UKCISA - international student advice and guidance

Student housing

Last modified: 31 May 2023

Student housing

Housing arranged by your college or university is normally in large halls of residence (normally just called “halls”). It is common for the halls to be owned and managed not by the university but by a commercial provider who has allocated some (or all) of the rooms to your university for student housing.

Some more traditional university halls are “catered halls” which provide meals, although nowadays most halls of residence do not provide meals. Catered halls can help budget but the food may be very different from the food you are used to at home.

Many larger cities have private halls or student villages which are not allocated to specific universities. Students can book directly with the company that manages the housing. In many ways they are very similar to university-managed halls, but often with a higher level of services, furnishings and facilities, and a more expensive rent. Your university can advise you if there are any private halls in your city, but you will be signing a contract with a private company, not with your university.

Some institutions also own or manage some smaller blocks of flats (apartments) or smaller houses.

Most student housing is divided into shared flats (apartments) where a group of students (typically 5 or 6) share a kitchen/social space, in which they can prepare their own meals. Each student normally has a study bedroom for their own use.

Older-style university halls have rooms off a continuous corridor with communal space provided for all residents, normally on the ground floor. They may offer shared (normally twin) rooms, but these are no longer common except in cities where housing is expensive (for example, London and Edinburgh) and they offer a considerable cost saving.

Study bedrooms normally have an en suite bathroom, or in older-style halls you may use a shared bathroom. In both cases, the bathroom will have a toilet, wash basins and a shower, but it may not have a bath tub.

Student housing is usually mixed, with male and female students sharing the building or flat, but having their own private study bedroom. Some universities may have a limited supply of single-sex housing options.

Most student housing provides an internet connection, either through the university server or with each student having their own individual contract with a commercial provider. Utility costs (energy and water) are normally included in the rent and the contract will state this.

How to apply

What to bring

Booking your housing

Last modified: 01 June 2023

You can book university housing and other purpose-built student housing before you come to the UK. Please see 'how to apply' for details of the booking process.

For other long-term housing, it is not usually a good idea to arrange it before you arrive in the UK. There are, however, some exceptions. It can be frustrating, arriving with uncertainty about your longer-term housing arrangements. However, there are things you can do to help prepare:

read the guidance from your institution about housing options for international students
check the processes for house-hunting and what support you can get from your institution, your students’ union and any other local agencies. They may have lists of local housing available for rent. They may also have inspected the housing to check that it is suitable. The student office at your country’s Embassy or High Commission in the UK may also be able to give you information about housing
check online to get an early idea of what is available and the quality and cost of housing in your host town or city
use social networks to connect with other students who are starting at your institution at the same time, and who will be looking for housing. This could give you a head-start in making new friends; it could also be a way of finding housemates with shared interests

If your institution does not have temporary housing, your other options are hotels and guest houses. Guest houses are like hotels but instead of having a restaurant, they may have a dining room where you have no choice about the meals served. Living in a hotel for a long period of time will be expensive. However, hotels and guest houses provide useful temporary housing which you can book before you travel to the UK. Hostels also offer temporary housing.

After you arrived at your pre-booked temporary housing, start your search for longer-term housing early with help from your institution. Internet searches, housing agencies, local newspapers and advertisements in shop windows or on a institution notice board are useful when you are looking for somewhere to live. This guide from Shelter may also prove useful when considering looking for a private place to rent.

Check if there is any type of accreditation scheme in operation.

Fake landlords operate in the private student housing market, preying on vulnerable (often international) students, for example by pretending to offer housing online, for example, through Facebook or Gumtree. Victims are asked to pay for a deposit for a house or flat that does not exist. Action Fraud has some useful tips on protecting yourself from rental fraud.

Agencies sometimes charge a fee but, by law, they cannot charge you just for registering with them and you should not pay for details of places they have to let.

Other accommodation options

Last modified: 02 June 2023

Not all students live in student housing. There are other housing options. These alternative options may be preferable to those wishing to rent privately also.

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Studio

Homestay (lodger)

Hostels

Homeshare

Choosing your accommodation

Last modified: 02 June 2023

Here are some suggestions for issues to think about when choosing accommodation.

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Communal living space

En suite bathroom

Mix of people

Location

Management and security

Kitchen

Vacations

Your contract

Differences between student housing and other private housing

Even if your first instinct is to choose student housing, do look at all your options before making a commitment. Living in private housing can be rewarding and give you a real sense of life in the UK, and it is highly likely that any contract you sign for university housing will be for the full academic year with limited opportunity for changing your mind.

This is a summary of the differences between student housing and living in a shared house or flat in the private sector.

	Student housing (based on a single room in a shared flat of 4/5)	Shared house or flat (based on a single room in a shared house of 4/5)
Rent	May look more expensive but is likely to include some or all utility bills and possibly some other services	May look cheaper but is likely not to include some or all utility bills
Gas, water, electricity	Nearly always included (96%)	Variable cost depending on the provider
Internet	Usually included (82%, 50% include Wi-Fi)	Variable cost depending on the provider
Payment methods	Flexible - often a number of ways to pay	Often negotiable (eg monthly or quarterly payment terms on request)
Insurance (basic cover)	Usually included (80%)	Variable cost depending on the provider
Contract length	Standard contract until June or September	Standard contract until June or September
Opportunity to move	May be possible to move to other managed housing if there are vacancies	Generally not possible to change accommodation (unless you find a replacement)
Pastoral Care	May have wardens or a reception desk	Usually no pastoral care
Flatmates	May be possible to choose the people you share with	Possible to choose housemates
Cleaning	Often there is a service to remove rubbish and clean communal areas	Usually no cleaning service provided
Waste disposal	Often there is a service to remove rubbish and clean communal areas. Bins will be provided on site, normally in a central location	Your rubbish will be collected either weekly or fortnightly by the local authority. Ask your landlord for details
Accessibility of landlord	Usually management office on site. University housing will have a Housing Office on campus	Varies
Security	Usually a security presence and regular security patrols, sometimes 24-hrs a day	Generally not available
Repairs and maintenance	There may be a formal commitment to getting repairs and maintenance done within specified timescales	Varies, but if your landlord is part of a recognised accreditation scheme it is likely they will be working to agreed timescales

Bringing a family

Last modified: 31 May 2023

Few institutions provide housing for families. When they do, there is often high demand and short supply, both for long-term and short-term temporary housing.

Check before you arrive whether and how your institution can help you in your search for suitable housing. It takes several weeks for newly-arrived students to find suitable family housing.

It may be easier for you to initially come to the UK alone, and stay in temporary, single housing while you look for a family home. Once you have found longer-term housing for yourself and your family, your family can travel to the UK.

If you do all travel to the UK together, make sure you have enough money to cover the high costs of temporary family housing. Your institution can advise what this may be.

Requirements for students with families will vary, but, as a guide, these are the kinds of factors which students with families attach importance to when looking for suitable housing, compared to single students:

housing made safe for children
a location close to healthcare services, childcare provision, schools, parks/play areas, bus routes, supermarkets, car parking, parent and toddler groups, ante-natal classes and other forms of local infrastructure that can support family life and reduce the risk of isolation for non-studying parents
a quieter location, removed from undergraduate residences
a stronger emphasis on the quantity and quality of social space
a stronger emphasis on the quality of study space
longer-term housing contracts
affordability

Disabled students

Last modified: 31 May 2023

UK institutions are legally required not to discriminate against disabled students, and not to treat them less favourably than other students. Institutions are also required to make adjustments to services for disabled students so that they are not disadvantaged in comparison with non-disabled students. These laws apply to international students as well as to students who are UK citizens.

Because the UK law is strong on disability rights, you should find your institution helpful in supporting you in your search for suitable housing. Some institutions have housing which is designed or adapted for students with specific disabilities. Your institution may also make changes to housing to support your particular disability. In some institutions it may even be possible to secure housing for the full duration of your course.

There may, however, be no suitable housing available at your institution and no housing which can be reasonably adjusted to support your needs. In this case, it is important you review the options carefully and seek your institution’s support in helping you find housing in the private sector which is suitable for you.

The most important thing is to let your institution know as early as possible that you have a disability which means you have particular housing needs. Although you might declare this as part of your application for a place on a course, it is also a good idea to contact the institution’s housing service and disability officer to raise and discuss the matter directly with them. In this way you are likely to receive the best service that your institution can offer you. If you do not raise it early, you may be disappointed and struggle to find anything appropriate.

International students with a disability do not have access to funding from UK authorities to support their living costs, although funding may be available from your institution to assist with direct study-related costs.

Rent and other costs

Last modified: 02 June 2023

When considering housing, there are many associated costs, not just the rent. Here are some issues to think about.

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Can you afford it?

Insurance

Council Tax

Parking

Deposit

A deposit is a sum of money you pay to your institution/landlord at the start of the contract. The institution/landlord will return the money soon after you move out, but they are entitled to keep some of the money if they incur expenses for which you are responsible, for instance:

damage to the property, like broken windows
damage to fixtures and fittings such as furniture or carpets
the cost of cleaning the property if you have left it in a condition which means the landlord cannot re-let it without cleaning it
re-decoration costs, for example, if you have painted a room without the landlord’s permission
the cost of replacing keys which you fail to return to the landlord
any rent which you haven’t paid
the cost of removing from the property any rubbish you leave behind.

Depending on what it says in your contract, your institution/landlord can make additional charges, for instance:

an extra charge for dealing with late rental payments you might have made
the cost of replacing any missing items, for example, curtains, furniture

The institution/landlord cannot charge you for fair ‘wear and tear’ throughout the tenancy. ‘Wear and tear’ means the normal deterioration of fixtures, fittings and items provided through normal use of them.

It is standard practice for institutions and landlords to charge a deposit. It is also fair: institutions and landlords need some financial protection in case they incur costs as a result of the actions of students living in their housing.

Never pay a deposit without getting proof of payment for any money you have handed over, especially if you pay in cash. The deposit is normally equal to one month’s rent but can be more, especially in London.

By law, private landlords and suppliers must protect your deposit money by signing up to a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Education institutions and those in shared rooms are exempt from this requirement. The Tenancy Deposit Schemes are designed to make sure money is not unfairly deducted or kept from you at the end of your tenancy. They provide a dispute resolution service, so that if you believe your landlord has acted unfairly in keeping some or all of your deposit when you move out, you can use the service to argue that you should get your money back.

There are three schemes that are registered with the government for these purposes:

Your landlord has to tell you which of the three existing schemes they have signed up to. If you have not received this information, you can check directly with the schemes to see if your deposit is protected.

To help ensure you get your full deposit back when you move out:

when you move into a property, check for damage, uncleanliness and missing items
report any problems to the landlord in writing, keeping copies of all correspondence and, if appropriate, taking and keeping labelled and dated photos
keep a detailed list of contents
ensure the property is thoroughly cleaned before you move out
ensure you remove all your possessions
respect the property and treat it well
make sure you understand what the contract makes you responsible for
ensure you do not have any rent owing at the end of your contract
dispose of rubbish properly to minimise the risk of pest infestations, which are costly to get rid of
report any damage to the landlord as soon as it happens – repair/replacement may be cheaper than leaving it to the landlord to put right after you have left

If you feel your deposit has been wrongfully withheld, you should seek advice from Housing Services or the students’ union at your institution, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Shelter, or another housing advice agency or local law centre.

Do you need a guarantor?

Accreditation schemes

Last modified: 02 June 2023

Check that a property, landlord or institution is part of a reputable accreditation scheme. An accreditation scheme is normally run by a local authority working together with institutions or professional landlord associations. Speak to your institution who may be able to provide you with further details in this area.

Landlords in schemes are committed to offering housing and services which meet specific professional standards. Typically, these are standards for how the contract is written, how properties are marketed and managed, how quickly any repairs are done, health and safety, how deposits and any disputes are handled.

Under accreditation schemes members’ properties are checked to ensure they meet these standards. If they do not, they can be removed from the scheme. If you move into housing which is part of an accreditation scheme, you know that the housing will be of an acceptable standard and that you will receive a fair and professional service. All schemes have a robust complaints procedure that you can use if there are any problems.

The National Codes are schemes for larger-scale student developments. There is one scheme for properties managed and controlled by education institutions, and another for privately rented properties.

Immigration checks

Last modified: 26 January 2024

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‘Right to rent’ checks

Exemptions from ‘right to rent’ checks

The evidence needed of your right to be in the UK

If you are subject to a right to rent check then your landlord, (or the property agent if you are not dealing directly with your landlord), can carry out a right to rent check in one of two ways; a manual document-based check or using the Home Office online checking service. The online checking service was introduced on 25 November 2020.

If you arrange your accommodation before you arrive in the UK then your landlord (or property agent) will check your right to rent before you move into the property. A right to rent check cannot be carried out more than 28 days before you enter into a tenancy agreement with your landlord.

Manual check

Your landlord (or property agent) will need to take a copy of your original documents as set out in the Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks. Your landlord will then be required to return your original documents to you.

If you are unable to provide your landlord with any of the acceptable documents, your landlord can make a request to the Landlord Checking Service to establish whether you have a right to rent.

Online checking service

If you fall into one of the following categories below, your landlord will be able to rely on the online service on the Check a tenant’s right to rent page in order to complete an online check:

you have a current biometric resident permit or card
you have either settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
you applied for a visa using the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app to scan your identity document on your phone

You will first need to view your own status electronically and then provide your landlord with a ‘share code’. Your landlord will need to enter this code along with your date of birth in order to access your right to rent profile page.

Your landlord will need to be satisfied that the image that appears in your right to rent profile page is you. This can be done in person or via video link.

As your landlord will be able to access your right to rent status in ‘real time’, they will not need to see a copy of your original documents unlike with the manual document-based check.

From 1 July 2021, you can evidence your right to rent in the UK as follows:

EEA / Swiss nationals	From 1 July 2021: If you have made a successful application under the EU Settlement Scheme you can prove your status by using the online checking service and providing your landlord with your share code (see above). If you made an application under the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 and this remains pending, or have a pending appeal, you may have been issued with a Certificate of Application or an email confirming the receipt of your application. If this was issued digitally, you can provide your landlord with your share code in order for them to use the online checking service. If this was issued to you in a paper format, your landlord will need to contact the Landlord Checking Service in order to carry out your right to rent check. If you have made a late application under the EU Settlement Scheme, a recent Government announcement has confirmed that your rights will be protected until your application is decided. If you have confirmation that you have submitted a late application, your landlord should use the Landlord Checking Service to confirm this and also in order to carry out your right to rent check.
Family members of EEA / Swiss nationals	From 1 July 2021: EEA family permit and passport. Non-EEA family members of EEA citizens can provide landlords with their share code. The landlord can then conduct a right to rent check using the online checking service (see above). Alternatively, if you are in receipt of a Biometric Residence card, you can present this to your landlord in order for your landlord to carry out a manual right to rent check. See Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks for further details. A recent Government announcement has confirmed that joining family members of EEA and Swiss nationals will have their rights protected for three months after arrival to the UK. This includes pending the outcome of any application under the EU Settlement Scheme or any appeal. Your landlord should use the Landlord Checking Service to confirm your status and also in order to carry out your right to rent check.
Visitor EEA nationals	EEA nationals with a biometric passport are permitted to use the eGates in order to enter the UK as a visitor for up to 6 months. Those without a biometric passport, are permitted to enter the UK as a visitor for up to 6 months following admission by a Border Force Officer. In either case, you will not receive a stamp endorsed in your passport. Acceptable evidence includes a passport plus evidence of your travel to the UK. Evidence of your travel to the UK can include a boarding pass, airline ticket or another type of booking confirmation that you may have. Given that evidence of your travel to the UK may be in a digital format, an original or copy is acceptable here.
Irish citizens	Irish passport/Irish passport card. Alternatively you can produce an Irish birth or adoption certificate together with a document outlined in List A, Document Group 2 of the Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks.
People with immigration permission to be in the UK	Passport containing a valid visa, or a valid biometric residence permit (BRP). If these documents are with the Home Office as part of an ongoing immigration application (or you have a pending appeal or administrative review) then your landlord should request a right to rent check from the Landlord Checking Service. The Home Office's Right to rent document checks: user guide confirms that your visa must be in a current passport. The Home Office's Code of practice also states that your visa must be in a current passport. If your visa is in an expired passport and the landlord will not accept it, you can apply for a transfer of conditions in order to have your immigration permission transferred onto a biometric residence permit (BRP).

Housing

Student housing

Student housing

How to apply

What to bring

Booking your housing

Other accommodation options

Studio

Homestay (lodger)

Hostels

Homeshare

Choosing your accommodation

Communal living space

En suite bathroom

Mix of people

Location

Management and security

Kitchen

Vacations

Your contract

Differences between student housing and other private housing

Bringing a family

Disabled students

Rent and other costs

Can you afford it?

Insurance

Council Tax

Parking

Deposit

Do you need a guarantor?

Accreditation schemes

Immigration checks

‘Right to rent’ checks

Exemptions from ‘right to rent’ checks

The evidence needed of your right to be in the UK

If you have limited immigration permission to be in the UK

If you sub-let your accommodation

If you have any questions or concerns

About UKCISA

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