“Without the student union I might have dropped out of the course -as my accommodation was in bad shape.”

“There are lots of houses available in Greenwich, but it may also be worth a look in other areas such as Blackheath, Charlton, Woolwich and even just across the river in the Docklands area. By expanding your search, you are more likely to find affordable housing.”

“ If you are going home over the summer or on holiday, it may be best to wait until late August before you start looking. Most houses require you to move in quite quickly, and no one wants to be paying rent on a house they won't be living in.”

“Go into the accomodation office at the University and ask them for any information, there is also a memo board which some landlords advertise properties on.”

“Think about how you will get to Uni and how long you want to spend travelling. Also bear in mind the cost of this, it may actually work out cheaper overall to pay a higher rent and walk to and from the campus every day.”

“It is always a good idea to view as many properties as possible. Try to arrange viewings of as many kinds of property and in as many locations as possible; some might surprise you!”

“If you view a house and think it’s the one for you, it is always a good idea to have the money for a holding deposit available.”

“Most estate agents will charge a lot for their services, and this can be even more for a group of students. There are usually administration fees, credit reference fees and inventory fees. To avoid nasty surprises, ask for a list of these costs upfront and if they are excessive negotiate.”