Budgeting
Upfront costs
- A refundable holding deposit (to reserve a property) - this must be capped at no more than one week’s rent.
- A refundable security deposit – this must be capped at no more than five weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is less than £50,000, or six weeks’ rent where the total annual rent is £50,000 or above. Some landlords/letting agencies will offer a no deposit option.
- It is typical for the first month’s rent to be paid upfront when securing accommodation.
If you are entering an assured shorthold tenancy, your security deposit must be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. Your landlord/letting agency must tell you which scheme your deposit is protected by.
Rent and bills
- The average weekly rent in 2024 for a studio flat is £232 (bills not inclusive).
- The average weekly rent in 2024 for a one-bedroom flat is £307 (bills not inclusive).
- The average weekly rent in 2024 for a shared house is £140 per person (based on four-six bedroom houses, bills not inclusive).
- Contracts for shared houses and flats in the private sector are likely to be 50–52 weeks long, so you need to ensure your budget covers this whole period. You should consider whether you need to work part-time during your studies and over the summer to support your living costs.
The above information is based on our own market research.
Calculate an average monthly cost by multiplying the weekly amount by 52, then dividing the new sum by 12.
- Bills are not usually included in the rent, so you will need to organise these with your household. The average monthly cost of utilities for a four-bedroom household in 2024 is £107 per person (energy, water, broadband, TV licence).
- We would also advise all students to arrange contents insurance. You can buy this for as little as £4 a month.
The above information is from Save The Student.
Guarantors and referees
You will probably be required to provide a guarantor when applying to rent a property in the private sector. The purpose of a guarantor is to guarantee rent payments. If you fail to pay rent, your guarantor will be asked for payment. Most students ask a relative or friend. A person must meet certain criteria to act as a guarantor, this will vary across letting agencies and landlords.
If you do not have a suitable guarantor, some agencies and landlords may accept use of a guarantor service instead. A guarantor service is a paid service that provides rental guarantee insurance during your tenancy. Paying for rental guarantee insurance through a guarantor service ensures that a landlord will receive payment if the tenant defaults. Similarly to other insurance policies, tenants will have to meet certain conditions in order to be eligible for the service, such as passing reference checks, providing a deposit and providing an eligible co-signer.
See some guarantor services listed below:
Another alternative to a guarantor that may be accepted is paying rent upfront. A commonly accepted payment schedule is six months upfront, with a second payment of the remaining amount after six months. Sometimes the full rental amount for the tenancy period will be requested upfront. Not all agencies/landlords will accept this instead of a guarantor.
If you plan to use a guarantor service, or suggest an upfront payment in place of a guarantor, we advise that you check whether this will be accepted in your initial queries, before viewing a property, so that you don’t waste your time.
Private landlords and residential landlords may be more open to negotiation regarding guarantors.
Referees
An agency or private landlord will probably ask you to provide references who they can contact to check that you are a suitable tenant and will pay your rent on time. The agency will be able to tell you who is an acceptable referee.
If you live in the Brighton & Hove City Council area
Brighton & Hove City Council do not require a council tax exemption certificate. Please complete the student reduction application form provided by Brighton & Hove City Council.
If you live outside of Brighton & Hove:
If you are a full-time student but live outside of the Brighton & Hove City Council area you will need to send a council tax exemption certificate to your local council tax office.
The university can send you this if you email studentadministration@brighton.ac.uk with your request.
TV licence
You will need a TV licence if you watch or record live television. This is true whether you are watching on a TV or any other device.
If you have a joint tenancy you should only need one TV licence for the whole house, but if you each have a separate tenancy agreement, you will also need your own TV licence if you watch or record live television in your room.
Information for students is available on the TV licensing website.
Moving in
At the start of your tenancy there are several things you need to do.
Taking the following steps now will help you avoid incurring additional costs later on.
Check the property
The first thing you should do when you get the keys to the property is take a look around the house to make sure there aren't any obvious problems or damage. If you find any, you should make a note of it and tell your landlord or managing agency or immediately. This will ensure you don't get charged later for damage that was not your fault.
Check and return your inventory
Your landlord or managing agency should provide you with an inventory, which is a list detailing the condition of the property and its contents before you moved into the house. Any damage should be noted on the inventory.
Taking the time to check your property and its contents against the inventory is very important, as this is your opportunity to highlight any damage that hasn't been recorded. You will often do this with the landlord or agent.
If there is anything not noted on the inventory make a note of it, taking photos if necessary. If there are any disputes at the end of the tenancy you will then have proof of the condition of items at the beginning of the tenancy. Ensure that you return a signed copy of the inventory to the landlord and keep a copy for your own records.
Set up your utilities
Find out where the gas, electricity and water meters are and take readings as soon as you move in. You may or may not have a water meter. Check with the landlord or water company if you are not sure.
You will usually be responsible for paying for utilities such as gas, electricity and water. You must set up an account with each supplier. You should be able to get the details of the current supplier from the landlord or agency. Contact the supplier with the appropriate meter reading and ask to set up an account. It is a good idea to shop around before selecting a supplier.
Agree how the bills are going to be paid. If you are on a joint tenancy it is very important to set up the account in all of your names so you are equally liable.
You might have a key or prepayment meter. In this case you will still need to set up an account in your name(s). You can charge the key or card in any shop bearing the PayPoint symbol. Find your nearest PayPoint shop.
It’s a good idea to find out where the master switches are for the gas and electricity and the stop cock for the water. You might need them if there is a leak or electrical fault.
Learn when your rubbish and recycling days are
When you move in, make sure that you find out when the rubbish and recycling collection days are for your street. You can find this on your local authority website:
Moving out
At the end of your tenancy there are steps you should take to avoid losing your deposit and being charged for utilities you are no longer using. This guide will help you to move out without incurring extra costs.
Cleaning your house
Deposits are often withheld because the property has not been adequately cleaned. It's important to make sure you:
- clean the cooker – including the oven and grill
- dust skirting boards and door frames
- clean all kitchen and bathroom surfaces
- wash all hard floors and vacuum all carpets
- remove all food from the fridge and freezer and defrost them, leaving them unplugged with the doors open
- clear all rubbish from the gardens
- clean the windows if safe to do so or hire a professional window cleaner.
Check your tenancy agreement to make sure you have fulfilled all the requirements. For example, some agencies may require windows and carpets to be professionally cleaned and for you to provide receipts.
Disposing of rubbish
When cleaning out your house, some of your waste should go to landfill and some to recycling.
Information about collection days for your area and what can and can’t be recycled can be found on your local council’s website:
Make sure you follow the councils’ guidelines about rubbish collection. Rubbish left out can attract wildlife.
Utilities and post
Take meter readings and inform all your energy suppliers that you are moving out. Inform other utility providers if necessary.
Redirect your post and ensure that the relevant people and organisations, including your energy suppliers, have forwarding addresses.