We want every student to feel comfortable and safe wherever they live. So, whether you're staying in halls, renting privately, or house-hunting, our housing section offers some great advice; from dealing with housing issues, to guidance around contracts and deposits, to financial support. Use the menu below to find the information you need, or send us an email at unionadvice@uwtsd.ac.uk.

What should I consider before deciding who to live with?

Before you find yourself signing a tenancy agreement, it is a good idea to decide what your priorities are, your preferred location and the budget that you have to work with. If you are going to be living with friends you should also think about the lifestyles of your potential housemates and whether this is going to suit you, remember you are going to be living with these people for the best part of a year so choose wisely. Have a frank discussion about your priorities and what you are willing to compromise on. Who likes to have the heating on full blast and who would rather put a jumper on? Who likes going out and who prefers staying in? You may choose to live with friends from your course or society, or people you lived with in the first year.

Questions to think about before a viewing

We've created an online, easy-to-use tools to help make it easier for you to record important information when viewing properties.

Once you’ve decided who you are going to live with, we recommend looking into average rental prices and weighing up the pros and cons of living in different parts of the city or town you are in. Before a house viewing plan some questions, you’d like to ask the landlord/letting agent. For example, is the property furnished, are utility bills included, what is the holding deposit, are there signs of damp/mould, who is responsible for maintaining the garden? Check with the landlord/agent what to do if something goes wrong in the property. Is there an emergency number or do you have to wait until office hours?

You then need to read the contract carefully, once you have agreed to live in the property, you are pretty much locked in for the duration. Check that all the correct names are present on the contract, all the amounts (rent, deposits) are as you agreed, when you can move in and who manages the property – the letting agent or landlord.

Most students who rent privately are assured shorthold tenants. You have the same rights as non-students in this type of tenancy. You’ll usually be asked to provide a guarantor. This is often a parent or family member who guarantees to pay your rent if you don't. They'll have to sign a guarantor agreement and may want to get their own advice before signing.

Helpful tip: Make sure you view the property and chat to the existing tenants about their experience of living there. We also advise that you are alert to rental scams. Students can be targeted by fraudsters who advertise properties that don't exist or have already been rented out.

Does a guarantor have to live in the UK?

Your landlord may ask for a parent or other relative to guarantee that they will pay your rent if you don’t pay it. Landlords will generally want you to provide a guarantor who lives in the UK as it will be easier for them to take legal action if there is any unpaid rent.

Will I need a deposit?

Nearly every contract will require a deposit. In Wales, deposits must be protected within a Deposit Protection Service. At the beginning of a new tenancy agreement, pay your deposit to your landlord or agent as usual. Within 14 days, the landlord or agent is then required to give information about how your deposit is protected including:

• Contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme
• Contact details of the landlord or agent
• How to apply for the release of the deposit
• Information explaining the purpose of the deposit
• What to do if there is a dispute about the deposit

What should I do if my landlord or agent hasnt protected my deposit?

You can apply to your local county court; the court can then order your landlord or agent to either repay your deposit to you or put it into a protection scheme.

www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection

Can I get a council tax reduction?

Full-time registered students can apply for an exemption from paying council tax. To be classified as a full-time student, you must be on a course that lasts at least a year and requires over 21 hours of study each week. Part-time students will usually need to pay, but could be eligible for a reduction based on other factors. Going straight into postgraduate study? Note: you will have to pay tax during the summer breaks between academic years. To claim an exemption, you can request the form on MyTSD.

If you're living in a shared house with both full-time students and non-students, you will get a council tax bill through the door each month. However, only the non-student tenants will have to pay it – full-time students are still exempt.

Do I need a TV licence?

If you or anyone in your home watches or records TV programmes as they’re shown on TV or on an online TV service (including your laptop, tablet or smartphone) such as All4, SkyGo and YouTube, or downloads or watches BBC programmes on demand on iPlayer, you’re legally required to obtain a TV licence or you may be fined.

How much money should I put aside for utility bills?

One of the biggest outgoings for students are utility bills such as gas and electricity. You can discuss switching your supplier with your letting agent or landlord. Using a price comparison site like Compare The Market will help you to find the best deal. You can reduce your electricity usage by switching off electronics and appliances at the mains socket when not in use, rather than leaving them on standby, and switching to energy-saving LED lightbulbs. 

You could also request a smart meter from your energy provider to help you track your electricity usage and provide accurate meter readings. Many suppliers install these for free. And it may sound obvious but wear warmer clothes around the house instead of turning the central heating on unnecessarily, and set a schedule on your central heating, rather than heating an empty home all day while you’re out.

Water bills in each area of the country are covered by a single supplier. If you’re on a standard tariff, you’ll be billed a fixed amount depending on the value of the house. You can pay the entire annual bill upfront or pay it throughout the year. If your house is on a water meter, you only pay for the water you’ve used. You can save water by turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth and limiting showers to five minutes – buy a waterproof shower timer and get everyone in your house on board. And finally, try to only run your washing machine on a full load so that you’re not wasting water, schedule a wash day with your housemates.

Where can I find out when our rubbish/recycling is being collected?

You can find out when your bins are collected online by visiting the website of your local council. You should be able to enter your postcode, to find out your bin collection day and to access the calendar for your area.

I'm struggling to settle in. Is it just me feeling lonely/homesick?

For some people, the transition of moving to university will feel smooth and straightforward, but for many, it will take time to settle in. Allow yourself time to adjust to a new lifestyle and remember that other people will be having similar feelings to you. If you're feeling homesick it can be tempting to shut yourself away, but this can leave you feeling more isolated. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, while most people benefit from some social interaction, it is important to find a balance that works well for you as an individual. Leaving your door open while you're in your room is one way of creating an opportunity for a conversation to start. 

You may find that you have more in common with people from your course or prefer socialising with others outside your flat. Joining a club or society will introduce you to people with a shared interest, visit our Opportunities page for more information. 

Students are also encouraged to seek well-being support if you’re looking for a safe space to chat about how you are feeling.

Is there a way to rate my tenancy experience?

Yes - Marks Out Of Tenancy bridges the gap from one renter to the next. Review your landlord, letting agent, rental property, and neighbourhood. 

Does a landlord have health and safety duties?

Landlords are required by law to make sure gas appliances are checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. They are also required to make sure all electrical appliances provided have the CE mark (manufacturers claim it meets European Safety Standard Law). Your Landlord should provide a fire alarm for each floor level and carbon monoxide detector in any room using solid fuel. You can also ask the Fire & Rescue Service to visit your property to carry out a Home Fire Risk Assessment.

Can I give the landlord notice and if so, how much?

Many fixed-term agreements (including some assured shorthold tenancies with private landlords) contain a break clause, which allows you to end the agreement before the end of the fixed term. Check your agreement to see if it includes a clause like this. If your agreement does include a break clause then it should also say how much notice is required; if it doesn’t include the break clause, then you cannot end the tenancy early unless the landlord agrees.

Can I get someone else to move in?

This may be possible if you have no choice but to leave early, and want to avoid paying rent on more than one home. However, you have to get the landlord’s agreement for the individual to move into the property. The landlord may want to take up references for them. The landlord should give the new individual their own tenancy agreement – otherwise, you will still be legally responsible for the tenancy.

What if my landlord agrees that I can leave?

It is possible to get out of the agreement at any time if you can come to a mutual agreement. This is called ‘surrender’. To be valid both sides must agree, and is best if the agreement is put in writing to ensure no confusion later on. If you have a joint tenancy, all the joint tenants and the landlord must agree to the surrender.

What happens when my agreement runs out?

If your agreement is for a fixed term (e.g. six months), you can leave on the last day of the fixed term without given notice, but you must ensure you do not stay even one day over, or you will automatically become a periodic tenant and have to give proper notice. Good communication helps things go smoothly, so although you do not have to it is still good to let the landlord know when you move out.

Useful Information

Advice from Citizens Advice

Advice from Shelter Cymru