Durham is an amazing city for students as it is a city rich in culture, has a beautiful natural scene, and has Durham University, which is among the UK’s high-ranking universities and attracts students from all over the world. For culture and history enthusiasts, the city is monumental for its association with the Norman conquest of England and has various world heritage sites. The city is also home to the beautiful Durham Castle and Durham Cathedrals.
When planning to travel to Durham, however, it is important to consider your expenses, most notably those of student accommodation Durham. In the following section, we’ll be giving you the best tips and tricks on how to find budget-friendly Durham student accommodation options, as well as giving you an estimate on accommodation costs Durham University.
Durham Accommodation Options
Before going deep into Durham’s most affordable accommodation options and how to find them, it is essential to understand the Durham housing market. The Durham housing market consists of the following:
College or University Accommodation
College- or university-managed accommodation options are managed by universities or colleges and offer the most convenience as they are most often near the university or college campus. Not only that, but they’ll also have student-friendly resources and facilities, as well as residents from the same institutions.
Durham University’s housing options, for instance, are estimated to cost an average of £7,740 per year (36 weeks).
Some of them also come catered, meaning that they’ll have meals included in your stay, and utility bills are most often included. On the downside, they have limited availability compared to other options.
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)
PBSAs, similar to college or university accommodation, offer accommodation for students and, as the name mentions, are purposely built for students, with student needs in mind. With that said, they also feature student-friendly resources and facilities.
They also have more availability than university- or college-managed housing. Prices will differ depending on the provider, proximity to the city centre, and proximity to the university campus. It will also depend on the property’s amenities, with the price being higher for PBSAs with more luxurious rooms and building amenities.
Room type is also an important factor in determining the price, with non-en-suite rooms being the most affordable, followed by en-suite rooms, studios, and apartments, which are the priciest.
For reference, it is estimated that in Durham, non-ensuite rooms can set you between £150 and £250 per week, studios can set you between £250 and £400 per week, and shared apartments can set you anywhere from £300 to £500 per week, depending on the number of bedrooms.
Private Lets
Private Lets are the most widely available option in Durham and also offer non-ensuite rooms, en-suite rooms, studios, and apartments, similar to all previously mentioned options. Private lets may also be more affordable, as they may sometimes offer less convenience than the previously mentioned options.
Private lets also offer more flexibility in terms of location and accommodation type. On the downside, you’ll be dealing with utility bills in most cases, so you’ll be responsible either for the place’s utility bill if you have an entire place (apartment or studio) or your portion of the utility bill (shared room, non-ensuite room, and en-suite room).
House Share (Co-living options)
House shares are an amazing option for students looking for budget-friendly stays. There, you can split the rent and utilities with other roommates. It has various pros and cons. Aside from the financial benefits, you’ll also have shared responsibilities such as cleaning and running errands, and it’s also a great way to meet new people and get exposed to different cultures.
On the downside, this living arrangement could be better for students looking for the most privacy.
Most Affordable Areas in Durham
Gilesgate
Gilesgate is a popular area among students; it also has a mix of students and families. It is farther away from the city centre, which is why it is affordable. Rental ranges in this area are estimated to be as follows:
- PBSA: Limited options, expect £500+ per month
- Private Lets: £500–£700/month (for a room)
- House Share: £400–£600/month (per person)
Elvet
This area is close to Durham University and is relatively affordable compared to other areas, as the houses there are older than the newer developments in Durham’s city centre. Rental ranges in this area are estimated to be as follows:
- PBSA: More options here. Expect £600+ per month
- Private Lets: £600–£800/month (for a room)
- House Share: £450–£650/month (per person)
Neville’s Cross
This area is popular among students, has good transportation links, and is close to the train station. The area is still developing and is less expensive than more centrally located areas. Rental ranges in this area are estimated to be as follows:
- PBSA: Limited options, expect £550+ per month
- Private Lets: £550–£750/month (for a room)
- House Share: £400–£600/month (per person)
The Viaduct
This area is popular among students and is full of fun hangout spots. It may have more outdated student accommodation options compared to newer suburbs. Rental ranges in this area are estimated to be as follows:
- PBSA: Several options; expect £650+ per month (check Casita.com & Amber Students). exclamation
- Private Lets: £650–£850/month (for a room)
- House Share: £500–£700/month (per person)
Consider Durham’s Utility Costs
Other important considerations related to living expenses in Durham are utility expenses and other costs associated with living in Durham. Note that Council taxes are not applicable for full-time students as they are exempt.
Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
Council Tax (Band A) | £60 | £90 |
Utilities | £50 | £100 |
* Electricity | £30–£50 | It can be higher in winter. |
* Water | £10–£20 | |
* Gas | £10–£30 | |
Internet | £20 | £50 |
TV Licence | £12.50 (Monthly Installment) | £12.50 (Monthly Installment) |
Garbage Collection | Included in Council Tax | Included in Council Tax |
Finding Affordable Student Accommodation in Durham
There are various ways to find the perfect student accommodation in Durham that meets your financial requirements.
University- or College-Managed Accommodation Options
You can search for university-managed accommodation options on your university or college’s accommodation section of the website (if available). Note that these are very limited in availability and have strict deadlines. They are also not provided by all institutions.
PBSAs, Private Lets, and Houseshares
To find PBSAs, Private Lets, and Houshares, you can consider housing websites such as Casita.com. Casita, for instance, has all three options on its platform: co-living options, PBSAs, and private options, and it has even recently included young professional housing. Note that all availabilities differ by city.
To find the perfect option for your needs, you can search the city, select the weekly budget option, and specify your range. This will allocate you the most suitable options according to your range. Once the newly updated options appear upon applying your requested rental range, you can also select the property type if you’re looking for a specific one.
If you wish to book with a friend, you could also contact our staff, and they’ll do their best to accommodate you and your friend in the same shared accommodation. This will require the other rooms in the accommodation to be available to accommodate your friend(s).
Other Tips, Tricks, and Considerations
Sometimes, even with the right resources and support, availability may be limited due to high demand; this is especially prevalent in student cities. However, do not despair, as there are other things to keep in mind to facilitate your stay.
Start Your Search Early
To avoid missing out on housing options, consider starting your search as early as possible. Not only will that give you more options, but you can also make use of early-bird discounts and deals.
It is generally advisable to start looking for student accommodation four to six months before your arrival. For new students, it is advisable to do so in October, in the year preceding your studies.
The housing peak in Durham is generally between October and November for shared accommodation options and January for first-year international students.
Be Flexible
Flexibility is important if you’re on a tight deadline and budget. With that said, you should consider your other expenses. If something can be compromised or changed to make room for better accommodation, then this should be done. If this is not possible, you should consider being flexible with different room types for the time being.
Consider Teaming Up
If you are unable to find the exact type of accommodation you are looking for, consider teaming up with friends. You can always find other people looking for accommodation in housing Facebook groups; this will not only help you split costs but also split responsibilities. You could also consider Casita’s co-living options, which already have that arrangement, so you wouldn’t be required to find flatmates.
That brings us to the second consideration, which is sharing accommodation options, so instead of opting for private options, you should also consider sharing. En-suite rooms for instance, have a private bedroom but share the kitchen and living area. Non-ensuite rooms have private bedrooms, but they share all the previously mentioned facilities in addition to the bathroom.
So there you have it. These were our top tips and tricks for finding budget accommodation options in Durham. For more information, make sure to contact the dedicated and experienced staff of Casita.com, who provide free housing services with fast and seamless processes.