There is a high demand for accommodation in Glasgow, considering the city is home to three large universities that attract over 130,000 students to live and study in the growing city. Out of a population of 608,000, students make up a very significant portion – and most of them are looking for flats to rent on a continuous basis. Securing a well-priced apartment in Glasgow can, therefore, be difficult. Hence, it is essential to have a good strategy when navigating the competitive rental market.
Rent prices for flats and houses in Glasgow
The cost of renting an apartment in Glasgow varies on what neighbourhood it is located in. The price also varies depending on how many bedrooms the apartment has. Apartments that are occupied by three or more people who are not related to each other need to have a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) license, which is paid for by the landlord. Hence, flats with three or more bedrooms can have a much larger price tag than a flat with one or two bedrooms. Couples that share a bed can get very cheap accommodation as they can split the price of a one-bedroom apartment. As of June 2019, average monthly rent prices are £606 for a one-bedroom flat, £787 for a two-bedroom flat, £1,081 for a three-bedroom flat and £1,811 for a four-bedroom flat. Of course, if you share the four-bedroom flat with four people, the monthly price per person comes down to £452.
It is also possible to rent a house, even as a student who wants to share it with other students. However, cheaper houses are often located further away from the three main universities in Glasgow. Hence, rental houses might be more suitable for families who do not mind commuting to work or driving their kids to school. Two-bedroom houses currently have an average price of £688 per calendar month, whereas three bedrooms are £820 and four bedrooms are £1,602.
Popular neighbourhoods in Glasgow
There are many different areas to choose from when looking for apartments or rental houses in Glasgow. Popular neighbourhoods for students at the extensive University of Glasgow include the Hillhead, Partick, Maryhill, Finnieston and Kelvinbridge areas, due to their proximity to the university and popular student locations such as Byres Road and Kelvingrove Park. For students at the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University, finding flats in the city centre or North Glasgow is preferred. As a student, it might be good to find an apartment that is within walking distance to your university, so that you do not have to pay for public transport or buy a car.
For working adults without a car, it might be worthwhile to find a flat close to a subway station or other modes of public transport. Luckily, Glasgow is full of cheap public transport that can be easily used by non-Glaswegians. On the other hand, those who plan on driving to work will find the best rental prices both for flats and houses in the suburbs of Glasgow. Living Southside is an excellent option for those who do not mind a daily commute.
How to find places to rent in Glasgow
There are different ways of finding rental accommodation in Glasgow. One of the most popular ways is searching the internet, using websites like Zoopla, Rightmove or Gumtree. It's important to note is that Zoopla and Rightmove often advertise properties through letting agencies, while Gumtree has rental ads from private landlords. The practical difference between these is that letting agencies often require more documents and require you to have a guarantor before you can let a property, while private landlords often provide a simpler and quicker letting process ' but with the downside of less security if something goes wrong. If you choose to look for rental properties privately, it is crucial to ensure the landlord does indeed own the property and that there is nothing wrong with it. You should always organise a viewing before signing a contract ' regardless if the property is advertised through an agency or privately.
Another way of finding a place to live is through Facebook. There are many dedicated groups where flats or rooms in partly occupied apartments are being advertised. For students looking for accommodation, there are also university-specific groups where students can find others to share accommodation with, advertise rooms available for subletting during shorter periods of time e.g. during summer, or create a post saying that you are looking for somewhere to stay and others can give send you messages with tips or offers.
There are also dedicated groups where you can find second-hand furniture for sale or even for free ' usually from students who are moving away from Glasgow. Buying used furniture for a low price is a great way of decorating an unfurnished flat ' which are usually cheaper than their furnished counterparts. Used furniture can also be found on Gumtree.
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