Cambridge: How long to find a flat for student/non-student couple?

Hi, I am very happy to have gotten a studentship to pursue a PhD at Cambridge. I come from the Netherlands, where housing shortage is extremely dire. Looking for a house can take years here. As such, I was wondering how easy it would be for me and my partner (who is older and not a student) to find an unfurnished flat for two under 1000 pounds per month/250 a week. We will probably not be able to live within college, and would prefer to move together come October. How long would it take to find adequate housing within our pricerange? Is there anything I can do now to make the process easier? I've already applied to the Accommodation Service.

Hi, I am very happy to have gotten a studentship to pursue a PhD at Cambridge. I come from the Netherlands, where housing shortage is extremely dire. Looking for a house can take years here. As such, I was wondering how easy it would be for me and my partner (who is older and not a student) to find an unfurnished flat for two under 1000 pounds per month/250 a week. We will probably not be able to live within college, and would prefer to move together come October. How long would it take to find adequate housing within our pricerange? Is there anything I can do now to make the process easier? I've already applied to the Accommodation Service.

Hi, I am very happy to have gotten a studentship to pursue a PhD at Cambridge. I come from the Netherlands, where housing shortage is extremely dire. Looking for a house can take years here. As such, I was wondering how easy it would be for me and my partner (who is older and not a student) to find an unfurnished flat for two under 1000 pounds per month/250 a week. We will probably not be able to live within college, and would prefer to move together come October. How long would it take to find adequate housing within our pricerange? Is there anything I can do now to make the process easier? I've already applied to the Accommodation Service.

I'm in a similar situation. Unfortunately you will almost certainly not find a flat in Cambridge for two people for that money, unless you're happy to live in some filthy studio.

I'm a mature student with an offer from Cambridge, who will also be moving to uni with a non-student partner. I am seriously considering rejecting the offer and going to uni of Leeds, purely on the grounds of living costs. With me and my partner's combined budget, we can afford a studio/substandard one-bedroom flat in Cambridge at best, or a three bedroom house with a garden in a decent area of Leeds, it is quite outrageous.

Just remember that the bulk of student accommodation is not on the market yet. Most landlords will not start advertising until their current tenants give notice. That should start happening soon, but what you see on the market now probably is only a fraction of the stock, and therefore price/quality.