Accommodation in the UK
Our guide to the tips, tricks, and terminology around finding accommodation as a Chevening Scholar in the UK.
As a Chevening Scholar, it is your responsibility to find accommodation for the duration of the scholarship. You should start planning your accommodation as soon as you receive your Final Award Letter (FAL) as it can take some time.
The guidance on this page is here to help you with this process. You can also look at our accommodation FAQs and guide to the types of accommodation available for students in the UK. Once your accommodation is finalised, you must share your address with your Programme Officer and keep them informed if this changes during your Chevening year.
Tips for finding accommodation
- Contact your university’s accommodation office for advice about finding accommodation before you arrive in the UK.
- Apply for university accommodation as soon as possible if this is your preferred option. They often have early deadlines! You’ll need to have a copy of your Final Award Letter (FAL) to apply.
- Don’t hand over any money for accommodation until you have seen it and are happy with the quality and the terms of the contract. If you are unable to view the property in person, many accommodation providers will now offer virtual tours.
- Research the area you would like to be located in (e.g how far it is from the campus, food shops, transport links, and the closest town/city).
- Your monthly stipend (as stated in your FAL) is intended to cover all of your living costs, including accommodation. Don’t forget to take this into account when choosing housing.
Find more information on finding accommodation on the UKCISA website.
Right to rent
In England, private landlords need to ensure you have the ‘right to rent’. This means:
- You will need to provide your visa and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) as proof of your right to rent.
- Private accommodation in England can only be secured once you’re in the UK and have collected your BRP (University accommodation is exempt from this requirement)
You do not need to prove your right to rent in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
Your monthly stipend (as stated in your Final Award Letter) is intended to cover all of your living costs, including accommodation. Please take this into account when choosing housing.
You should carefully note what is included within the rent, and any potential hidden costs. In most university accommodation, gas, water and electricity costs are likely to be included, but check this in advance. These will not usually be included in rent for private accommodation. There are also often agency or administration fees associated with finding private accommodation.
If you are asked to pay upfront rent payments, either in full or termly instalments, you should ask your accommodation provider to allow you to make monthly payments and share your Final Award Letter with them as proof of your monthly stipend.
A deposit is a sum of money you pay to your university or landlord at the beginning of your contract. It’s refundable when you move out, but they may keep some of if there are damages to the property. You should not pay a deposit until your scholarship has been confirmed and you are happy with the property. Any deposit payment is made at your own risk.
Some universities may waive the deposit if you show them your Final Award Letter, indicating that you will receive a monthly stipend. If you do have to pay a deposit, you might consider using your Arrival Allowance (where applicable) to cover it. Please note that private accommodations will likely have regulations regarding deposits; if unsure, seek advice from your university or Students’ Union’s housing advice service. You can also consult the UCKISA’s Looking for Housing page to understand your rights as a tenant.
Always ensure you receive a receipt for any deposit or fee you pay. The Secretariat cannot make deposit payments on your behalf or reimburse accommodation deposits. Please note that if you make any deposit payments from your cash card, it will be reimbursed back to your cash card.
A guarantor is a third-party individual or organisation who agrees to be responsible for paying your rent if you fail to do so. University accommodation providers will not generally ask for a guarantor, but some private landlords will require one as a condition of the contract. Please note that the Secretariat is not able to act as a guarantor or provide a character reference under any circumstances. You may share your Final Award Letter as proof of the monthly payments you will receive, however some accommodation providers may not accept this in lieu of a guarantor.
Please note that your Chevening Scholarship does not include any insurance. We recommend taking out possessions insurance to protect your belongings from theft, fire, loss or accidental damage while you are staying in the UK. Some universities include possessions insurance as part of the deal, but check that this covers all your possessions.
Council tax is set by local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to pay for essential services such as rubbish collection and emergency services, based on the valuation of the property you live in
While you are a full-time student, you are exempt from paying council tax. If you live in halls of residence then you will automatically be exempt from paying council tax. If you live in private accommodation and all the other occupants are also full-time students, then you will need to provide a letter to your local council to verify your full-time student status. You should be able to request this letter from your university’s student services or international student advice office.
If you live in private accommodation and one or more of the occupants are not full-time students then the household may be liable to pay council tax.
Further information about council tax is available on the UKCISA website. If you need some further advice, speak to your university.
If you have any housing queries, you should contact your university in the first instance. We do not have a legal adviser at the Secretariat to assist with housing issues in the UK, but if you are having problems with current accommodation, you can contact the Welfare and Immigration team at welfare@chevening.org to get additional support and information about where you can get legal advice.
Find further support for your UK accommodation search at the links below.
