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Online applications are open between 10:00 on Thursday 7 November 2024 and 14:00 on Wednesday 13 February 2025. Rooms are not allocated on a first come, first served basis, so do not feel like you must make a rush decision.

On your application you will put down preferences of a hall and room type, you can also let us know who you would like to live with! Please ensure that your friend also puts your name down otherwise this will not be considered when rooms are allocated.

You can apply to a different hall than what you are currently in, however as the wardens decide who they would like to come back into their hall, priority is given to students returning to the same hall.

Approximately 30% of our rooms are reserved for returning students and are allocated by the warden’s discretion. We do not guarantee you a place back in halls, however we are able to help you look for accommodation off campus.

Students paying full international tuition fees are normally guaranteed a hall place within the same hall for any two years of study providing they submit an application prior to the February deadline.

Applications from students with outstanding accommodation fees for the previous Autumn term will not be offered accommodation.

A great advantage of living in halls is that all your utility bills and internet are included in the cost. It also includes block insurance with Endsleigh Insurance that covers your belongings in your room and bikes secured on campus.

There are flexible catered hall options available enabling you to include your food bills for the year with your accommodation fee, protecting you against the rising cost of living.

You have 24hr support from a dedicated warden team along with your hall management team. Someone is always there to support you.

If you are going on placement but have not yet received an offer, we suggest that you apply for a hall place. Your room contract will be cancelled upon completion of an accommodation cancellation form and proof of your subsequent placement (within the required timescale).

If you have arranged to go on placement for semester two, please note on your application that you will require a first semester licence only. If you have arranged to go on placement for semester one, please contact us in November to apply for second semester accommodation.

If you have been elected on to the hall committee your warden may put a room on hold for you, however you MUST still apply before the deadline to secure your accommodation.

Committee members (living in the hall) shall receive 10% discount off accommodation fees (excluding catering element in catered halls).

If you are currently on the Art & Design Foundation programme, you will not be able to apply as a returning student.  You should apply for your accommodation via UCAS as a new Undergraduate student, you will receive further information on how and when to apply from May.  

Although you may be restarting as a first year student you will be classed as a returner to halls and will need to apply as a returner. We would also recommend contacting the hall wardens to let them know you are currently on a Leave of Absence but would like to return to their hall.

Whenever you decide to look for private rented accommodation you need to consider carefully who you want to live with, what you can afford and where you want to live. You also need to bear in mind that your personal circumstances (study plans, family circumstances, financial budget etc) and friendship groups could potentially change throughout the year. 

Whenever you choose to sign a contract make sure you #RentSMART and understand the details in your contract, your rights and responsibilities and any risks associated with signing up early. Before you sign or pay any money: 

• Check out SASS’s information on what to look for before signing a contract, and 

• to get your draft contract checked with an experienced SASS housing adviser.

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on house hunting but please note that SASS does not support students to find accommodation.

If you are looking for accommodation off campus, it is strongly advised that you visit the which is managed by the Student Accommodation Centre (SAC). All properties advertised on this site have been inspected by SAC, are accredited by Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) Landlord Accreditation, and meet the standards set in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council. For more information on the accreditation standard please refer to the .    

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on how to find a property, but please note that SASS does not support students to find a property.

The Agreement you sign will be an ‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement’, for a fixed period of time. You and your landlord are legally committed to the full length of the tenancy. If you are able to find a replacement tenant, your landlord should not unreasonably refuse to accept them, but they are not under any obligation to find a replacement for you.

Please be aware that even if the situation with Covid-19 means that you cannot travel to your term time accommodation, or if the University changes your requirement to physically attend campus you will still be liable for the accommodation contract you have signed.

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on ending your tenancy.

A security deposit is held until the end of the Tenancy to cover any damage. The maximum security deposit a landlord can charge is 5 weeks rent. All deposits legally must be protected by one of 3 independent deposit protection schemes. Your landlord is required to provide you with the details of which scheme they have used. 

The protection scheme is there to ensure all claims made by the Landlord are justified and to settle any disputes that may arise. 

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

Your tenancy agreement 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.  

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on living in the property including paying rent.

Some private accommodation providers may ask for a UK based guarantor who would be liable for paying the rent for which you are responsible if for any reason you were not able to make a payment. 

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

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

Make sure to check your tenancy agreement carefully to see if utilities are included. I 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.

Properties occupied by full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. You can download a ‘Council Tax letter’ from the Student Self-service portal for this purpose. If you are a ÌìÌÃÊÓƵ London student a ‘Council Tax letter’ can be requested in person from the Student Services Desk at the London campus, or by email to: london-enquiries@lboro.ac.uk 

You will then need to supply this to  or your landlord.

If any of the tenants in the house are working, check how this could affect the exemption with Charnwood Borough Council. If only one tenant is working, they should be able to claim a single occupier discount, providing that all the other occupants are exempt. 

Please note, if your studies are part-time you may be liable for council tax. If you are living in a property before your course commences, or after it finishes, you may find yourself billed for council tax for the period that you are not a student. 

Yes - you will need to arrange suitable insurance cover for your own personal belongings. 

Your landlord will have insurance cover for the property itself and his/her contents only.

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.

You will need a TV licence if you have a separate Tenancy Agreement for your individual room. 

If you have a Joint tenancy with the other occupiers of the property - only one  is required irrespective of how many televisions there are in the house. 

If you have a joint tenancy and your landlord has provided a television in your house, they may have also provided the TV licence. You should check if this is the case, as this licence would also cover any additional televisions. 

For further information about who requires a licence and how to apply please visit  or contact 0300 790 6090. 

It may be possible to claim a partial refund for the Summer holiday period if you are not renting for that period. 

The maximum fine is £1000 for not having a licence.

Any problems should initially be raised directly with your landlord. 

°Õ³ó±ð  in the  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 in relating to a property advertised on Studentpad.

There is a  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 are able to still be affiliated with a hall of residence and live off campus. For information about how you can get involved in Hall committee arranged social programmes visit the .

You should inspect a potential property systematically before you rent to ensure that you are satisfied with its condition. 

The Student Advice and Support Service have a Renting off campus guide a²Ô»å ‘viewing a property’ checklist on what to look for when viewing a property.

We highly advise that you visit the accommodation in person before agreeing to move in or sign any agreements. While it’s understandable to want to secure the property quickly, viewing it yourself is crucial as your friends’ impressions may differ from yours. Tenants who haven't viewed a property personally prior to signing do not have any additional cancellation rights. If you are unable to inspect the property in person, it may be best to postpone your search for accommodation until you can do so.

We would encourage you to begin your search on , a website managed by the Student Accommodation Centre (SAC). All properties advertised on this site have been inspected by SAC. Landlords who advertise on the site are accredited by Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) Landlord Accreditation and meet the standards set in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council. 

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on how to find a property.

It is common to feel pressure from letting agents and sometimes friends to rush into signing a tenancy agreement.

Whenever you choose to sign a contract make sure you RENT SMART and understand the details in your contract, your rights and responsibilities and any risks associated with signing up early. Before you sign or pay any money: 

• Check out SASS’s information on what to look for before signing a contract, and 

• to get your draft contract checked with an experienced SASS housing adviser.

DASH accredited landlords should allow you at least 48 hours in which to seek advice on the proposed contract; if your prospective landlord / agents are not part of the DASH scheme, it is still reasonable for you to ask for the same period.

Other students may be interested in the property and potentially there may be the risk that a delay will mean that the property is rented to others. It is important however that you make the right rather than a rushed decision.

It is worth remembering that agents work for landlords and therefore it is in their clients’ best interests rather than yours that you sign. Take the time you need. 

Make sure you #RentSMART and understand the details in your contract, your rights and responsibilities and any risks associated with signing up early. Before you sign or pay any money: 

• Check out SASS’s information on what to look for before signing a contract, and 

• to get your draft contract checked with an experienced SASS housing adviser.

You can ask for changes to be made to the contract, but only before the contract is signed. A contract is a two-way agreement and before you commit yourself, you can ask for anything you would like to be added or removed. 

We strongly recommend that any promises made to you by the landlord/agents are added to the contract. This commits the landlord to provide and confirm in writing what has been agreed. If the landlord is promising that renovation work will be carried out before you move in such as a new bathroom/kitchen, agree and add a date into the contract by which this will be completed. 

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on negotiating a tenancy agreement. 

Some landlords/agents require students to provide a guarantor. A guarantor is someone who will guarantee to pay your rent if you fail to do so. Typically, landlords/agents expect the guarantor to be based in the UK. If you are an international student then a parent who is abroad is unlikely to be accepted. If you are unable to find a UK-based guarantor, the landlord/letting agent may ask for rent in advance or a larger deposit. 

If you are required to provide a guarantor, we recommend: 

• You limit your liability by ensuring the guarantor’s agreement sets out the name of the person whose rent is being guaranteed, the start and end date the agreement applies, and the amount guaranteed rather than a general commitment to pay the outstanding rent.  

• You and the guarantor read the tenancy agreement and the guarantor agreement before signing. 

There are a number of agents who do not require guarantors so it is worth shopping around if you prefer not to provide a guarantor. 

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

Many landlords/agents will ask for a damage/security deposit as part of the contract. Under the law, the amount of deposit set by landlords/agents cannot exceed the equivalent of 5 weeks’ rent. At the end of the contract, the landlord/ agent may propose deductions for any money they feel you owe. For example, damages to the property, rent arrears, or other costs such as utility debts. The contract should confirm what deductions can be made from your deposit.

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

If a landlord or agent decides to take a security deposit as part of the contractual agreement with you, they must comply with the legislation which places an obligation on them to protect your deposit with one of the three government-backed schemes. This will enable you to raise a dispute with the Scheme’s adjudicator if there is a disagreement at the end of your contract about the return of your deposit.

Your landlord must protect your deposit within 30 days of receipt. The landlord must also notify you within the same 30 days which scheme they have chosen, with contact details and certain other information prescribed by law. Seek advice from us if this has not been complied with. If the landlord does not correctly protect your deposit, you may be entitled to seek compensation.

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

It is very important to seriously consider whether you and your housemates can all afford a property before you sign the tenancy agreement, particularly if it is a joint contract.

Before you begin to look, think about what you can afford and whether you will have received your student loan when your rent is due.  

Remember that not all private accommodation contracts have bills included and this will be a separate expense on top of the rent that you will pay. It is likely that even if the bills are included within your housing contract, there will be a maximum amount that your landlord will pay and anything above this limit will need to be paid by you.  

Work out your budget using our resources the Student Advice and Support Service resources before you commit.

You should never sign a contract that you don't understand. It is very important to remember that a contract is a legally binding document and once you agree to the terms and conditions, it is impossible to change your mind.

While it’s common for students to feel pressured by potential housemates, landlords, or agents, it is essential to take your time and ensure that you are making the right decision for yourself. Make sure you fully understand your obligations and the implications of signing the contract before you proceed.

Make sure you #RentSMART and understand the details in your contract, your rights and responsibilities and any risks associated with signing up early. Before you sign or pay any money: 

• Check out SASS’s information on what to look for before signing a contract, and

• to get your draft contract checked with an experienced SASS housing adviser.

The circumstances in which you can terminate a private tenancy agreement are rare. Once you have signed an agreement, it is very unlikely that you will be able to change your mind and walk away. Any contract you sign is legally binding and becomes so even if it will be many months before you will move into the property. This is why it is incredibly important to be 100% sure that this is the right property for you before you agree.

We strongly advise that you do not sign a second housing agreement whilst already committed to another one because you have changed your mind. You will be committing yourself to two contracts which you will be expected to pay for.

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) has more information on ending your tenancy.

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) provides a contract checking service. We can check any potential contract you are being asked to sign by a landlord/agent and we can explain the rights and responsibilities provided under the contract to you and your landlord. It is always best to have your contract checked before you pay any money or sign the agreement.

You can ring 01509 222765 or complete the Student Advice and Support Service .