I know this isn't really an academic-related question, but I thought that some of you may be able to help. I'm from the north west, but am about to start a PhD in Sept/Oct a long way down south. Obviously, I need to find somewhere to live, so I was hoping some of you could come up with tips other than gumtree, craiglist, and easyroommate, all of which I've drawn a blank with so far.

My main thinking is to spend a week or so down there, and hope that, through ads in shop windows etc, I'll be able to find somewhere. Obviously, it's too far away to travel regularly, so I need to sort something soon.

Also, being on a £12.5k-ish grant, can people give me an idea of what kind of rent that will support?

Very many thanks in advance for all your help :)

Matt

Hi

Take a look at this thread from some months ago http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=11418

rightmove.co.uk, under the rental bit. Quite often has some good deals

Where in the S are you looking?

Hi, I'm in the SE on the same sort of grant and share a flat with my boyfriend at £695pm which we split equally. Basically I pay £600 pm into our joint account to cover rent, food and bills etc and the rest goes on books, travel (mainly), conferences, clothes etc and a tiny bit of saving. He earns much more than me so everything else eg going out and holidays etc is mainly covered by him. You may find your bills etc are lower in a shared house, plus I commute into the university so have petrol costs to consider. As well as trying rightmove and the like, contact your university as they should have a list of available property. Hope that helps. Good luck!

Hi Matt

Don't know if this is much use to you but I found it the other day whilst surfing... at the very least, it'd give you a free 'bed' for the night whilst looking and also lets you meet some local folks who might have some ideas about renting, etc.

http://www.couchsurfing.org and http://www.globalfreeloaders.com/

Best of luck.