Start looking at the market now... you don't necessarily have to get a rental secured now, but you should definitely start looking. Mainly to get a feel of what the market is like and work out where you want to live. Most rentals near uni will be very expensive by most standards, especially if you are not sharing with others. Living in a more inconvenient area will usually be cheaper obviously. You will need to decide what's most important to you and what you can afford. If you don't mind a commute, look west and often south and save your money. If money is not an issue then you may get a rental in an area closer to uni. It's all personal
So the main thing you can do is start looking - start wide and get an idea of the cost, type of accomodation (house, apartment, sharehouse, dorm etc.), commute, jobs nearby and all that, very big picture at first. As you get a better idea of what suits you, narrow down to start looking for specifics. Can be daunting trying to decide all this so don't stress, take your time.
For me, I would much prefer to get a cheaper rental in a not as popular location so that I've got money to live and enjoy rather than live right next to uni but never go out or doing anything bc all my income goes into rent. But your personal living situation, income, savings, type of job you will have during uni, degree (and how much time you have to work) all needs to be considered.
Good luck... there are lots of good things about living off-campus so don't stress!
