Private renting

If you rent in the private sector, we can help you find somewhere to live and people to live with.

Brighton and Eastbourne offer a range of options for students wanting to rent privately. Students are eligible for discounted public transport between Brighton, Chichester, Worthing and Eastbourne.

Download our house-hunting guide

How we can help

  • We manage our own studenthomes database with details of all kinds of properties offered by landlords who have registered with us. 
  • Join the groups we manage on Facebook where you can meet new and current students looking for and offering rooms in rented houses.

When to look

  • We recommend looking for private rented accommodation over the summer if this is your first year at the University of Brighton. We advise that you do not sign any contracts or make any advance payments until your course place here has been confirmed.
  • Returning students are not recommended to start looking for accommodation until the February of their first year.
  • We also make every eligible student, who applies for our accommodation, an offer of university accommodation. Find out if you are eligible.

Studenthomes online search

You can use our online database of privately rented accommodation, called studenthomes, rather than commercial letting agents.

Studenthomes provides advice about housing matters as well as details of houses, flats and lodgings available for rent in Brighton and Eastbourne and it's exclusively for University of Brighton students.

All landlords who register properties with us have signed up to our code of standards.

You can access studenthomes with your normal university login details. If that doesn't work, contact the Service Desk by telephone on 01273 644444 or by email at servicedesk@brighton.ac.uk.

Search accommodation on Studenthomes

Facebook groups

We can give you access to our Facebook groups so you can meet other students who are looking to share or have a room to offer in a rented house.

Brighton group

If you are already studying with us, and looking for a room in Brighton join our Brighton group where you can meet other students looking for and offering rooms.

Eastbourne group

If you are already studying with us, and looking for a room in Eastbourne join our Eastbourne group where you can meet other students looking for and offering rooms.

Join the Brighton group

Join the Eastbourne group

Budgeting

You will need to pay a deposit and then first instalment of rent before you move in. As well as rent, you should budget for contents insurance, travel, a TV license and food. 

Brighton

  • The average rent in 2021 for a one-bed flat was £253 per week.
  • A room in a shared house for 2021 was on average £137–155 per week.
  • A damage deposit (capped at no more than five weeks rent) and at least one month's rent is usually required.
  • Rent does not usually include bills, so you would be responsible for sorting out your own broadband, electricity, gas and water. The average cost of student household bills in 2021 was £40 per month.
  • A guarantor is typically required when renting in the private sector.
Brighton houses

Eastbourne

  • The average rent in 2021 for a one-bed flat was £169 per week.
  • A room in a shared house in 2021 was on average £111 per week.
  • A damage deposit (capped at no more than five weeks rent) and at least one month's rent is usually required.
  • Rent does not usually include bills, so you would be responsible for sorting out your own broadband, electricity, gas and water. The average cost of student household bills in 2021 was £40 per month.
  • A guarantor is typically required when renting in the private sector.
Eastbourne houses