What are my housing options?

Student lets / shared housing

There are over 2,500 private properties in the DH1 postcode area (Durham City and surrounding neighbourhoods). The most common type is a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO), which is rented by three or more students in a ‘house share’.

Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) providers

Some of our students choose to live in PBSAs in Durham or, if they want to be in a bigger city, Newcastle. PBSAs are larger buildings which house around 100 or more bedrooms. There are a number of PBSAs to choose from, with 3,000+ bedspaces in Durham and more in Newcastle.

Your housing options compared at a glance

Please see the below table for a quick comparison.

	Smaller student lets	House of multiple occupation (HMO)	Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)
Number of students	Usually one or two bedrooms.	3 or more bedrooms.	100 or more bedrooms.
Living arrangements	Depending on the property, you may live alone or with another person. You will usually have your own bedroom and share facilities such as the kitchen, bathroom and living space.	Usually your own bedroom with shared kitchen, bathroom and lounge.	Rooms are let on an individual basis. Room types are usually studio, or ensuite study bedrooms with shared living facilities for cooking and relaxing.
Outdoor space	Some properties have outdoor spaces, such as yards, gardens or driveways.		Not usually provided.
Bills	Check your arrangement - it is common to have to pay utility bills (water, electric, gas etc) in addition to your rent.		Rent includes all bills.
Managed by	Private landlords or letting agents.		Professional PBSA operators who are responsible for lettings, maintenance, student welfare and compliance.
Neighbours	Could be other students or members of the wider local community.		Other students.
Security	Not provided.		Usually provided on site.