For Students
Student Guide
Heading to university in Norwich? This guide covers everything from finding the right student house and joint tenancies to council tax, bills and getting your deposit back.
Heading to university in Norwich? This guide covers everything from finding the right student house and joint tenancies to council tax, bills and getting your deposit back.
Tap any section to read more, and open as many as you like. If your situation is a little different, an international student, postgrad, a couple, or non-students in the mix, just get in touch and we will talk it through.
Start your search early, the best student houses go quickly, especially for the following academic year. Browse our student listings, filter to narrow things down, and use the enquiry form on any property to arrange a viewing.
Not finding what you are after? Register with us, we often know about student properties before they are listed.
Most student tenancies run from July or September and last 12 months, regardless of university term dates. This means you will be paying rent over the summer even if you are not living there, so factor this into your budget from the start.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act all new tenancies are periodic from day one.
In most shared student houses, all tenants sign a single joint tenancy. This means you are collectively responsible for the full rent and the condition of the property. If one housemate does not pay their share, the others may be liable.
Make sure you are comfortable with your housemates before signing. Once the agreement is in place, it is very hard to remove someone from a joint tenancy mid-term.
As a student, you will almost certainly need a guarantor, usually a parent or guardian who agrees to cover the rent if you cannot pay. Your guarantor will provide proof of income and identification as part of referencing.
On joint student tenancies, guarantors are often asked to underwrite the whole property rent, not just their student’s share. Make sure your guarantor understands this before they sign.
Do not have a suitable UK-based guarantor? Ask us about guarantor services and alternative arrangements, it is very common, particularly for international students.
Before a tenancy can begin we carry out referencing on all tenants and guarantors. This is standard across the industry.
Once referencing is complete and everyone has agreed terms, we prepare the tenancy agreement for signing. Read it carefully, it sets out your rights, responsibilities and the rules of the property, including:
Do not be afraid to ask us if anything is unclear. Better to raise it now than discover a surprise at the end of the tenancy.
An inventory setting out the contents and the state of the property is put together before you move in. It matters even more in a shared house, where you are all on the hook together. Check it carefully, take your own photos, and report any discrepancies straight away.
You will normally have a week after check-in to add notes or photos. Photos taken on move-in day are the best protection for your deposit at the end.
Before the tenancy starts you will pay a security deposit and the first month’s rent (or first instalment if rent is paid termly). Your deposit is protected in a government-approved scheme and cannot be used to cover rent during the tenancy.
Once the agreement is signed and all payments have cleared, you can collect your keys and move in. We will walk you through everything you need to get settled.
Full-time students are exempt from council tax. You will need to apply for an exemption through your local council and provide a council tax exemption certificate from your university.
If everyone in the property is a full-time student, the household is fully exempt. If any occupant is not a full-time student, council tax will apply to the household, so check this before agreeing to live with non-students.
Unless your tenancy is bills-inclusive, you will be responsible for gas, electricity, water, broadband and a TV licence where applicable. In a shared house, agree upfront how you will split the bills.
If anything breaks or needs fixing, report it to us as soon as possible. Do not leave it or try to fix it yourself. We will liaise with the landlord and arrange repairs promptly.
The law puts the duty on your landlord to keep the property in good repair and to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act you have the right to request to keep a pet, and the landlord cannot unreasonably refuse. In a shared house, all housemates should agree before making a request. Let us know and we will put it to the landlord. Where permission is granted, it is worth considering insurance against pet damage.
Any changes to the property, including painting, putting up shelves or replacing fixtures, require written consent from the landlord via us. This applies to all tenants, so make sure everyone is on the same page before requesting changes. Unapproved changes may need to be put back at your cost, which comes out of the deposit.
The landlord insures the building but not your personal belongings. Student houses can be targets for burglary, so we strongly recommend contents insurance to cover laptops, bikes, phones and other valuables.
Before buying a new policy, check whether your parents’ home insurance covers you while you are away at university, many policies do, so it is worth a phone call first.
In short: look after the place, pay on time, be a decent neighbour, and talk to us if anything goes wrong. Being a good neighbour helps everyone and protects your deposit.
Browse our latest student listings, or register your details and we will let you know as soon as something suitable comes on near your university.
The Norwich student market moves early: the search for the next academic year begins before Christmas and the best houses are usually gone by spring. Get your group together early and register with us so you hear about releases first.
Usually yes. Most student houses are let on a single joint tenancy, which means the group shares responsibility for the rent together rather than each person being responsible for only their room. It is worth choosing housemates you trust.
Almost always, yes. Each tenant normally provides a UK-based guarantor, usually a parent, who agrees to cover the rent if it goes unpaid. If a UK guarantor is not possible, talk to us about the alternatives before you apply.
It varies by property and the listing will say. Where bills are not included, the group takes over the utilities for the tenancy, and full-time students can apply for council tax exemption. We will point you in the right direction at sign-up.
Most student tenancies run for a full twelve months, so the house is yours over summer even if you go home, and rent remains payable. Some landlords offer reduced summer rent; where that applies it will be in the listing.