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House Hunting - which area of Leeds is for me?

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Grass with houses in the background and bright orange sunset

House hunting is overwhelming at the best of times and the added impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has made it extra challenging this year.

Especially when you haven’t had the chance to experience Leeds with its usual atmosphere.

There’s no rush on deciding where to live but, if you need somewhere to start, we’ve written various blogs to showcase some of the unique aspects of different residential areas so you can get a feel for what life will be like when restrictions lift.

Take a look at:

Read on for house hunting support, information about Zero Carbon Headingley's Low Carbon Homes scheme and, for advice on getting around Leeds.

Lotti Morton, LUU Community Officer said:

There's a lot of new things to get used to when you move into a new area. My best advice would be to introduce yourself to your neighbours and swap phone numbers so you can get in touch easily if there are any issues. Get involved as much as you can, whether that's with local organisations or supporting small businesses, contributing positively to your local area is a great way to get to know your new home.

Think about your neighbours

Remember, these aren’t just student areas. Each neighbourhood houses a diverse mix of alumni, families and older people, of which, many are involved with local community organisations that work to make their neighbourhoods an even better place to live.

Phoebe Jarvis, Sustainability Projects Assistant, said:

Seek out local charities, food banks, community spaces and gardening groups and volunteer your time, or look out for jobs in local shops and restaurants. Through these groups you'll get to know people in local area and you'll become a part of the community, rather than a passing feature. There's no better way to feel like you belong in a city which might be far from home.

House Hunting Support

There’s lots of advice and support out there to help you through the house hunting process including LUU’s support pages.

UNIPOL are a student housing charity and provide trusted and impartial advice to students looking to rent properties in Leeds. They also house over 3,000 students on a not for profit basis so check out their properties in Leeds.

UNIPOL and LUU have also run a Facebook group for students to ask questions, find housemates and get advice which is open to all students.

Izzy Walter, LUU Union Affairs Officer, said:

When you're going into a shared house, communication and honesty are key. Talk about things like taking the bins out, cleaning and buying shared items so you can set a system which works for you. Sharing responsibility is really important so it never gets to the stage of causing conflict and affecting your friendship!

I'd also suggest making time and space for yourself, such as listening to something or going for a walk. Don't feel bad if you need some alone time. A shared living environment can get overwhelming, especially during exams or deadline periods.

Low Carbon Homes

The Low Carbon Homes scheme, delivered by Zero Carbon Headingley, awards a Low Carbon badge to properties with a good Energy Performance Certificate rating. This will help you spot properties which are well insulated, have efficient heating systems, help to lower your carbon emissions and save you money!

Low carbon homes logo

Transport in Leeds

For most areas, you’re never more than a 45 minute walk from the University campus and an hour from the city centre plus, Leeds has great transport links to get you around a bit faster if you need it.

Cycle routes: For information on walking or cycling, including route advice, call in to the Bike Hub for a chat or see our active travel webpages. Use this West Yorkshire Interactive Cycle Map to plan your cycling journey to campus or further afield.

Bus: Check out First Leeds Journey planner to plan your bus routes in and around Leeds.

Leeds Central Train Station is located to the south of the centre and has great links to the rest of the country for when you’re travelling to and from your hometown and other cities. The station also has regular trains going to Burley Park, Headingley and Kirkstall Forge train stations.

For more advice on living independently, see our Your Time In Leeds web guides which cover waste and recycling services, safety, respecting your neighbours, avoiding noise complaints and information about community conduct sanctions.

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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our work on Student Citizenship is linked to the following SDGs:

    • Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
    • Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
    • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.