Halls or a Selly Oak House? UoB Second-Year Accommodation Guide

In short: Most University of Birmingham students spend their first year in university halls and move into a private shared house in Selly Oak from their second year. A Selly Oak house from Unipads is typically a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Edgbaston campus, is let per person per week on a contract from 1 July, and comes with no agency fees. This guide compares the
two options honestly so your group can decide.

Key takeaways

• University halls are mainly for first-year students. From second year onwards most students rent privately, and Selly Oak is where most of them go.
• University of Birmingham halls for 2026/27 are listed at roughly £110 to £215 a week depending on the hall and room type. Private house rents in Selly Oak are quoted per person per week and vary by house size and condition.
• A Unipads tenancy runs for from 1 July.
• Selly Oak is one stop from University station by train (about two minutes) and a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Edgbaston campus.
• Groups form in the autumn term of first year. Houses for 2027/28 go on the Unipads website at the end of September 2026 and are let first come, first served.
• Each tenant needs a UK-based guarantor, usually a parent. If that is not possible, rent can be paid upfront or a guarantor service such as Housing Hand can be used.

Do University of Birmingham students stay in halls after first year?

Some do, but most do not. University accommodation is allocated mainly to first years, and the number of returning students it can take is limited. That is why, every autumn, first-year students start forming groups and looking at houses in Selly Oak for the following September.

Selly Oak sits directly south of the Edgbaston campus along the Bristol Road. It has been the University of Birmingham’s student
neighbourhood for decades, and Unipads has been letting houses there for more than 25 years. The university publishes its own guidance on accommodation options (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/accommodation) if you want to check what returning students are offered.

How does the cost of a Selly Oak house compare with halls?

Weekly rent is the number everyone looks at first, but it is only part of the picture.

Halls. University of Birmingham halls for 2026/27 are listed at roughly £110 to £215 a week, depending on the hall, the room and whether it is en suite or catered. Bills and internet are included. Contracts are usually shorter than a full year.

A shared house in Selly Oak. Rent is quoted per person per week and depends on the size and standard of the house. Unipads houses run from three bedrooms up to eight. Bills are usually on top, although we offer bills packages. Ask us for the current options.

To compare properly, work out the total for the year:

• Weekly rent multiplied by the number of weeks.
• Plus bills if they are not included. Students are exempt from council tax, and we give every group the instructions to claim the exemption.
• Plus internet. Every Unipads house is internet-ready, and your group chooses the provider.

You will often find that a shared house works out at less per person over the year than an en suite halls room, with more space, your own kitchen and your own front door. We are honest that it is not always cheaper. It depends on the house you choose.

How far is Selly Oak from the University of Birmingham campus?

Closer than many first-year halls. Most Unipads houses are a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Edgbaston campus. If you would rather not walk, Selly Oak station is one stop from University station on the Cross-City line, a journey of about two minutes, and the 61, 63 and X21 buses run along the Bristol Road to campus and into the city centre.

Our post on living in Selly Oak as a Birmingham student (https://unipads.com/living-in-selly-oak-student-guide/) covers the streets, the walk times and what is on the high street.

What does a private student house give you that halls do not?

– Your own house with the people you choose. You pick your housemates, not an allocation system.
– Space. A lounge, a proper kitchen, often a garden. Every Unipads house has a fully equipped kitchen with a washing machine, and every house has a TV.
– A landlord you can actually reach. With Unipads you rent directly from the landlords. There is no agent in between, no agency fees and no signing-up fees. Read about the fees some agents charge (https://unipads.com/fees-charged-by-agents/) before you sign anything elsewhere.
– A track record you can check. Unipads has more than 200 Google revie with a 5.0 average. We wrote about what those reviews actually say (https://unipads.com/200-google-reviews-selly-oak-student-landlord/).

What are the downsides of moving out of halls?

We would rather you heard these from us.

– Bills are your responsibility unless you take a bills package. Someone in the group has to set them up.
– A contract means you pay rent over the summer. Plenty of students use the house for summer jobs or resits, and some sublet, but it is a cost to plan for.
– You need a guarantor. Each tenant nominates a UK-based guarantor, usually a parent, who signs a form we send them. If you cannot provide one, the year’s rent can be paid upfront, or you can use a guarantor service such as Housing Hand. Our Parent Zone
(https://unipads.com/parents-zone/) explains this for parents. – Group changes. If one person drops out, the rest of the group is
still responsible for the rent on that room. Choose housemates you trust.

When should a first-year group start looking for a house in Selly Oak?

Earlier than you think. Houses for the following academic year go on the Unipads website at the end of September, and the best ones go quickly. It is never too early, as we explained in When is it “too early” to book?
(https://unipads.com/when-is-it-too-early-to-book-for-next-years-accommodation/)

A sensible timeline:

1. September to October of first year. Talk to friends and coursemates. Agree a group size. Read our checklist of what to look
for when renting a student house in Selly Oak (https://unipads.com/what-to-look-for-when-renting-a-student-house-in-selly-oak-birmingham/).
2. October onwards. Browse the houses for your group size, for example our houses for four (https://unipads.com/property_search_results/loc-all/prop-all/minp-0/maxp-0/bath-0/bed-4/type-tolet/sort-price/),
add up to five to your viewing basket and book a viewing. Bring the whole group.
3. Decide as a group. Sign the tenancy online, pay the deposit and the house is reserved. Full steps are on our Next Steps (https://unipads.com/next-steps/) page.

What happens if your group is bigger than eight?

Ask us. Many Unipads houses sit next door to or a few doors from each other, so a group of nine can take a house for four beside a house for five, and a group of ten can take a six and a four. We have housed groups of 20 across neighbouring properties.

Frequently asked questions

Can second-year students stay in University of Birmingham halls? A limited number of returning students can, but university accommodation is allocated mainly to first years. Most second and third-year students rent a private shared house, and Selly Oak is the area most of them choose because it is a short walk from the Edgbaston campus.

Is a Selly Oak house cheaper than halls?
Often, but not always. Compare the total cost for the year: weekly rent multiplied by contract weeks, plus bills and internet if they are not included. Shared houses usually give more space per person for the money. Unipads can quote bills packages so you can compare like for like.

When does a Unipads tenancy start?
In most cases starting 1 July. Rent is paid in advance from the start of the tenancy, and each tenant sets up their own payment by online banking.

Do I need a guarantor for a student house in Selly Oak?
Yes. Each tenant nominates a UK-based guarantor, usually a parent or guardian. Unipads writes to them directly with the form to sign. If you cannot provide one, you can pay the year’s rent upfront or use a guarantor service such as Housing Hand.

How do I book a viewing with Unipads?
Browse the houses for your group size on the website, add up to five to your viewing basket and submit a viewing request. Unipads confirms by email or WhatsApp. You can also call the office on 0121 546 0440 or email info@unipads.com.