students and renting?

Is anyone else having a hard time finding living private living, as in a room to rent?! This is a pain the butt!!

Also what method of payment do use to pay rent? cash, checks? I can only do cash which im not sure is good.

School starts tomorrow and im living with gf family quite a far way from my uni, need closer living asap! Everything is competitive, too costly, or something else.

I found a room with someone who was in my course a couple weeks after my course started.  She was already in a flat that was looking for a third person.  You might have similar luck when you start tomorrow.  There also might be adverts around campus from students looking for flatmates.

I paid using a standing order.  You basically set up your bank account to pay directly into your landlord's bank account every month.  That is what my landlord preferred, yours may decide on something different.  I would stay away from paying in cash if you can.

Good luck!  I'm sure you'll find something! 

Check your unis housing office and if they have a housing board on the student forum. There were always students looking for flatmates on Sheffield's student online forum.

It was incredibly easy for me to find loads of shared accommodation before my course started in 2008. We had accommodation newspapers on campus and several websites (see if you can ask the admin team for details?). There was tons of info about house shares especially.

I've paid in cash to many landlords and there is nothing wrong with that if you're getting a reciept.

Also what method of payment do use to pay rent? cash, checks? I can only do cash which im not sure is good.

We do direct debit from our back. I'm not sure we even had another option. In fact all of our bills are set up with direct debit. You probably should consider getting a bank account ASAP. It will make a lot of things a lot easier and quicker.

As for finding accommodation, most of the students in my MA course found their accommodation through the housing office. They had dorms, private and flat share arrangements. I'd call them first, or look around your uni for flat-share posters/signs.