Private accommodation

• Private student accommodation providers

  If you are not covered by the University accommodation guarantee, you may wish to consider accommodation with one of the private providers.

  Please note that this accommodation is not operated by the University and that you will be signing a legally binding agreement with a private company.  

  The University is not responsible for the contents of the links below and has not carried out any checks on these accommodation providers.

  • East Shore St Andrews
  • thestudent.space
  • Ayton House St Andrews

• Private estate agents

  There are several estate agents in St Andrews who let their properties out to students. Many of the estate agents release a list of all the available student properties for the upcoming year in late January or early February.

  Please contact the estate agents directly for further information and availability.

  • Alba
  • Bradburne & Co
  • Delmor
  • Inchdairnie Properties
  • Lawson & Thompson Ltd
  • Rollos
  • DJ Alexander

• Location

  When looking for private property, there are a number of things to consider. One of these is the location. Not all students live within St Andrews: some students prefer a more rural location, cheaper accommodation outside of the town, or city-living in Dundee.

  Please see below a list of the commuting distances of the towns and villages close to St Andrews:

  Town or village	Distance from St Andrews (miles)	Accessibility
  Guardbridge (village)	4.72	Accessible by regular bus route.
  Leuchars (village with train station)	5.91	Accessible by regular bus route.
  Kingsbarns (village)	6.78	Bus times can be limited but are fairly frequent throughout the day.
  Anstruther (coastal town)	9.37	Bus times can be limited but are fairly frequent throughout the day.
  Crail (coastal village)	9.9	Bus times can be limited but are fairly frequent throughout the day.
  Cupar (town in central Fife)	9.91	Accessible by regular bus route.
  Dundee (city with two other universities)	13.02	Accessible by regular bus route.

• Viewing a property

  When viewing a potential property, you should consider things like the state of the furnishings, whether there are enough bathrooms and WCs for the house, and if the bedrooms are equally sized or not.

  It is also worthwhile to speak to the current tenant (if available) as they will be able to provide an accurate picture of what it is like to live there (for example, is it cheap to heat, what the neighbours are like, etc.).

  You should also ask the following questions:

  What are the dates for the tenancy agreement?

  Does it cover the academic year only or is the property for a whole calendar year? This can affect the suitability of the property as rent may be required for a period of time when it is unoccupied.

  What is the rent per month and how is it to be paid?

  Are you aware of the rent per month, and is the rent affordable? Rents can be payable either monthly or as lump sums throughout the year. The method of payment should also be considered such as debit or credit card and transaction fees. Rents are generally cheaper the further away you live from the town centre, so this is also worth considering.

  How much is the deposit?

  It should not be more than the value of two months’ rent.

  What utilities (if any) are included within the rent?

  Utilities such as gas, electric, phone and broadband are not usually included as part of the rent. You should make sure you have the appropriate funds to pay for these every month, as well as other living costs.

• Living outside St Andrews

  If you plan to commute into the University or live out of town, there is support for commuter students in place to help you to find your feet, make friends, and reach your full academic potential.