Why stop here? We make bills for students easy.
Electricity. Gas. Broadband. Water. TV Licence.
All in one equally split monthly bill. Nice.
As the capital London is naturally a top location for students from around the whole world, and Kings Cross is a popular area for student accommodation. Kings Cross offers a great location just south of London city centre, with fantastic transport links and plenty of student culture. Kings Cross is close to many of London’s universities including UCL, and transport links to any others, with plenty of different types of student accommodation on offer.
Housing will likely be your biggest spend at university and saving money when student finance feels months away can be stressful. In this piece, we’ll give you some tips and tricks to keep you out of your overdraft and in your housemates’ good books. We’ll also take a look at different types of accommodation and how renting in Kings Cross compares to other areas.
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Living on a budget can be hard as a student but knowing your living costs can make things easier.
Read on to help organise your priorities: buses, takeaways, pubs and more!
From university halls to a room in a family home, there’s plenty of options available.
As much as we love Kings Cross, it’s not the only choice available to London students.
How much does it cost to rent in Kings Cross?
As with any student city, property prices can vary greatly, depending on how many people you want to live with, how close to university the house is, and a wide variety of other options.
The difference between splitting the cost with even one extra person can really add up over time. Some properties will charge per person per week (or pppw) and others might have one set price to divide up between however many residents there are. All properties found with UniHomes include bills in their weekly price, but other sites or private landlords may include extra charges or not provide utilities at all.
If you and your housemates can agree on a rough budget before you begin house hunting, you can avoid unpleasant surprises down the road where three of you are set to move into a property, but the fourth hasn’t yet paid the deposit.
What are the main factors to consider when choosing student accommodation in Kings Cross?
When considering where to live in Kings Cross, you should first consider housing costs. After that, you should consider living costs such as groceries, public transport and going out to eat.
While being close to bars and restaurants feels great during fresher’s week (and your Uber rating), being kept awake by partying might be difficult when deadlines are tight.
Choosing how many people you want to live with has a huge social impact as well as a monetary one. London can feel like quite a lonely place at times due to its size, and the last 18 months have only added to this worry! When living with others, it’s that little bit easier to reach out for support, or just someone to split that 2-4-1 pizza deal.
It is also crucial to determine whether you want a property that includes bills or not. If your property does not include bills, it can be hard to figure out who pays what when living with others.
That’s where Split the Bills come in. Paying for bills is stressful enough without having to worry about penalties or falling out with flat mates for not sending you their share of the Wi-Fi bill. With Split the Bills, you build a package around exactly what you need, add everyone to the account, then sit back and let us set up for you! Each person is given an equal share to pay and is solely responsible for it – that means we do the chasing for late payments, and you’re not left out of pocket.
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Bills included |
Split the Bills |
Going it alone |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Setting up |
Completed by landlord. |
Completed by us! |
Set up will be different for each company and utility. |
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Costs |
Set in your original contract, risk of overpaying for what you use but no unexpected bills when tenancy ends. |
Risk-Free energy means no worrying about how long your housemate’s had the heating on. |
Can vary wildly, but there are always plenty of deals to choose from to get the most bang for your buck |
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Options |
Suppliers chosen by the landlord so very rarely room for changes. |
Packages to suit you: nobody has a TV? No need for a TV license. |
Huge selection of providers for most utilities but means responsibility can land on one person. |
Are bills not included in your rent price?
Don’t worry – Split The Bills can find the best and cheapest providers for you and bundle all your bills into one easy payment. This means you don’t have to have awkward conversations with your housemates about who’s sorting the electricity bill or how much the gas bill is. That way, you can enjoy the benefits of just having one easy-to-manage payment to make each month and spend more time enjoying student life!
- Choose from our energy packages, superfast broadband, water and a TV licence.
- Pay the same fixed amount every month and don’t worry about bills!
- Avoid arguments by everyone paying the same share.
- We set up the utilities for your house – so sit back, and relax!
- Less time worrying about bills = more time to enjoy being a student!
What are the different types of student accommodation in Kings Cross?
University halls feel like the obvious choice for first year students looking for a more approachable and sometimes affordable way to live away from home for the first time. But this isn’t the best choice for everyone.
Student halls mean are often closer to (or on) campus, and socialising is far easier when you know the flats around you are students too! Many places also include a catered choice, or cleaning services for common areas. However, if you want a fully independent experience, or are a mature student, you may wish to try a different type of accommodation.
Kings Cross has lots of flats on offer, both apartment blocks exclusively for students, and those in converted houses, which might be shared or one-bedroom. Living in a shared flat is a great choice if you already know who you’re living with or feel comfortable sharing flats/houses with strangers.
For more solitary students, or someone who wants to focus on study over socialisation, you may wish to rent a bedroom in a family home – this can be a quiet, affordable alternative, giving you a little family atmosphere without the party-heavy expectations you may have in halls and shared housing. In Kings Cross this may prove a little trickier due to the bustling nature of London’s centre, but more residential areas of London might be more possible.
How does renting in Kings Cross compare to other areas?
Although Kings Cross is a widely beloved student area, its central location and tourist attractions can make living there very expensive. Fortunately, London’s extensive public transport networks mean living further out of the city centre in zones 2 and 3 much less stressful than in other areas of the country.
If you’re looking for areas outside of central London that still hold plenty of character, Brixton is well worth a look. It’s a great location for students at the Kings College London, and plenty of bars, restaurants, and culture such as museums, concert venues and shops.
Brixton is a great choice, but you could also decide to live further out if it suits your schedule and budget. For students of Goldsmiths especially, areas such as Peckham have plenty to offer, with excellent transport links to the city centre, as well as more than enough restaurants to choose from.
Looking to live in popular Kings Cross? If you have any questions, or just want to get started, contact Split the Bills to find a quote and package to suit your needs. We also have plenty of advice and support available for students.