We can provide advice and guidance on your accommodation issue, whether you live in a BU-managed property, private halls or in the private sector with a landlord or agency.

For help with any housing issue, contact us at SUBUAdvice@bournemouth.ac.uk or call us at 01202 965779.

Looking for a property for the new academic year or want to move elsewhere? SUBU Advice does not recommend any particular provider or site, but here are some resources available to you.

Accommodation BU 

If you are looking to stay in BU Halls then contact accommodation@bournemouth.ac.uk as they may be able to assist you with availability, waiting lists and provide further support. 

Lettings BU 

This is the university lettings agent. You can send them an email or visit their Talbot office in Poole House to enquire about any accommodation availability.

Overheard at Bournemouth University 

This is a Facebook page set up and run by students, it isn't specifically to do with housing, but students do post if they need people to take over their rooms or need replacement tenants here frequently. 

Further sites 

Whilst we appreciate you have most likely already looked at these sites, it is always good to set reminders or visit each day to see if there are any changes. 

• Rightmove
• Spare Room 
• Home Stay 

Below are links to private halls not affiliated with the University that you may wish to contact

• Skyline Students 
• Oxford Point

Before moving into rented accommodation, you and your landlord or letting agency should sign a written agreement. This will usually be either a tenancy agreement or, in some types of accommodation, a licence to occupy.

Know Your Rental Agreement

Your rights and responsibilities will depend on the type of agreement you sign.

The most common agreement in the private rented sector in England is now an Assured Tenancy. Assured tenancies provide important legal protections, including rules around rent increases, notice periods, deposit protection and the circumstances in which a landlord can seek possession of a property. Under the Renters' Rights Act, most private tenancies are periodic tenancies, meaning they continue until either the tenant or landlord ends them in accordance with the law. 

Joint Tenancy
If you and your housemates sign one agreement together, you will usually be jointly and severally liable. This means each tenant can be held responsible for the full rent and for complying with the terms of the tenancy if another tenant does not meet their obligations.

Individual Tenancy
If you have a separate agreement for your room, you are generally only responsible for your own rent and the terms of your own agreement.

Leaving a Tenancy Early

If you need to leave a tenancy before it ends, seek advice as early as possible. The options available will depend on the type of agreement you have and your individual circumstances.

Viewing a property and what to look for

You can also see Shelters checklist for viewing a property to rent.

Take this list to compare the houses you see – it may help you to decide which one is best.

A tenancy deposit is a sum of money that you pay to your landlord or letting agent before you move in. 

The deposit is your money.

You should get it back when your tenancy ends, but your landlord could keep some or all of it for things like:

• missed rent payments
• damage to the property

Your Tenancy Agreement or Licence should specify what the deposit is meant to cover.

• You should not have any money taken from your deposit to cover fair wear and tear.
• For most student tenancies, the maximum tenancy deposit is five weeks' rent.
• Don't pay a deposit until you've signed a Tenancy Agreement or Licence to Occupy.
• Keep evidence of payment and ensure you receive details of the deposit protection scheme once the deposit has been protected.
• Check how quickly you will get your deposit back once you have left the property.
• If you have a Joint Tenancy, money can be taken from all your deposits to cover damage, cleaning and bills for any part of the property or share of bills outstanding.
• If you have an Individual Agreement, you can only have money taken from your deposit to cover repairs or cleaning caused by your actions, or for your share of outstanding bills.

All tenants signing a new Assured Shorthold Tenancy will have their deposit placed into one of three government-backed Tenancy Deposit Protection schemes, which will ensure that your deposit is protected. Your landlord needs to inform you which scheme has been used within 30 days of them receiving the deposit.

In England and Wales deposits can be registered with:

• Deposit Protection Service
• MyDeposits
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Tenants can check that the deposit has been protected correctly by accessing these websites and providing the following details - postcode, surname, tenancy start date and deposit amount.

Inventory

An inventory is a list of everything in the property and the condition of those items and the property. It’s a record you will use to evidence the state of the property when you moved in and a great way to identify any issues or repairs.

Your landlord or agent may provide you with an inventory to complete. If not, you can do one yourself and send this via email to the agent or landlord within a week of moving in. You can see an example from Shelter here.

Damages & Marks

Include a list of furniture in each room, and note any damages, marks, worn furniture, mould, scuffs and items missing.

Pictures and Videos

Take pictures and videos of everything you note on the inventory as these will be key in helping you get your deposit back. Send these along with your inventory to the landlord or agent (keep copies for your records). This will be vital evidence if the landlord tries to charge for damage.

Meter Readings

On the first day you move in ensure you take meter readings of all utilities to the property: water (usually Bournemouth water), sewage (usually Wessex Water), gas and electricity.

Make a record of the readings (taking a picture is usually the easiest way) and make a note of them on your inventory. If you are unable to find the meters, contact your landlord or agent.

• Make sure that you leave the property clean and tidy, even if it wasn't when you moved in. If you have a joint tenancy, if your housemate has left their room in a bad state, you are all liable for this.
• If anything is damaged, make a list of what is damaged and how. If you are concerned about losing your deposit, take photographs of the damage, preferably with a camera that will display the date.
• Take the final meter readings, and contact your utility suppliers to let them know your last date in the property.

You could get your deposit back as soon as you and your landlord have agreed on the amount.

If you don’t agree with the suggested deductions, you are entitled to negotiate with them to reach an agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached amicably then you can challenge the suggested deductions through the tenancy deposit scheme’s free alternative dispute resolution service (ADR). 

For more info check out https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection

For useful information about deposit returns, check out this blog by Shelter.

As a tenant, you have certain responsibilities regarding repairs and conditions in your rented accommodation. These include:

• Keeping your accommodation reasonably clean
• Safety checks on electrical appliances you own
• Keeping gardens or outside areas in a reasonable state
• Minor maintenance such as changing light bulbs or smoke alarm batteries
• Fixing appliances or furniture you own
• Damage caused by you, your family or your guests
• Any minor repairs set out in your tenancy agreement

Your landlord is responsible for the following:

• Electrical wiring, gas pipes and boilers, heating and hot water, chimneys and ventilation
• Sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains
• Common areas including entrance halls and stairways
• The structure and exterior of the building, including walls, stairs and bannisters, roof, external doors and windows

Your landlord is always responsible for these repairs even if your tenancy agreement says something different. If you have reported a problem to your landlord, they must carry out a repair within a reasonable period.

The landlord is not responsible for repairs until they have been told that there is a problem. If you tell them or the letting agency verbally i.e. a phone call, follow it up in writing afterwards, clarifying the details.

Unless it is an emergency, landlords should normally give at least 24 hours' notice before entering the property.

Allow your landlord a reasonable amount of time to arrange repairs. Issues affecting health or safety should generally be treated more urgently than routine repairs.

For more information on this and further action you could take if the repairs are not being acted on, see the Shelter website.

For further guidance please contact the Advice Centre – subuadvice@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Renting for the first time can come with challenges, and knowing where to get support isn’t always clear. If you're unsure how to handle an issue, book an appointment with an advisor.

• Disagreements are normal, respectful communication can help maintain a positive living environment.
• Start with an informal chat to address any issues. If problems persist, suggest a house meeting to discuss concerns.
• If conflicts remain unresolved, seek help from the Advice Centre, where advisors may mediate a discussion between you and your housemates.

Harassment and Illegal Eviction

If a landlord cannot get a tenant to leave their property legally, they may sometimes harass them into leaving.

Harassment can take a variety of different forms, but you do have legal protection. If any of the following apply to you, seek advice as soon as possible.

Harassment can include:

• Refusing to let you access certain parts of the property or only allowing access at certain times
• Unreasonably restricting your use and enjoyment of the property, including visitors where permitted under your tenancy
• Constant visits from the landlord or agent, visiting without permission when you are not there, or sending contractors to carry out work without giving notice
• Offering you money, or threatening violence, to make you leave
• Allowing the property to fall into such a poor state of repair that it becomes difficult or unsafe to live there
• Changing the locks
• Removing or restricting services such as hot water or electricity
• Throwing your belongings out of the property
• Pressuring you to sign an agreement that removes or restricts your rights

Harassment and illegal eviction are criminal offences. You are protected by the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. If you are experiencing harassment, have been illegally evicted, or feel at risk, seek advice immediately.

In an emergency, the police may be able to assist if you are being threatened with violence. You may also be able to obtain legal advice from a solicitor. Depending on your circumstances, solicitors may be able to help you access emergency legal remedies in urgent cases.

If you believe you are being harassed, contact the Advice Centre and we will do our best to support you. Depending on the circumstances, we may also refer you to a specialist organisation for further assistance.

Further information about eviction can be found through Shelter.

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and need support with emergency accommodation, please contact us via subuadvice@bournemouth.ac.uk. We can signpost you to relevant sources of support.

We don't have access to free accommodation, but whether you are facing eviction, sleeping rough or sofa surfing, our advisors will always listen and try to identify as many options as possible so you can decide your next steps.

You can also get in touch with the accommodation team at the University who may be able to provide some options with living on or off campus in Bournemouth via the contact details below:

accommodation@bournemouth.ac.uk or call +44(0)1202 969696 

You can also get in touch with the BCP Council who may be able to help you with emergency accommodation.

Contact number: 01202 123 147

Contact organisations

There are a number of organisations that can offer advice and information if you are homeless. Here are a few:

• Centrepoint provides support and assistance to young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless, or facing homelessness.
• Shelter provides housing and homelessness information and advice to those in need. For advice, call their freephone number 0808 800 4444 (08:00 – 20:00 weekdays, 08:00 – 17:00 weekends), which is available 365 days a year.

Most landlords now require students (and particularly international students) to provide details of a UK-based guarantor before they sign the tenancy agreement as a condition of the housing contract. The guarantor is a third-party individual or organisation who guarantees to pay the landlord/lady any rent which the student fails to pay and the cost of any damage for which the student is responsible and fails to pay for.

For students who are unable to secure a guarantor via family or work, there are some companies available that will provide this service for a fee. These companies are:

• Housing Hand - www.housinghand.co.uk
• UK Guarantor - ukguarantor.com
• Rent Guarantor - www.rentguarantor.com

Useful links

• How to Rent - Guide
• Marks Out Of Tenancy
• Shelter – Leading UK Housing Charity

Rate and review your landlord/agency, property and area when you move out of your accommodation so next year's students know what to expect when searching for their perfect pad.

• If you want to know how to set up paying bills in your shared house, visit Save the Student's guide to student energy bills.
• BU has information on their website about private renting https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/why-bu/accommodation/private-rental-accommodation.