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We recommend that Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é campus students start their search for off campus accommodation using , which is managed by the Student Accommodation Centre (SAC).  This is the only place to find independently accredited and University approved accommodation in Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é.

London campus students are advised to start their search via the .

For more information check our webpage on how to find a property, including additional options.

Yes, before you agree anything, make sure you #RentSMART. for a free contract check to review suitability and any potentially unfair terms.

Whether and how you can do this depends on the type of accommodation you have rented and the terms of your contract.

For more details, check out our guide: Ending your tenancy and moving out.

A deposit is money paid to a landlord or letting agent as a security against potential breaches of the tenant’s obligations, for example the obligation to pay rent and return the accommodation at the end of the tenancy in the same condition, fair wear and tear excepted.  These payments are sometimes described as ‘tenancy deposits’, ‘damage deposits’ or ‘security deposits’.

The maximum deposit a landlord can charge is equivalent to 5 weeks rent. In most cases, landlords and letting agents of off-campus houses and flats are required to protect a deposit in a tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving the deposit. They must also notify the tenant(s) within the same 30 days which scheme they have chosen, and provide contact details and other information prescribed by law. The scheme provider will independently confirm to the tenants when the deposit has been protected.

If the landlord or letting agent wants to deduct money from the deposit at the end of the tenancy the deposit scheme can adjudicate, free of charge.

Some agents now offer tenants an alternative to paying a deposit; these schemes are variously called deposit alternative, no deposit option, deposit-free scheme, deposit replacement, etc.  A landlord or agent cannot require a tenant to use a deposit alternative, i.e. it must be optional and not mandatory.

For more information about deposits, please see our deposits guide.

Your contract will normally state how to pay your rent. However, there is room for negotiation, and you should ask for the method that suits you best before you sign your contract. 

The common methods of payment include standing order or a bank transfer. 

• A standing order is a reliable option, as you control the payment amount and frequency through your bank, and your landlord cannot make changes to it.  
• While direct debits are sometimes used for other services, they are not advisable for rent payments as it allows the landlord/ letting agent to withdraw money from your account, giving them control over the payment amount.  

For more information please see our webpage on living in the property including paying rent.

Some private accommodation providers may ask for a UK based guarantor. A guarantor is someone who agrees to take responsibility for paying your rent if, for any reason, you are unable to do so.

The University has partnered with Housing Hand to support students who require a UK-based guarantor. Students access their service at a reduced rate following a successful application. You can find more information on the Student Accommodation Centre’s webpage.

For more general information on guarantor agreements and professional rent guarantor services, please see our webpage on guarantors.

Whether you are responsible for the bills depends on the terms of your contract. Some rental agreements include bills such as gas, electricity, water, and internet, while others do not. 

Make sure to check your contract carefully to see if utilities are included. If they are, check the cap on the included usage, as you may be charged for any consumption beyond that limit. 

If bills aren’t included, you will need to arrange and pay for them yourself.

You will need to contact the suppliers to register on arrival at the property with the meter readings and again when leaving at the end of the tenancy. 

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on utilities.

Most full-time students at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é do not have to pay because they live in properties which are exempted from council tax, such as:

• Halls of residence
• Property occupied only by full-time students
• Property occupied only by students and their non-British dependants, if the dependant is prevented either from working or from claiming benefits.

If a student shares accommodation with non-students, there will be a council tax bill, but in most cases either the landlord or the non-students will be liable to pay. There are, however, certain circumstances where students are liable for council tax. 

You may have to pay if you:

• own or rent a house and you let or sub-let a room to someone who is not a student.
• are between courses (e.g. in the summer between undergraduate and postgraduate study).
• live in off-campus accommodation before your course starts or after your course has finished.
• are a pre-sessional student living off-campus, even if you are moving onto your main course at the end of the pre-sessional course.

If you are asked to provide evidence of your student status you can download a ‘Council Tax letter’ from the Student Self-service portal for this purpose.  

Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é London students can request a ‘Council Tax letter’ in person from the Student Services Desk at the London campus, or by emailing london-enquiries@lboro.ac.uk . 

For more information check out our guide on council tax.

It’s not compulsory to insure your own personal possessions, but it’s usually considered a false economy not to do so, because the money ‘saved’ is usually small compared with what you could lose in the event of fire, theft, leak etc.

Most landlords have insurance to cover the building, but usually this doesn’t cover tenants’ personal possessions.

Some tenancy contracts include basic personal possessions insurance, so you should check any such cover is adequate for your possessions, particular if you need cover for items taken outside (laptops, phones), accidental damage (spills, cracked screens), bicycles, and high-value items exceeding single-item limits.

You may be covered under a parent or guardian’s home contents insurance while living in private rented accommodation.  Check the policy and any exclusions or limits.

If you are not already covered and you want to insure your personal possessions insurance, we recommend you shop around.

The property should be clean and in good condition when you move in. If you are unhappy with its condition or notice any damage, inform your landlord immediately and note it on the inventory. It is also a good idea to take photographs, which can be useful in case of any disputes over damage or cleanliness when your tenancy ends.

If you watch TV, watch live streaming services or use BBC iPlayer, you must have a TV licence, even if your landlord provides the TV. This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box.

If there is a joint tenancy agreement one TV Licence may cover the whole house. If each tenant has a separate tenancy agreement for their room, they will need their own licence. If you only watch TV on a device not plugged into mains electricity, you may be covered by your parents’ TV licence.

Check the  for more details.

If you no longer need a licence, including if you’re moving to new accommodation and are covered there, you can .

Any problems should initially be raised directly with your landlord or letting agent. 

°Õ³ó±ð Student Advice and Support Service offers advice on renting off campus including disrepair, problems with your landlord etc.

Please also contact the Student Accommodation Centre if you experience any problems relating to a property advertised on Studentpad.

There is a â€¯Community Warden team that is set up to support students who live off campus. They offer help and advice about living as part of the wider community. 

You can remain affiliated with a hall of residence while living off campus, allowing you to stay involved in hall-based social activities. For more information visit the .