Student housing is specifically designed to meet the needs of students. So, can a non-student live in student housing? Many people want to live in student housing because it has many benefits like geographical advantage, affordable prices, student perks, etc., but can non-students enjoy these benefits as students? This blog will help you find the answer by explaining the rules, pros, and cons of non-student living in student housing.
Students vs non-students explained
Generally speaking, students refer to someone enrolled in a college or university educational program, often as a full-time student, enjoying sizable student perks. But part-time students are generally counted as students as well, they are officially enrolled as full-time students do, but take fewer courses and have limited access to student perks or discounts.
Non-students are someone not enrolled in a college or university without academic privileges, they may be social workers, retired, etc.
Can non-students live in student housing?
Yes! At uhomes.com, we offer accommodation for non-student in the UK. We have various types of accommodation for non-student with different budgets. Our accommodation has well- equipped amenities like laundry, gym, kitchenware, etc., meet all your needs. Living in our accommodation as a non-student, you can enjoy the same housing benefits as students. If you are in the UK, and are interest in our accommodation, contact our consultant now!
How can we define student housing?
Student housing universally refers to the housing specifically designed for students who study at university. These housings are usually located near the universities and aim to facilitate students’ lives and be financially friendly to students. But can non-students live in the student house? Well, it depends. The case varies depending on the type of housing, the house owner, and the specific circumstances.
The Rules: Mixing Non-students with Students
Student housing has different types of accommodation, and different kinds of housing may have different policies and restrictions for non-students living in student housing. Here are detailed explanations.
University-provided housing
University-provided housing encompasses both on-campus housing and off-campus options. But either way, the housing capacity is limited. Can a non-student live in off-campus housing? The on-campus housing is extremely number-limited and rarely allows non-students to live on campus because they can not meet their students’ housing demands. Off-campus housing can also be university-provided, when the university doesn’t have enough space and buildings to provide such service; We need to notice that those off-campus housing may still be owned by universities or funded and cooperated with other private landlords; in this case, they usually still can not let the non-students to live in such places.
Private student housing
Private student housing in the UK refers to those housing exclusively for students; the landlord primarily serves students, and they prioritise students. However, their renting criteria may change under certain circumstances. For example, they may allow non-students to rent in private student housing if they have a surplus house. However, in such cases, the rent prices for non-students may be differ form those for students.
Shared Flats and Houses
Can young professionals live in student house? Shared flats and houses give the answer. These houses are more inclusive and open for students and non-students. They also tend to be more price-friendly as a group of people share one bill. But still, some landlords are not willing to rent it to non-students, you need to negotiate with the landlord and make sure you can live with students.
Reasons why non-students want to live in student housing

Cost-effective: student housing is usually cheaper than standard housing or apartments, and is more affordable for non-students.
Well-equipped Amenity: student housing generally includes amenities like laundry, furniture, kitchenware, and so on, providing great convenience for people who have just moved in.
Community-friendly: for non-students, if they can live in student housing, they have a guaranteed living community, they would feel safer and chill living around the student housing environment.
Convenient Transportation: the student housing usually enjoy geographical advantages, it has convenient transportation, that benefits the daily commute.
Student housing | Non-student housing | |
---|---|---|
Cost | Cheaper, all-inclusive fee | Expensive |
Location | Close to university, convenient transportation | Far away from city center, inconvenient commute |
Amenity | Well-equipped amenity like laundry, gym, study room, kitchenware and so on | Self-afford amenities, old amenities |
Safety | Equipped with 24 hours doorman, cctv camera | Depend on different property |
Support service | Maintenance and support | With less service |
Surroundings | Various entertainment spots like Shopping malls, restaurants and supermarkets | Less modern and less convenient and quiet, boring |
Looking for Student Accommodation?
What Should You Know Before Sharing Student Housing as a Non-Student?
When you think about: can non-students living in student housing in the UK, you also need to consider these factors.
Subsidies: although non-students renting a student house can enjoy comparably affordable prices, non-students still cannot enjoy the subsidies, and perks to which students are entitled.
Amenity-limitation: some amenities in the house may funded by the student’s university, they are student-exclusive, so, non-students even share the flat with students, but they may not be allowed to use that amenity, they may buy another new set of amenities that will cost another sizable amount of money.
Council Tax: non-students are responsible for council tax while students don’t.
Lease Terms: lease terms may vary from students.
Legal Issues: when non-students have conflicts with students, usually non-students are more liable for the conflict and may receive heavier punishments.
Alternative choice for non-students
Student housing has strict restrictions that exclude non-students, while risking financial spending, legal issues, etc. You may find another way out, here are some alternative options for you:
- Rent normal non-students housing through legal way.
- Rent private apartments not specifically for students.
- Sublets or short-term rentals.
How uhomes.com can help?
At uhomes.com, we offer housing for both students and non-students. We have various types of housing for students with different budgets, and meet various personal needs. Our houses enjoy an excellent geographical location, close to essential universities and subway and bus stations. They have well-equipped amenities like gyms, study rooms for you, and room is well furnished. And our houses are all in safe communities where your personal safety is guaranteed. We have over 10 years of experience and have helped millions of students find their ideal housing. If you are going to study in the UK like London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or already stay in the UK for a long time and feel confused about choosing your house, contact us! We can help you to make an ideal choice!
Conclusion
Can non-students live in student housing? I’m sure after reading this blog, you have already found some helpful information. Student housing benefits non-students to some extent, while pursuing rent a student house, non-students should also take those potential problems mentioned above into consideration so that you can make a better choice as where to live.
FAQs:
If you just graduated from undergraduate university and are still about to go on with your postgraduate studies, then you are still considered to be a student, you can live in student accommodation. But if you graduate from university and no longer keep studying, then you are not allowed to live in student accommodation anymore.
Although part-time students are counted as students, they still slightly differ from students. Generally, student housing is provided for full-time students, but some universities also offer housing for part-time students if they have enough housing, even so, they are very constrained. Hence, you need to consult your university to figure out if they provide housing for part-time students, and if they do, how many chances you have of successfully applying for that housing.
Student accommodation usually is for students only. But people who work for university like professionals may ask: can young professionals live in student accommodation? Well, people like them may enjoy different policies from those of students. For example, if you are a professional, you may live in places like expert accommodation, if you are in the logistics department, you may live in staff accommodation, and so on. It depends on the specific situation. Generally speaking, people who work in universities rarely live in student housing.
Yes, some universities’ student housing is couple-friendly; they allow student couples to live together, but some unis that do not allow student co-ex, so, you need to look at the university’s detailed policy about student housing rules before making a decision.
Typically no, if you are not a student, you are not allowed to live in a student house provided by the university, there could be exceptions, some private student housing may have cases to rent their house to non-students.
It depends on the type of student accommodation, on-campus student housing usually prioritises students, while others, like private student housing and shared flats may be more inclusive and lenient for non-students.
Typically yes, you must be a student to live in student housing. However, there are some exceptions depending on the types of student housing. University residence halls usually allow students studying at this university to live in, off-campus housing, such as private student housing may have cases for non-students to live in.