Flatshare in Southampton

Living in shared flats is the most chosen option by international young people, and in Southampton, you will be able to choose between spare rooms that are part of private flats, residences, or even private homes! Of course, look at how many rooms there are in the apartment and how many roommates you are going to live with since there can be up to five rooms.

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Southampton 

These are some of the pros and cons of living in a shared apartment in this English city:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Southampton

• It is one of the cheapest types of accommodation, so you'll be able to choose locations that are convenient for students, such as Portswood and Saint Mary's.

• The English can be a bit distant from internationals at first, but living in a shared apartment you will be accompanied by other students who are in the same situation as you, so you will surely not feel alone.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Southampton

• In general, the rental cost that appears in some published housing options does not include utility bills (water, electricity, internet, etc.), which means that the monthly cost can be a little higher. Ask the landlord what the average of that extra amount is.

• Some apartments are located in remote areas of the city and, although it may not seem like it, several areas of the city have slopes. Keep this in mind, especially if your preferred means of transport is cycling or walking.

Apps for your international exchange in Southampton 

There are different Apps that you will be able to use as an international student in Southampton, which will make the process simpler. In these Apps, you will find information of all kinds that will help you with procedures and paperwork, as well as class schedules, notifications and data about the city. You will also find advice from other students, such as renting or buying a second-hand bicycle to move around the city with it.

How to meet people in Southampton?

Apart from sharing different activities with your flatmates, the following are some of the ways you have to meet other young people in the English city:

Student associations in Southampton

There is a variety of Students Societies’ that you will be able to join at each of the universities in Southampton. Generally, during the welcome week of each semester, there is a day when all associations allow you to meet and join them. You can find everything from soccer, basketball, volunteering, video games, psychology, tourism, different religions, nationalities, among others. 

Facebook groups for international students in Southampton

There are different Facebook groups that you will be able to join together with other international students. Some of them are according to the university where you are going to study and others according to the academic year in which you are going to Southampton.

WhatsApp groups for international students in Southampton

The purpose of the WhatsApp groups created by companies and Facebook groups is to enable young people to communicate with each other more directly, introducing themselves and sharing their likes and interests.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Southampton 

Here are some tips on living in shared flats in the English city:

• The spare rooms can be part of private apartments, houses or residences. In general, the cost of the residences tends to be higher because they have facilities such as laundry, leisure rooms, gym and/or cinema room.

• Most of the buildings in Southampton are relatively new, as the city was destroyed during the Second World War.

• Many students want to choose the centre of Southampton to live because of its proximity to the most popular entertainment venues. However, this makes the area noisy from the bars and clubs as well as the traffic. Keep that in mind in case it's an aspect you want to avoid.

Frequently asked queries about sharing a flat in Southampton