Student housing
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland
Most students have to live on very little money and most aren't entitled to housing benefit. Finding a suitable place you can afford can be difficult but will ensure that your studies aren't disrupted by housing problems.
The rights you have if you are threatened with eviction will depend on what type of accommodation you live in, who your landlord is, and what type of tenancy you have.
If you're having major problems, get help as soon as possible. Use our directory to find a local agency that can advise you. More information is also available from Direct.gov.
What kind of accommodation is available?
Check out your options, most colleges and universities have an accommodation office or student welfare officer who can help you find a place to live.
There are some websites that specialise in student accommodation, or you can get advice through the National Union of Students (NUS). You could also check student notice boards for vacancies in shared houses, or place an advert yourself saying what you are looking for.
You may need to be realistic about what you are prepared to accept if you are on an average student budget.
What if I live in halls of residence?
Many colleges and universities will have halls of residence available to students, particularly during your first year. You usually get your own room, but you will share cooking, bathroom and toilet facilities with other students. Some halls provide meals and bed-linen, but most are self-catering.
Many first-year students are offered a place in halls before they start their course. If you are offered a place in halls, make sure you read any paperwork you receive and complete any forms on time. In most cases there aren't usually enough places for you to stay in halls throughout your course, so you may have to look at other options later on.
Halls of residence agreements
You should be given an agreement explaining the rights and responsibilities you have before you move in. In most cases this will say that you are an occupier with basic protection. This means that you can be evicted fairly easily, but the college or university has to give you at least four weeks' written notice and get a court order before you will need to leave.
Take time to read the agreement for the halls of residence to make sure you understand what it says before you sign it. If there is anything that is unclear or unfair, get advice from your students union, or use our directory to find an adviser in your area.
Who runs the halls?
Most halls of residence are owned by the college or university but in some cases they are owned and managed by private companies.
If the halls are run by a private company, the college or university may still decide who gets a place in halls, but the company is your landlord and is responsible for collecting the rent and managing services such as cleaning and repairs.
Unpaid fees
If you live in accommodation which has been provided by your university, and you still owe money for the rent, or you have unpaid fines at the end of the year, your university may be able to withhold your degree, or prevent you progressing to the next year.
Codes of practice for halls of residence
Most halls of residence are signed up to a code of practice, which will set out the standards they will need to meet. These codes can give you some protection if the halls are not up to scratch. Your students union should be able to help you to make a complaint if this is the case.
What are my rights in a hall of residence?
In general, if you are living in a fully catered hall of residence, then the university will probably be able to evict you relatively easily from the premises.
However, if you occupy a self-contained flat within a hall of residence it is more likely that you will normally have stronger rights. For example, the university staff will only be able to enter your room if there is a specific clause in their agreement with you which permits them to do so.
Does it matter whether my agreement is periodic or fixed-term?
As a student your rights will also depend on whether your agreement is:
- fixed-term (for a set period such as 6 or 12 months), or
- periodic (rolling from week to week or month to month).
Fixed-term agreements
A fixed-term agreement is for particular length of time, such as an academic year. Normally it will last for a term, or for an academic year, from around September or October until June. The exact length will be set out in the agreement along with the other conditions of the agreement.
Ending a fixed-term agreement
An agreement can only be brought to an end before the fixed-term has expired, if:
- the agreement has a break clause saying that this is allowed, and
- the university has specific legal reasons to do so – for example if you have been removed from the course, have damaged the accommodation, or have been involved in antisocial behaviour.
If you refuse to leave the property at the end of the notice period, then your landlord will need to get a court order to evict you.
Periodic agreements
A periodic agreement on the other hand is not for a set amount of time – it rolls from week to week, or month to month, and continues until it is brought to an end by either you or your landlord.
If you have a periodic agreement, you are normally entitled to one month’s notice before you will need to leave. However, your landlord will not need to show a legal reason for doing so.
College or university houses and flats
Some colleges and universities have flats and/or houses that they rent to students. They are usually very popular so it can be difficult to get a place. In most cases, mature students and people with children get priority.
Sometimes the college or university will lease properties for their students from private landlords, housing associations or, less commonly, from the local council.
It is important to check whether your landlord is the college/university or the owner of the property. This is because your landlord is responsible for carrying out any repairs needed and for dealing with any problems related to your rental agreement.
In most cases you will be an occupier with basic protection if the university or college is your landlord.
You will probably be an assured shorthold tenant if your landlord is:
- a housing association
- a private company, or
- an individual.
Privately rented accommodation
In many areas there is a lot of privately rented accommodation available. Some places are rented directly from the landlord and some are rented through a letting agency.
You may be able to find a place to live:
- in a bedsit or flat of your own
- as a lodger in a landlord's home, or
- in a shared flat or house.
Living in a bedsit or a flat of your own
If you live in private rented accommodation as a student, you have the same rights as any other private tenant. The quality and price of privately rented accommodation is very variable. Private landlords can provide different types of tenancies, but in most cases you will be an assured shorthold tenant unless you are a lodger in your landlord’s home (see below).
You should always go and see the accommodation and read any paperwork involved before you agree to move in or sign any written agreements. Don't hand over any money until you're sure.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your agreement, then it is important to get advice as to your responsibilities before you sign any agreement. Use our directory to find an adviser in your area.
Living as a lodger in your landlord’s home
If you share any accommodation with your landlord you will be an excluded occupier. If you sublet from a tenant, you may have any type of private tenancy, but are most likely to be an excluded occupier if you share any accomodation with your landlord.
Being an excluded occupier means that you have few rights and can be evicted very easily. Your landlord only has to give you ‘reasonable notice’. This notice may only be verbal and it doesn’t have to be for any particular length of time.
After the notice period has ended, your landlord can remove your belongings and/or change the locks.
Sharing with other students
Many students prefer to share flats or houses with friends. You may be able to get more for your money if you are sharing and will be able to split the cost of the bills.
If all of your flatmates are students, you don't have to pay council tax but you will usually need to get a certificate or a document from your college or university to show to the council. Whoever you are sharing with, be sure to set some ground rules, and agree whose name the rental agreement is in – this will have a major impact on your rights.
Gas safety for students
If you are living in rented accommodation it is important to make sure that any gas appliances on the premises are regularly maintained. This will help to minimise the risk of death or injury from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty or badly installed gas appliance.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of flu or tiredness. If you believe that you may have been poisoned you should contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Your landlord should provide you with an annual gas safety certificate, and so you can check that all appliances are regularly maintained and that any work is carried by a Gas Safe registered engineer. For more information, visit our pages on gas safety.
If in doubt, contact:
- your university accommodation office
- the HSE gas safety advice line on 0800 300 262
Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
An HMO is a house, or a flat that is occupied by more than one household. If the property is on at least 3 stories, and contains 5 or more people, it will need to be licensed by your local council.
The landlord will only be able to get a licence if proper fire safety measures are in place, and there are adequate cooking and washing facilities. If the property is licensed as an HMO, this will also mean the communal areas and the shared facilities should be kept clean and in good repair.
