Found your home
Guarantors
What is a rent guarantor?
A guarantorLink opens in a new window is someone who agrees to cover your rent if you’re unable to pay. Most landlords and agencies will require a UK-based guarantor for student rentals before a tenancy agreement can be completed. Before signing a contract, make sure your guarantor understands their legal responsibilities.
Important: check if you need a guarantor for student housing that you are interested in and be sure to get this in place before you start.
Understanding the costs
There are always hidden costs when moving or changing location, we go into detail on understanding your bills and other initial costs, but before that there is:
- A refundable holding deposit- no more than 1 weeks rent, used to reserve a rental property before renting (that is returned under specific circumstances)
- A tenancy deposit- no more than 5 weeks rent, paid after the tenancy agreement that is held to cover potential damages during the tenancy
- TO NOTE: if you keep the house in good condition, and cause no damages this should be returned to you at the end of your tenancy
- If you have not found a guarantor- landlords can ask for some, or all, of your rent in advance. Do not be pressurised into this, if you need any guidance please contact the SU Advice serviceLink opens in a new window
- There should be no fees for arranging a tenancy- other than the ones stated above, agents cannot charge you for securing a tenancy
Your landlord could collect additional fees after the tenancy has started such as early termination payment, payment for things like utilities (if included in rent), costs for things such as lost keys replacement and a default fee for late payments on rent.
Budgeting
Make sure you've thought through all of the costs that come with moving house, a short overview can be seen on our figuring out your budget section.
Get your contract checked
If you have chosen somewhere you would like to live, that's great!
VERY IMPORTANT: Don’t rush to sign your contract! A housing contract is a legally binding agreement between you and your landlord. Once signed, you are committed to the contract, so it’s important to carefully review all details, including rent, deposit, the group you are staying with, and tenancy duration.
We recommend checking out the SU’s ‘Signing the ContractLink opens in a new window’ page for a checklist of important things to consider, as well as a lot of useful information to help you or your group fully understand your housing contract before signing.
Having an independent review of your contract can also be incredibly helpful to ensure you don’t miss anything. Consider getting your contract checked, for free, by a member of the SU Advice Centre Team who are there to help you make an informed decision.
Signing your tenancy agreement
Before signing your tenancy agreement, after you've had it checked by the SU Advice centre, make sure to read through it all once more and make sure everyone agrees to what they are signing.
Verifying deposits
A deposit is an upfront payment you pay to your private agent or landlord when renting. It is used as security for any potential damages or unpaid rent you may make during your tenancy. If everything is in order when you leave the property, then make sure you get it back!
Make sure to check your tenancy deposit is protected. When you make a deposit, it should be protected with a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme. It is the responsibility of your landlord to secure the rent deposit.
Breaking down rent
Different houses have different sizes and needs, and all students who sign a tenancy agreement will be responsible for fulfilling payments on the house.
Different-sized rooms
We recommend discussing with your flatmates how you will go about splitting the rent, and possibly the utilities, by room size.
This conversation can be had at any point, but if you haven't already discussed this before now, we recommend doing so before you move in.
Other considerations
If the rooms are similarly sized, but you have different lifestyles and expectations, you may want to discuss what this looks like in application.
Tenancy rights
As a tenant, it’s important to know your rights to ensure you’re treated fairly by your landlord or private agent throughout your tenancy. This article by Save the Student provides a helpful list of tenant rights that every student should know before moving into their new place.
Contacts
If you feel that your landlord or private agent isn't fulfilling their responsibilities, is breaching the terms of your tenancy agreement, or is acting in a way that isn't legal, you can reach out to:
If you feel that your needs aren't being met, then you could consider joining ACORN, a tenants union who (if you are a member) can help with any tenant issues.
Responsibilities
By moving in, and signing the tenancy agreements you agree to:
- Pay rent on time
- Pay your utilities (if not included)
- Maintain the property (to the standard it was when you moved in)
- It is worth checking if you are responsible for external areas such as a garden/driveway if you have one!
- Not to cause any damage- you are also responsible for guests!
- Using the property responsibly e.g. taking reasonable precautions to prevent mould
- Being a good neighbour ( guidance on what this looks like here!)
