A placement year is the odd one out of London moves: longer than an internship, shorter than a graduate contract, and funded by a salary that's real but modest — typically £22–28k. That combination shapes every housing decision. Here's the checklist, in the order that matters.
1. Match the Contract to the Placement
Most placements run 9–12 months, often July-to-June or September-to-August. A standard 12-month tenancy fits — until your placement runs ten months and you're paying two months' rent on an empty room, or your end date shifts and you're negotiating an early exit. Look for contracts sold in three-month increments, or with a break clause after month six. Nook's contracts run from three months upwards, so a ten-month placement rents ten months. More in our intern & placement housing guide.
2. Budget Backwards From Take-Home
£24k gross is roughly £1,700/month take-home. A workable London placement budget looks like: rent-with-bills £950–£1,100, transport £160–£190 (Zones 1-2 travelcard), food £250–£300, everything else with what's left. Two implications: first, the all-in rent number is the one to compare — a £230/week all-inclusive room beats a £210/week room plus £30 of bills (why bills-included maths matters). Second, upfront costs bite hardest: a five-week deposit on £250/week is £1,250 before your first payday. A two-week deposit — Nook's standard — is £500 on the same room.
3. Location: Optimise for the Office, Not the Legend
You'll commute five days a week on placement — more than most graduate schemes ask. Pick the neighbourhood by commute first: Canary Wharf placements → the Wharf itself or Whitechapel (3 minutes on the Elizabeth line, full guide); City firms → Whitechapel or Islington; West End media/agency placements → Islington or Central London.
4. Paperwork Without a UK Guarantor
Placement students hit the same wall as interns: private landlords wanting a UK homeowner guarantor. The workarounds are the same too — providers who accept placement offer letters instead, guarantor services (£100–£300 fee), or paying a larger chunk upfront. We ranked the options in housing without a UK guarantor.
5. Think About Month Eleven Now
Placements end in a rush: final presentations, uni deadlines for your placement report, and a move-out — usually in the same fortnight. Two things save future-you: a contract that ends when your placement does (not two months later), and a deposit protected in a government scheme with photos from day one so the return is clean. Deposit rules here.
The Checklist, Compressed
Contract length matches placement dates — all-in rent under 45% of take-home — commute under 30 minutes — guarantor plan sorted — deposit protected and photographed — break clause or flexible exit confirmed. Six boxes; tick them and the year takes care of itself. Browse placement-friendly rooms.
