FAQ’S

1. A range of housing to suit all budgets.
2. Premium service.
3. No fees.
4. Bills-inclusive options available.
5. Properties are fully compliant with the relevant housing standards and health and safety laws, giving you peace of mind.

First, please ensure that the property is still available on the property page. You can then contact us using the contact form on the property page.

Please also note that the majority of our properties have a virtual tour available online, these will normally be shown on the property page and we encourage you to view this to ensure that the property is suitable before arranging an in-person viewing.

If the property is still available, you will be able to click “BOOK NOW” on the property page and follow the steps to reserve it. Please note that you will require the contact details for your whole group and a credit or debit card to pay the holding deposit.

It is also possible to reserve a property over the phone or in person at our office, if you would like to reserve a property using one of these options, please contact us or call us on 0330 3214461

Further information is available under our Terms and Conditions for Reservations.

You can only reserve one of our houses or flats if you are reserving the whole property. If you are set on a specific property, then we would advise that you ask around for people to join your group. Alternatively, have a look at some of the smaller properties which we have available. If you would like to discuss your needs with us, please contact us or call us on 0330 3214461.

Generally, our student houses are rented to groups of 2 to 8 students. We occasionally offer properties by the room, and these will be listed in the Student Rooms part of the website. Alternatively, you may wish to check out our studio availability.

If you cannot find the page or are unsure of our availability, please contact us or call us on 0330 3214461.

The short answer is generally NO, there are no additional or hidden costs to be passed on to tenants. The only fees chargeable are as follows, in accordance with the Tenant Fees Act 2019:

Holding Deposit – £99 per tenant is required to reserve the property for 14 days to allow the relevant paperwork (including any right to rent checks) for the tenancy to be completed. Should you decide not to proceed with renting the property, fail to complete the application process, or provide us with inaccurate information then the holding deposit may be non-refundable. Occasionally the amount of the holding deposit will vary per property, and this will always be stated on the property page.

Security Deposit – All tenants are required to pay a security deposit. The amount varies by property but is typically either £250 or £350 per person which will be stated on the property page. The deposit is due before the commencement of the tenancy. All deposits are protected in an authorized tenancy deposit protection scheme and will be returned in accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement. This covers damages to the property or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

Variation of Contract – If the tenant requests a variation of the contract, and this is agreed with the landlord, a charge will be payable to cover the costs associated with taking the landlord’s instructions and preparing the amended agreements.

Change of Sharer – If the tenant requests a change of sharer and introduces a replacement tenant to us, then a charge will be payable per replacement tenant. This is to cover the costs associated with taking the landlord’s instructions, the right to rent checks, updating the deposit, and preparing the amended agreements.

Unpaid Rent – Interest will be charged on unpaid rent at 3% above the Bank of England base rate where rent is unpaid for 14 days or more.

Lost Key(s) – Tenants are liable for the cost of replacing any lost keys or other security devices. If the loss results in locks needing to be changed, the actual costs of a locksmith, new lock, and replacement keys for the tenant, landlord, or any other persons requiring keys will be charged to the tenant.

Utilities – Where utilities are included in the rent, the agreement also lists a clause stating the usage cap. Sadly, energy isn’t free, and if tenants exceed the usage amount contained within the tenancy agreement, tenants will be charged for the extra energy used at the end of the tenancy term. Allowances differ depending on the size and type of property – the bigger the property, the bigger the allowance. Details of your allowance will be stated in your tenancy agreement. Think of it like your mobile data allowance – you have a set amount included in your rent, and if you go over your allowance, you pay for the extra.

Usage is calculated on a yearly basis, giving the tenants the benefit of an overall use.

Early Termination – Should the tenant wish to leave their contract early, the cost will be no more than the amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

Yes, all our tenants must have a UK-based guarantor. Exceptions may be made at the landlord’s discretion and normally only where a tenant is able to pay all their rent upfront.

All tenants are required to pay a security deposit. The amount varies by property but is typically either £250 or £350 per person which will be stated on the property page. The deposit is due before the commencement of the tenancy. All deposits are protected in an authorized tenancy deposit protection scheme and will be returned in accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement. This covers damages to the property or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

Yes, and yes. All tenants are required to pay a security deposit. The amount varies by property but is typically either £250 or £350 per person which will be stated on the property page. The deposit is due before the commencement of the tenancy. All deposits are protected in an authorized tenancy deposit protection scheme and will be returned in accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement. This covers damages to the property or defaults on the part of the tenant during the tenancy.

All tenants will be provided with the relevant paperwork confirming where their security deposit is protected. Student Digs generally use DPS but this will vary for landlord-managed properties. There are three protection schemes available in the UK as follows:

DPS – www.depositprotection.com

TDS – www.tenancydepositscheme.com/

MyDeposits – https://www.mydeposits.co.uk/

There are a variety of term lengths to choose from. Our standard tenancy length is 52 weeks, but there are also properties offering 51, 48, and 44-week long tenancies. All of the information about the available term options is listed on the property pages, so it’s important to check these carefully.

£99 per tenant is required to reserve the property for 14 days to allow the relevant paperwork (including any right-to-rent checks) for the tenancy to be completed. Should you decide not to proceed with renting the property, fail to complete the application process, or provide us with inaccurate information then the holding deposit may be non-refundable. Occasionally the amount of the holding deposit will vary per property, and this will always be stated on the property page.

A typical standard rent schedule is termly, in line with student loans in October, January, and May of each year. For a typical tenancy, this will mean 4 payments: in May (before the start of the tenancy), October, January, and the following May.

If your loan dates are different to the above or if you need a different rent breakdown due to your circumstances, please contact us directly or discuss your requirements with one of our colleagues during the viewing.

Some landlords request their own payment breakdown that doesn’t match the above dates. If they do, you will be told during the viewing.

The tenancy agreement will be sent to all tenants to sign electronically via DocuSign. These can then be signed by all parties on a computer or mobile device.

If you are 100% sure that you have found your dream property and wish to stay for multiple academic years, then it is possible to sign a tenancy agreement for multiple years at once.

One of the key benefits of doing so is that you will have comfort knowing that the rent will be fixed for the entire period.

Please also note that in most cases you will be offered first refusal on your property for the following academic year. We start advertising in October each year so you will need to contact us early to avoid missing out.

If you notice any maintenance issues, please report these as soon as possible to us using the maintenance report form by clicking the MAINTENANCE button at the top of this page. All maintenance must be reported using this form for audit purposes. Please also make sure you attach any relevant photos with your maintenance report so that it can be dealt with in the most efficient way possible.

If a video would be the most efficient way of showing the issue, this can be sent via WhatsApp to our office number (0330 3214461). Please be sure to add your property address so our staff knows what this is regarding. You will still have to send in a maintenance report to match the video.

Yes. Please see the emergencies section of our website by clicking here or the EMERGENCIES button at the top of the page.

We recognise that circumstances change. Should any member of a group no longer wish to live in the property, it will be up to them and the group to find a replacement tenant to take over that position on the contract. Once a bona fide replacement is found, we will work with the group and guarantors to update the paperwork.

The outgoing tenant will be liable to pay the landlord’s reasonable costs in reletting the property, including administration fees, as well as all rent due under the tenancy until a contract variation or new contract is signed. These costs will be no more than the maximum amount of rent outstanding on the tenancy.

I’m afraid that we can’t find a replacement tenant for you. The new person will be joining the property and living with the people in the property for the remainder of the tenancy. This must be someone whom the group chose and will be happy to share living spaces with.

It will be up to the outgoing tenant and the rest of the group to find the new person. We can recommend portals such as SpareRoom as a good place to advertise. Other good places to look are university online groups on Facebook, group chats you’ve organised for your year on WhatsApp, etc.

If you have rented a property as a group, your tenancy agreement will be joint and several amongst all of the tenants in the group. This means that you are all liable to pay for any damages or rent should one of your group not pay their rent. This is standard practice amongst student lettings. Generally, as long as all tenants pay the rent, then there is no issue.

In practice, if one tenant has not paid their rent, Student Digs will always try our best to resolve the situation with the individual concerned in the first instance.

We provide a cleaning service of the communal areas for some of our properties, where the landlords decided to take on the cost. Where this is included, it will be stated during the viewing. If you would like cleaning to be included, please ask, and we will be happy to offer the service at an additional cost.

If you cannot pay your rent, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible and speak to your guarantors to assist you. If you do not let us know in advance, interest will be charged at 3% above the Bank of England base rate for rent that is unpaid for 14 days or more, charged for each day that it is outstanding.

Rental payments are collected via direct debit. Where a direct debit fails, we will contact you to inform you and your guarantor of this. You will then have to make the payment within 7 days. Should the rent remain outstanding, we will then contact your guarantor to request payment.

Towards the end of your tenancy, we will be in contact to arrange for a move-out inspection, which can be either before midday on the last day of your tenancy agreement or earlier if requested by you. It is important that you have moved all of your things out of the property and are ready to hand back your keys at this stage. The property must be left in the same state of cleanliness as when you moved in, and all rubbish removed. If your rubbish doesn’t fit in the bins, then you will need to take this to the local tip as the Council won’t collect it otherwise. We will send you information regarding the local waste tips available closer to the move-out date.

Most keys issued are secure keys that cannot be copied. If you lose your key, it is important that you report this to us immediately. Replacement keys will be ordered from the security company and provided at a cost. The keys can be sent directly to the property, via recorded delivery, or can be collected from our office. In circumstances where the security of the property has been compromised, such as when multiple keys are lost, you may be charged for the change of locks. This is to protect the property and both current and future occupiers.

Our keys are provided with a tag containing a QR code with Student Digs contact information. We recommend leaving this tag on. If someone finds your keys and wants to give them back, they will be able to contact us about it.

The majority of properties are offered with the option of a bills-inclusive package. If you are renting a flat or studio within a block, typically utilities are included in the rental amount quoted. For houses you have the choice whether to arrange for your own utilities or have them provided by your landlord included within the rental amount. Where utilities are included, they are subject to a usage cap clause which will be stated in the contract.

Where utilities are included in the rent, the agreement also lists a clause stating the usage cap. Sadly, energy isn’t free, and if tenants exceed the usage amount contained within the tenancy agreement, tenants will be charged for the extra energy used at the end of the tenancy term. Allowances differ depending on the size and type of property – the bigger the property, the bigger the allowance. Details of your allowance will be stated in your tenancy agreement. Think of it like your mobile data allowance – you have a set amount included in your rent, and if you go over your allowance, you pay for the extra.

Usage is calculated on a yearly basis, giving the tenants the benefit of an overall use. This way you can pay the set bills amount throughout the tenancy, rather than worrying about covering the expense of the high usage in the winter and spring months.

The heating controls vary between properties. If you are unsure how to operate the heating, please contact us, and we will be happy to assist. Where our properties are fitted with Inspire Home Automation internet-enabled thermostats, the heating is controlled remotely. We set up  programs between September and May online (morning and evening), which is progressively lengthened during the colder months. Tenants also have the ability to boost the heating at any time by pressing the boost button, which will turn on the heating for 3 hours, until the maximum temperature is reached, or until the next program kicks in if earlier. There is no limit on how often you can boost the heating. However, keep in mind that it is subject to the usage cap clause described above. If you find that the programs set are not suitable, then you can email us and request the program to be updated to suit your needs.

If you have a Nest thermostat, then you can turn the temperature to the desired level, which will then heat your home to that level for up to 3 hours or until the next program kicks in.

All properties come with large kitchen appliances and vacuum cleaners. Most properties come with TVs but not all, so it’s important to check the information provided on the property page. If you are unsure if the property comes with a TV, ask our colleague during the viewing.

When it comes to microwaves, kettles, and toasters, these are generally not provided, as these often don’t last much more than a year in a student property and can be purchased inexpensively by tenants clubbing together.

Our first choice for the internet is Virgin Fibre broadband. Where we manage utilities, we use this in all properties which Virgin supplies. Some of our houses in Sheffield and Chester are not connected to Virgin and are supplied by either PlusNet or BT.

If your property is not managed by Student Digs, the broadband provider will vary.

Students are currently exempt from Council Tax in the UK. It is the tenants’ responsibility to ensure that they comply with the council exemption requirements and provide information to us or the council if requested.

With the majority of TV now streamed on demand, Student Digs, in line with other student housing providers, will no longer be offering TV licences with bill-inclusive packages after the summer of 2025.

You may still require a TV licence for your property, and it will be up to the tenants to purchase a TV licence if required. In general, a TV license is not required for watching most streaming services including Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. You will only require a TV licence if you watch live TV or on-demand programmes through BBC iPlayer.

Please also note that it is likely that TV Licencing will contact your property to verify whether a licence is needed or not. It is important that you respond to any notices accordingly.

The guidance from TV Licencing is as follows:

“You don’t need a TV Licence to own or possess a television set. However, if you use it to watch or record programmes as they are being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch-up TV, on BBC iPlayer, then you need a TV Licence in order to do so.”

This depends on whether the utilities are provided by Student Digs, the landlord, or by the tenants. Where Student Digs provides energy, the current supplier is Huddle Utilities. Suppliers are reviewed each summer so this is subject to change.

If the landlord manages utilities themselves, the supplier will vary.

If you chose a bills-excluded contract, we can make a referral to Huddle Utilities where you will be able to access preferential rates. If you would like us to do this, please contact or call us on 0330 3214461.  Otherwise, you will have to set up your own suppliers.

Yes, Student Digs uses state-of-the-art management software and trusted contractors to ensure that all necessary certificates are in place for every property. Some certificates will be required to be carried out during the tenancy and we will always give notice of access in advance of these being completed.

All properties are insured by the landlord, but if you wish to have insurance for your contents, then you must obtain this independently.

To protect the property and your housemates, and in compliance with the fire safety regulations for HMOs, all our properties are strictly non-smoking.

Pets are generally not allowed as they lead to increased damage and wear and tear in the property. Student properties are typically occupied on a short-term or temporary basis and therefore having a pet is not generally allowed.