How to Find a Second-Year Uni House:
Top Tips You Need to Know

Chances are, during your first year, you were living in university halls. Living in purpose-built university accommodation on or near campus was probably a breeze – everything was right on your doorstep and sorted for you. Now, you’ve got to start searching for your second-year house, and it can feel like a bit of a minefield.

The good news? There are loads of private houses available for students to rent in student cities up and down the country. Whether you want to live in a massive house with all your mates or share a flat with a couple of close friends, there’s a privately rented uni house to suit you! 

We’ve put together this guide to help you nail your search for the perfect second-year uni house. 

What is a uni house?

Put simply, a uni house usually refers to a rental house available for multiple students to rent. Unlike university halls and private halls, which are purpose-built, these are usually normal houses that have been renovated to make them better for students to share.

They range from small two-bedroomed flats to huge, shared houses with eight or even ten bedrooms. Whatever the size of your house, you should expect at least one communal living area and a shared kitchen. Some might have en-suites, while most will have a couple of shared bathrooms for everyone to use.

When looking for student accommodation for your second (and third/fourth) year, most students will opt to live in a privately rented uni house. In fact, according to Save the Student’s 2025 National Student Accommodation Survey, over a third of students ditch halls for private landlords after their first year.

How to find a second year uni house

1. Choose your housemates wisely

One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing who to live with. Whoever you choose, you’ll be living with them for the entire year, so don’t just move in with the first person who asks.

Try to think practically. If you’re naturally a bit messy and disorganised, living with someone who wants the house spotless 24/7 might be a nightmare, even if you get on really well. 

If you’re struggling to find housemates for your second year, it never hurts to ask. Speak with people on your course, anyone you’re currently living with, or people you know from clubs or societies about their plans for next year. Your university might have an online forum or a social media page where you can connect with people in the same situation. 

2. Don’t hang around

When it comes to starting your search for your second year uni house, don’t waste time getting started and hopping online. Student housing is becoming ridiculously competitive, and if you’re not proactive, you’ll be stuck with the leftovers.

You can start looking as early as October, but you should definitely have viewings booked by January.

Discover our guide on when you should look for student accommodation for more detailed information. 

Flatmates using a laptop

3. Decide as a group where you want to live

Before you start booking viewings, sit down with your future housemates and chat about what matters. Do you want to be as close to campus as possible for an easy commute? Or is it more important to be near your favourite bars, pubs, and clubs? 

Working out your budget is a massive part of this. Not everyone will have the same financial circumstances, though tiered rent options (paying more for a larger bedroom and less for a smaller one) can address this. Whatever you decide, make sure everyone agrees now to avoid arguments later down the line. 

4. Make sure you view a property before signing anything

No matter how perfect a house looks online, always attend a viewing. Photos and even videos can be old or misleading – the only way to actually see what a house is like is to visit it. You’ll be able to check the bedroom sizes, the condition of the place, and the area’s general vibe.

5. Consider the amenities

While location is huge, you should also check the amenities. Perhaps you want to prioritise facilities like study areas, gyms, or games rooms, or maybe you’d just be happy with a simple furnished flat.

Think about your lifestyle – this can help you figure out what you want and need.

Students stood talking on a street

6. Don’t overcomplicate your household bills

One of the big differences between student halls and private accommodation is that in a private house, you’ll likely have to handle the bills yourself. If you’ve never paid utility bills before, this might sound like a total head-scratcher.

The good news? There’s a simple solution – a bill-splitting service that can take care of your water, gas, electricity, and broadband. All you have to do is pay one neat bill each month. All the bills will be automatically divided between everyone you’re living with, so there’ll be no arguments about missed payments and no calculations trying to work out who owes who. 

Make second year simple with Split The Bills

There’s no reason to let the hassle of utility bills ruin your second year uni experience. At Split The Bills, it’s our mission to make shared bills as simple as possible for students. 

Split The Bills offers the simplest way to deal with shared household bills. Once you’ve found your second year uni house, our team will put a shift in – we’ll contact your utility suppliers, find the best deals, and set up accounts on your behalf. You can customise your package to include what you need for your second year house (uncapped energy, water, broadband and even a TV Licence if you need it).

All the bills are split between you and your housemates – so there will be no awkward conversations about late payments or arguing about who paid who!

Check out how we work, or get a monthly price estimate for your second-year uni house today. 

Student sorting bills on laptop

What Most Surprised Me about UK Utility Bills as an International Student

Moving to the UK as an international student comes with a lot of adjustments, including trying to figure out the transport system, cooking, getting used to the weather, and (one of the biggest adjustments of all) figuring out how to pay utility bills in a new country. In this blog, I’ll take you through the biggest surprises I came across when tackling bills in the UK as an international student.

Read More »
15th May 2026 No Comments