First time student renters: what you need to know
Many students move into private rented housing after their first year of university.
This page tells you what you need to know about your first privately rented home.
When should you look for a student home?
Start looking as early as you can so you have more choice of properties.
Adverts for the next academic year often start to appear in October or November.
Many student tenancies start either:
during the summer holidays
at the start of a new academic year
Do not feel pressured into signing up to a tenancy that's not right for you.
Check adverts for when you can move into the property.
Where to look for properties
Contact your student union or student support services.
They often have an accommodation service and can help at any time of year.
Check noticeboards in your student union building for properties to rent.
You can also find student accommodation on:
your university or student union website
property websites like Zoopla or Rightmove
local letting agent websites
Some agents specialise in student rentals.
Finding a good landlord
Many universities and student unions have landlord accreditation schemes.
These schemes check the landlord and the property meet certain standards.
Ask the accreditation scheme what they check.
Housemate matching services
Ask student support services if the university has a housemate matching service.
These services help you find other people looking for people to rent a house or flat with.
What to look for at a viewing
Always visit the property in person if you can.
Ask if furniture and bills are included.
If other tenants are living there you could ask them about their renting experience.
Our property viewings checklist tells you what to look for and questions to ask.
Paying a holding deposit
The landlord or agent might ask for a holding deposit if you want to rent the property.
This is a fee to reserve the property while the landlord does checks. For example, they might want to check references or that you have a guarantor.
Landlords can only ask for a holding deposit equal to 1 week's rent.
You should get the holding deposit back if the landlord decides not to rent to you.
Make sure you are serious about the tenancy before paying a holding deposit. You might not get the money back if you decide not to rent the property.
Do you need a guarantor or co-signer?
You might be asked for a guarantor or a co-signer. This is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you do not pay it.
Guarantors or co-signers are usually a parent or family member. They might need to earn a certain amount and live in the UK.
If you do not have a guarantor, you could use a rent guarantor company. But you have to pay a fee for this.
What is a right to rent check?
Private landlords and agents in England have to check your right to live in the UK before they can rent to you.
They usually do this by asking to see:
a British or Irish passport
an online 'share code' if you are from abroad
You have the right to rent if you have the right to live in the UK.
Landlords and agents cannot charge you for this check.
They must not discriminate. For example, by making assumptions about who has the right to rent without checking.
More on:
What is a tenancy?
A tenancy is a legal agreement you make with the owner of a property to pay rent to live there.
Most tenants who rent from a private landlord have a 'periodic' assured tenancy.
Periodic means a rolling monthly tenancy.
What to check before you sign a tenancy
The landlord or agent should give you information about the tenancy before you sign.
This could be either:
a copy of the tenancy agreement
written information about the main terms of the tenancy
Read the documents carefully. You get this information to help you decide if you want to agree to the tenancy.
For example, check:
how much your rent is and when to pay it
if any bills are included in your rent
Do not feel pressured to sign up for something that's not right for you.
Student support services in your university or student union might check tenancy agreements.
More on:
Paying rent and other costs before you move in
The landlord or agent usually asks for:
a tenancy deposit - up to 5 weeks' rent
rent in advance - up to 1 month's rent
From 1 May 2026, landlords cannot ask for rent in advance before you sign a tenancy agreement.
Other tenancy fees
Most other tenancy fees are banned.
You cannot be charged a fee for things like admin costs or referencing fees.
Read our advice on tenancy fees to find out what you could be charged.
Paying rent in a joint tenancy
Student renters often have a joint tenancy agreement. You might have a joint tenancy if you rent with other people.
A joint tenancy agreement means all tenants are named on the tenancy agreement.
If one joint tenant does not pay their share of the rent, the landlord can ask the other tenants to pay instead.
This is called being 'jointly and severally liable' for rent.
Property damage in a joint tenancy
If one joint tenant damages the property, you could all get less of your tenancy deposit back when you leave.
More about when your landlord can keep money from your deposit.
What if one person wants to leave a joint tenancy?
Any tenant can give 2 months' written notice to leave at any time.
But if one tenant gives notice to leave, it ends the tenancy for all joint tenants.
Speak to the other tenants first if you want to leave. If other tenants want to stay, they need to talk to the landlord about agreeing a new tenancy.
Read more on your options if one person wants to leave.
Last updated: 28 September 2026
