 20. Students get further savings through the Boost discount scheme, and university-linked simplyUni season tickets are worth looking at if you are commuting daily. Reading station also puts you around 25 minutes from London Paddington, with direct routes to Heathrow and Gatwick.
• Settling In - Reading pairs comparatively low rent with genuinely fast transport links to London, which makes it an easy city to start university life in, whether you end up in a lively Earley share house or a quieter flat over in Caversham. Wherever you land, there is a type of student accommodation in Reading to suit most budgets and routines.