Moving out early and swapping rooms

Residents may give notice to leave their residence at the end of the first semester.

For students who start in September 2026 they must give notice by 4 December 2026 to end their licence on 30 January 2027.

If you wish to vacate your room earlier than 30 January 2027 you can advise Accommodation Services of your intentions. Please note that you may be liable for the payment of your room rent up to 24 January 2026 unless we are able to re-let your room earlier. In the event that we are able to arrange a re-let, you need only pay until the date that the new tenant moves in.

If notice is not received on or before 4 December 2026 for a September starter, no rebate of rent will be given if you decide to leave before the end date specified in your acceptance email unless we are able to re-let your room.

If you leave before the end of your licence or tenancy, you’ll be required to continue paying until your account is cleared in full.

You may find another student to take over your accommodation licence; the person taking over the licence must meet the criteria below:

• Mixed/single sex accommodation
  • If you are in single sex accommodation, this must remain so, and for a flat to be considered ‘mixed-sex’ there must be a minimum of 2 or 3 residents of the same sex (depending on flat size).
• Enrolled
  • The student taking over the room must be enrolled on a full-time basis with attendance.
• Cohort
  • Flats are divided into new undergraduate, returning undergraduates and postgraduates and must remain the same.
• Debt status
  • Only students who do not have outstanding fees can take over rooms.

If you cease to be a student because you withdraw from your course or the University terminates your course, your licence to occupy university accommodation and therefore your liability for rent ceases when you are no longer enrolled, have vacated your accommodation and returned your key to Stag Hill Reception (ground floor Senate House) or MySurrey Hive Manor Park (for Manor Park accommodation).

Please ensure you notify Accommodation of your intended move-out date using Surrey Support so all necessary arrangements can be made.

If you have a medical condition, you can apply to move rooms by submitting a medical form.

This form should be completed by yourself and your doctor or medical practitioner before being submitted. They will then assess your case and advise the Accommodation team whether you have been supported to move rooms.

Once the Accommodation team receive this support, you will be notified, and providing a room is available at that time, a new room will be offered to you.

If you are facing severe financial hardship, then you can apply for a room move. Please contact the Accommodation team by filling in the student room move request form and they will assist in moving you to a cheaper room (Band A or B).

This is subject to availability and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to move your room.

Room changes for non-medical or non-financial reasons may be authorised.

Please contact the Accommodation team by filling in the student room move request form to request a room move.

You may find another student to swap rooms with. To do this, you will need to submit a request a room swap form.

If you are struggling to find someone to swap with, join our room-swap platform on Teams to help you find a match.

Please note that in order to room swap, both students must meet the following criteria:

• Mixed/single sex accommodation
  • If you are in single sex accommodation, this must remain so, and for a flat to be considered ‘mixed-sex ’, there must be a minimum of 2 or 3 residents of the same sex (depending on flat size).
• Cohort
  • Flats are divided into new undergraduates, returning undergraduates, and postgraduates, and must remain the same.
• Debt status
  • Only students with no outstanding fees can take over rooms.

You can only swap rooms with another student if the Accommodation team have approved the swap. For any queries, please contact accommodation@surrey.ac.uk.