Rent
| Catered/self-catered | Weekly costs | |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | catered | from £135 per week |
| Single room | self-catered | from £105 per week |
| Shared room* | catered | from £120 per week |
| Shared room* | self-catered | from £90 per week |
*Rooms are shared with another University of Brighton student of the same sex.
You will need to decide whether or not students will have access to other communal areas of your house, such as the lounge and/or dining room.Licence agreements
When you agree to let someone live in your own home, you both need to have a clear understanding of the rules and courtesies that each expects.
The homestay scheme requires you to have a written agreement with the student, setting out the most important aspects of your arrangement. This helps to avoid confusion and misunderstanding. The university has a model agreement that you can adapt to meet your own needs, because not everyone’s arrangements will be the same.
Our agreement includes the following:
- the full names of both host and the student
- how much rent is to be paid, when and how often
- the bills that are included with the rent
- how much notice each side will give to the other if either wants to end the agreement
- what meals and services will be provided, if any
- whether a retainer will be charged for vacation periods.
Other things to discuss could be:
- arrangements for washing, drying and ironing
- times when students can use the bathroom to avoid inconvenience during the busy morning period
- whether or not students will have access to other communal areas of your house, such as the lounge and/or dining room.
Any house rules which must be clear, unambiguous and non-discriminatory. Both you and the student should sign the agreement and keep a copy. If you want to end the arrangement, we ask you to give at least two weeks’ notice. It is more usual to give a month’s notice if the student pays rent monthly.
If you think you have a good reason to end the arrangement with less than two weeks’ notice, you must get in touch with the university first.
Council tax
Full-time students (21 hours a week or more) living with non-students (or part-time students studying less than 21 hours a week) and who rent or own a property jointly are, exempt from any council tax liability. You will need to ensure that the council receive an exemption certificate confirming your status. The non-students (or part-time students) will be made liable for the council tax. If there is only one non-student (or part-time student) resident in the property then a 25% council tax discount will be applied.
Full time students living in Brighton and Hove can apply for a council tax reduction via the council website. Full-time students living elsewhere can request a letter from their local Registry Office or by emailing studentadministration@brighton.ac.uk.
If you are unable to prove that your property was occupied solely by students at a later date, you may be asked to pay any council tax owing on the property.
Income tax
Hosts letting rooms in their own homes are allowed to earn a certain amount of rent without paying tax. Contact your local tax office for more details or visit the HM Revenue and Customs website.
Insurance
You are advised to contact your insurance company before letting a room to ensure that you are covered for student occupants. Not doing so may render policies null and void. Students are advised to provide their own insurance for their personal belongings.
