Here you will find key services and resources that will help support you during your academic life at GCU London.
There are a number of privately run purpose-built student accommodations (also known as private halls or Purpose Built Student Accommodation or PBSAs) in the city that provide en-suite rooms within a cluster flat and/or studio accommodation. You can find detail on these with a quick internet search.
Some things to consider while choosing private halls:
Traditionally renting privately means renting a room or a property privately from individual landlords, usually through an agency. If you require any legal support or advice regarding your private rental, you can contact Shelter which is a charity supporting people through housing problems. Shelter has guidance for students looking for accommodation on their website, as well as some general guidance for renting privately.
Private rented accommodation is often cheaper as this includes room rent and common areas (kitchen, bathroom) but bills (gas, water and so on) might not be included and you will need to budget for this. Rent can either be advertised weekly or monthly (pw or pcm).
Private renters will often ask for a damage security deposit before you move in plus first month rent up front. Typically the deposit will be equivalent to four to eight weeks rent.
London is big and diverse and contains different areas that are more or less expensive than others. As a general rule you can use the Transport for London zoning system as a rough price guide; closer into the centre (Zone 1) is more expensive, further out tends to be cheaper.
If you are looking for a flatshare the place to start is Spareroom. Alternatively, try Gumtree. If you are after a flat all to yourself then start off with Zoopla or Rightmove but look at signing up to a letting agent as well; Foxtons, Hamptons and Winkworth are all popular.
Alternatively, you can find a private rented home and save 20% on fees using the Spotahome website.
If possible go and view the flat/room before you sign a contract. It can be very different in person compared to pictures on a website and you can get a feel for the area you’ll be living in.
You may need to consider booking temporary accommodation when you arrive in London before you move in or whilst you are looking for permanent accommodation. Find out more about temporary accommodation.
If you are at risk of homelessness or have been facing unprecedented difficulties and need to access homelessness services, you can find more guidance on Shelter’s webpages.
There have been multiple scam incidents reported, so please be aware of any fees you’re paying and anyone you’re dealing with. Here are some tips to be aware of while you are searching for accommodation:
ALWAYS
NEVER
If you have any doubts or questions, please contact the Accommodation Support team by email accommodation.support@gcu.ac.uk
Once you've decided on where you would like to live, you'll need to put in an offer and sign a contract. It's important that you read through your full contract carefully. Most contracts are many pages in length to cover all of the landlord's and tenant's responsibilities. You'll be asked for a number of additional charges; typically you have to pay a deposit to cover damages which is normally between four-eight weeks' rent, the first month’s rent in advance and, if you’ve arranged through them, a letting agent fee which varies but is typically between £200-£500.
Before you make any payments, ensure that the landlord/letting agent you’re working with is accredited with a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. It is a legal requirement for landlords to register your deposit within 30 days of it being paid. This ensures that in the case of a dispute at the end of the tenancy over damages, the deposit is protected until the dispute is resolved. Many schemes also offer dispute arbitration.
The UK government website has more information on tenancy agreements as well a checklist for renting in England
If you sign up for an AST, one of your rights is that the deposit that you pay to the householder or letting agent is placed in a Government-backed Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS). This means that the deposit is held by an independent organisation during your tenancy which may arbitrate in any dispute. This must be done within 14 working days of deposit payment. For further details on schemes available and tenant rights visit Tenancy Deposit Protection.
Full-time students living in an all-student-occupied house are exempt from paying Council Tax. An exemption letter can be requested from the Student Office if necessary.
If, however, you share with one or more professionals, the property will be liable for Council Tax. Please contact your local housing authority for more details on how much to pay.
To watch television in the UK you must have a TV Licence even if you are watching live online shows. In student halls, premises have a licence for communal areas but you may need one for your room as it is private. In a private shared house you usually need only one licence to cover the whole house unless each room has its own facilities. Check the TV Licensing website if you need a licence.
For further information, please contact us by email at advice@gculondon.ac.uk
Tel: +44 203 369 3000
A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent and reimburse the landlord for any damage caused at the property if you, as the tenant, fail to do so. When renting privately most landlords and agents will require you to provide a guarantor.
A guarantor is usually required to:
For many students, their guarantor might be a family member or family friend.
Guarantor agreements are legally binding. It is a good idea to get the guarantor agreement checked before it is signed.
If you are entering into a joint tenancy, your guarantor will most likely be guaranteeing the rent for the whole property and not just your share of the rent.
Where possible, it is better for your guarantor if the guarantor agreement:
You may be asked to pay rent in advance, e.g. three or six months. If you pay rent in advance, you may find you have less bargaining power if something goes wrong with the flat and you are trying to get the landlord to carry out repairs. You would also be vulnerable in the rare event that a property is repossessed due to a landlord defaulting on their mortgage payments, see our section of mortgage repossessions for more details. You can also make use of a private rent guarantor service such as Housing Hand, however, please use any external service at your own discretion as the University is not liable for damages from any external service used by a student.
A landlord or letting agent might ask for a reference before the tenancy is confirmed. You can find a template for a reference letter on Shelter’s website. If you do not have a reference from a previous landlord, you can also ask your new landlord or agent if they will accept a reference letter from someone else like your workplace, or someone else who can provide a character reference for you. GCU does not provide character references for tenancies.
When you are looking for rented accommodation, it is good practice to ensure that the property has the following:
A lease/tenancy agreement/contract must include:
A guide to private letting for students by Shelter England
Advice if you are facing homelessness by Shelter England
Advice if you are being discriminated against by your landlord or agent by Shelter England
Check a landlord or agent by Mayor of London’s website
Interactive London rental map by Mayor of London’s website
