Family-friendly accommodation

Before you start your search for family-friendly accommodation, you need to decide where you want to live. University of Birmingham is in leafy Edgbaston, surrounded by Selly Oak (south of campus) and Harborne (north of campus).

Selly Oak is home to our largest student population outside of University accommodation and boasts many local amenities, including shopping centres, supermarkets, and schools, making it attractive to students and families alike.

Harborne is another popular area, and with a vibrant high street full of independent shops, restaurants, grocery stores and cosy cafes, it’s easy to see why. A frequent bus service will take you from just outside campus to the town centre in 15 minutes. But it’s easy to walk (no hills!) in about 30 minutes.

With its own railway station – University – the University is just as well-connected to other popular Birmingham suburbs, including Stirchley and Bournville. You can take the bus to Moseley and Kings Heath. The historic Jewellery Quarter is another popular choice, and there’s the city centre too – just a seven-minute train journey to campus from Birmingham New Street.

We recommend searching for accommodation through reputable sites, including  Rightmove and Zoopla. Some of our local letting agents, such as Direct Housing and Easy Lettings, also offer family accommodation.

You can also use our off-campus property search engine, UoB Property Search, where all listings are from landlords or agents we trust. Just make sure you read all listing carefully and get in touch with the landlord/agent if you’re not sure if the property is suitable for a family. Many properties are available to rent in their entirety though, rather than as house-shares.   

If you think you’ve found a suitable property, it’s important to go for a viewing. Never sign a contact without visiting the property first. Booking a viewing is easy; simply contact the landlord or letting agent to book a date.

Read our ‘Looking for your new home’ guide for top tips on what to look out for, plus other house-hunting essentials.

While you are house hunting or waiting for your tenancy to start, you’ll find temporary accommodation across the city.

You can search for hotels and guest houses through booking.com and find homestays through homestay.com. Airbnb is a great place to search for longer stay, and you can browse serviced apartments through Premier Suites and Harborne Apartments.

For extra convenience, we have our own hotel on campus, Edgbaston Park Hotel, which is both family and pet friendly. Plus, it’s only a ten-minute walk from University station.

To protect yourself against rental scams, we recommend:

• Checking that your chosen letting agent has an office based in Birmingham and is a registered UK company
• Asking for landlord or letting agent ID and checking ownership of the property though the land registry
• Seeing if your agent or landlord is a member of Propertymark or a similar organisation. This ensures they meet a certain standard of housing. 

If a landlord or agent pressures you into sending large sums of money through a money transfer service like Western Union, this is likely a scam. Only send money once you’ve checked the above and carefully read through your contract (more on this below).

They also shouldn’t pressure you to sign a contract. If they do, we recommend that you find somewhere else to live. We also encourage you to check your landlord or letting agent out on Marks out of Tenancy, to see what previous tenants thought of them and the property. 

Please note that not all properties will be listed on there. If they aren’t, this does not mean that the landlord or letting agent is unreputable.

• If you’re an international student, you will need to secure your immigration status to secure a tenancy. If you’re a UK student, you’ll need to show proof of your right to rent in the UK, such as a passport or birth certificate
• Before you sign a contract, use our free contract-checking tool to make sure everything looks right. You can also come and see us at the Student Living Hub in University Centre any time between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.  
• If you do not have a UK guarantor, you will likely be asked to pay for the first six months up front. Please make sure you have sufficient funds to cover this. University staff members cannot act as guarantors or secure accommodation for you

Please see our housing guide for more information.

University of Birmingham is the only UK university to have its own railway station. Known simply as ‘University’, the station is only two stops away from Birmingham New Street, the city’s central train hub where you can catch trains to locations across the UK. From here, you can catch a train to Birmingham International in 9 minutes to reach Birmingham Airport.

Birmingham and its suburbs also have fantastic bus links, making travelling from further afield easy. For more information on bus routes, local services and timetables, please visit National Express West Midlands.  

The University owns Birmingham Day Nurseries, which comprise three nurseries around campus: The Oaks, The Maples, and The Elms. Each nursery is Ofsted-registered and provides quality childcare for children aged 0 to five years. They all within two miles of our Edgbaston campus, making them an attractive option for members of the University community.

For more information on childcare and early years education in Birmingham, please visit Birmingham City Council’s website. Through this you’ll find a directory of providers, information about free childcare, and support with childcare costs. 

School education is free in the UK at state schools. Before you can register your child for a school place, you need a home address, which is why it’s important to secure your accommodation before you move your family to Birmingham. Find everything you need to know over on the Government’s website. 

Whenever you move somewhere new, it’s a good idea to register with a local GP (General Practitioner). Healthcare is free in the UK through the NHS, but you’ll need to provide some details before you can access it. 

If you’re a postgraduate student, you will find all the financial advice you need on the University’s ‘Money advice for postgraduates’ page. There is also a wealth of information on funding for international students over on our intranet.

Additional information on benefits, childcare, education, and more can be found on the official GOV.UK website.