Accommodation

Moving to Leeds

Adapting to life in a new country can be both exciting and challenging. Finding somewhere to live where you feel comfortable, will help you settle in quickly.

Leeds has plenty of accommodation for students, representing good value for money and reflecting the fact that Leeds has a lower cost of living than London and much of the south of England.

We guarantee you a place in University accommodation for the year if you apply by the stated deadlines and you are:

• a first year undergraduate
• an international undergraduate (i.e. you pay fees at the international rate). You are guaranteed a place in our accommodation until you finish your course, provided you apply by the stated deadlines (usually March).
• an undergraduate exchange student
• an international postgraduate student (i.e. you pay fees at the international rate) and you are new to Leeds

University Accommodation

For more information about the types of halls and flats owned by the university, deadlines and how to apply, or if you are already living in university accommodation please click here.

Private Accommodation

Some students choose to live in private sector housing, this offers you flexibility on location and room numbers. This choice is useful with families who can't find places in the university family homes. For more information on private accommodation please click here.

Do this as soon as you move into University or private-sector accommodation:

1. Take out insurance / additional insurance

Insurance is included in the rent for university accommodation. Most of your  belongings will be covered by this policy but if you have expensive items, or a bicycle or musical instrument check the conditions of the insurance policy. You may need to arrange extra cover. Visit the Cover4students website for further information. If you are living in the private sector and you have a computer or other valuable possessions it is important to buy p04-Aug-2009eas of student housing. You can buy insurance from banks and specialist insurance companies such as Cover4students and Endsleigh.

2. Follow security advice

Make security part of your daily routine in and around your accommodation. Read pages 54-56 of the International Student Handbook and follow the advice in the ‘Stay Safe, Stay Secure’ guide. Also available in Chinese.

 3. Buy a television licence

If you have a television in the UK or you use the University’s IPTV service to watch live television, you must, by law, have a TV licence. The Television Licence Authority can easily check if you have a licence and if you are caught without one you can receive a criminal conviction and a fine of £1,000. A colour licence costs £142.50 for the year. You can pay in instalments by direct debit and if you leave the UK 3 months or more before the end of the licence, you can reclaim some of the cost. You must cancel your direct debit before you leave, to stop the payments. For more information, visit the Television Licensing Authority website.

 4. Arrange the payment of bills

Utility bills are inlcuded in the rent for university accomodation. If you are sharing private-sector accommodation with housemates, make sure that all your names are on each bill - for example electricity, gas, and water. Write to the utility companies letting them know all your names and when you are moving in and out. You will also need to get final bills from them to prove you have paid before your landlord will return your deposit. Only one person is allowed to have their name on a telephone bill, so work out who this will be and how everyone will pay. This will protect you from having to pay more than your fair share if you and your housemates have a disagreement.

5. Check your rights and responsibilities

• Landlords are bound by law to maintain the property to a decent level and to ensure it is safe

• They must also treat it as your home and give at least 24 hours notice before they visit you

• You, the Tenant, are responsible for treating the property well, keeping it clean and tidy and doing minor maintenance like changing light bulbs. More information is available on www.luuonline.com

Last Updated: 04-Aug-2009