Finding a property

Start by deciding whether you want to rent in a group or if living with a resident landlord would benefit you more:

When calculating how much you can afford it is advisable to use a budget calculator or speak to the Student Money team.

Take into account that utility bills are usually not included and you will have to take out content insurance to protect your belongings.

View our map of Guildford (PDF) which provides an overview of areas and rents in Guildford.

As Guildford is highly competitive area for student accommodation you should also consider nearby towns that all have good transport links to the University including:

• Godalming
• Aldershot
• Woking.

Landlords and lettings agents mainly advertise on:

• Rightmove
• Zoopla 
• On The Market. 

You can also can look for available rooms on Easy Roommate or Spare Room.

Before you start looking:

• Gather your references (this is the main reason students lose out on properties)
• Understand right-to-rent legislation
• View our flowchart so that you know what to expect.

With so many letting agencies to choose from, we encourage all students to ensure they have done sufficient research about what these agencies offer.

We advise students searching for accommodation to consider properties with these letting agents in the first instance:

• Hoods Residential
  01483 913916 / enquiries@hoodsresidential.com
• Cobbles
  01483 457 000 / info@cobbles.co.uk
• Gascoigne Pees
  01483 300 336 / studenthouse@gpees.co.uk
• The Home Club
  01483 608 875 / info@thehomeclub.com
• Leaders
  01483 455990 / guildford@leaders.co.uk
• Scape
  0203 934 5297 / bookings.uk@scape.com
• SWR
  01483 573 483 / david@swrl.co.uk
• Winkworths
  01483 339 977 / emenzies@winkworth.co.uk

• The Bridge
  01483 532555 / info@thebridgerooms.org.uk
• Guilden Village, Stoke Park
  0330 127 2584 / salesenquiries@wearehomesforstudents.com
• Scape
  0203 934 5297 / bookings.uk@scape.com

Whether you’re renting for the first time or dealing with an unexpected issue, housing can be tricky — but you’re not on your own.

The Students' Union's Housing Advice service is free, confidential, and independent, here to help you understand your rights, check your contract, and handle any problems with confidence. From moving in to moving out, they are here to support you every step of the way.

Visit their housing advice webpage for useful information and contacts.

Affordability requirements

• UK-based, employed guarantor is required for all tenants (unless paying up front)
• Guarantors are joint and severally liable
• 6-12 months’ rent in advance in the absence of a UK-based guarantor.

Upfront costs

• First month’s rent
• 5 weeks' rent as a security deposit
• Holding deposit equal to one weeks' rent per property, deducted from first month's rent.

When going to view a property it is essential that you ask plenty of questions. Questions you may wish to ask include:

Around the property

1. What transport links are nearby?
2. Is there parking/bike storage?

Windows

1. Does the property feel cold?
2. Is there double glazing?
3. Do the windows close properly and are they lockable?

Heating/ventilation

1. What kind of heating is used in the house?
2. Is there adequate ventilation in the kitchen and the bathroom?
3. Ask for a demonstration on how the heating and plumbing work. Is it easy, does it work well?

Inside the property (rooms)

1. Are there any signs of damp, mould or discolouration around the windows or on the walls or ceiling? (make sure you look behind furniture and curtains)
2. Is the property furnished, if so what is included?
3. Are there fire alarms and CO2 detectors?
4. Does the house have fire doors?

Bathroom

1. Is there a window, radiator or fan in the bathroom?
2. Is the ceiling cracking and peeling?
3. What is the water pressure like?

Garden

1. What state is the garden in?
2. Is it your responsibility to maintain it?
3. Will it be in a good condition once you move in?

Financial matters

1. What deposit protection scheme is the deposit held in?
2. Are there any bulls or insurance included in the rent?

Unable to view a property?

If you are unable to view a property in person, ask a trusted friend or family member to view it on your behalf. Make sure to provide them with a list of questions to ask and to take photos. If you are viewing with the landlord arrange a Skype or FaceTime call and ask them to show you around the whole house.

Talk to any current tenants

It is always worth talking to any current tenants that are around when viewing a property. They may be able to give you an insight into what the house and the landlord is like.

Get any verbal agreements in writing

If the landlord or agent makes verbal agreements with you such as 'new furniture will be put into the flat', or certain things 'will be fixed before you move in'. Make sure you get this in writing via email or put into the contract before signing it.

If you have lived in university accommodation and are moving into private accommodation, your new landlord may require a reference from us, as your previous accommodation provider. The university can provide this in the form of an Accommodation Reference Letter. This letter will detail your last campus address, the license dates and the weekly rent. This is the only information the university can provide.

We can either send this to you, or to your new accommodation provider.

If you would like to receive the letter yourself, please raise an enquiry with the MySurrey Hive team via Surrey Support and select “Accommodation” as your enquiry topic. A member of the MySurrey Hive team will then send your Accommodation Reference Letter to you by portal comment.

Alternatively, if you would like us to send the reference to your new landlord or letting agent, we can. However, you will first of all need to complete a consent form to enable us to share information with a third party.

Once you have done this, you should ask your new accommodation provider/landlord to email us at housingreferences@surrey.ac.uk to request the accommodation reference. You should ask them to make sure they include your full name and URN number in the email. A member of the MySurrey Hive team will then send your Accommodation Reference Letter direct to them. They will also let you know through Surrey Support once they have done this.

Possible documents that you could be asked to provide: 

Passport

It is a legal requirement that they view your passport and visa (if required) in person or via video transmission.

Proof of current address

Usually dated within three months and would be one of the following:

• Recent utility bill – gas, electricity, water, telephone (not mobile phones)
• Current council tax bill
• Tenancy agreement
• House or motor insurance certificate
• Current state pension notification letter
• Bank/building society statement
• Credit card statements from main provider
• HMRC tax notification documentation (this does not include P60s)
• Letter from the council confirming electoral roll listing
• NHS medical card 
• University enrolment letter
• Employment reference confirming your time with employer and salary
• Current or previous landlord reference confirming the period you rented, the rental amount and whether the rent was paid in full and on time
• A credit check which confirms your address and also whether you have any county court judgements.

Once you have found a property make sure to read your contract and that you understand it. 

We advise that you only rent through a landlord or letting agency which holds a professional accreditation. This ensures they uphold a code of conduct and helps if you need to escalate a complaint.

You can also carry out a Land Registry check to confirm you are dealing with the legal owner of the property, it may be the best £3 you spend.

Should your landlord or letting agent require you to have a UK-based guarantor, there are two options.

You will need to use a friend or family member who is willing to act as your guarantor. They should be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient income to cover your rent should you be unable to pay. They will also undergo referencing like yourself.

The University of Surrey has now partnered with Housing Hand to help UK, EU and International students provide a qualifying UK guarantor when renting in the private sector.

University of Surrey guarantor service in association with Housing Hand.

If you require general housing advice, please speak with the Surrey Students’ Union Housing Advice Service.