We care about where you will be living after you have lived in our residences.
We advise our students to consider 5 house-hunting tips.
We have grouped together four areas of information that you might find useful:
In Brighton and Hove, as in most cities of a similar size and private sector rental market, it is increasingly common for Landlords and Letting Agents to seek a Guarantor, and to request 6-12 months rent in advance from overseas students. Before paying any money, please obtain help and advice from the sources noted below.
Help and Advice
Annually, the Sussex Students' Union publish the results of their survey (in collaboration with the University of Brighton Students' Union) of students living in private rented housing in Brighton and Hove. The survey details students' experiences of living in the private rented sector before, during and after their tenancy. The survey includes the position score of the most common student letting agents based on ratings by users of ten measures relating to their experience, including amongst other areas, 'helpfulness', 'quality of property', 'value for money' and more. Download your copy here.
You are not on your own:
Part funded by the University Housing Office, the Sussex Students' Union have produced a Moving On Guide (PDF 2.5MB), to help you with tips of what to look out for when you view properties and what you need to know before you sign a tenancy agreement. Make sure you read it before you commit yourself to a property. The University Housing Office and the Sussex Students' Union (SSU) Advice & Representation Centre can also read over and advise you about your tenancy agreement before you sign and the SSU also provide more in-depth casework and advocacy upon request.
Raising standards:
The Housing Office will also help to resolve any complaints from your neighbours and will make use of our long standing disciplinary procedure. To continually strive to improve standards of private sector housing, with the University of Brighton, we produce guidelines and codes of standards for resident and non-resident Landlords.
In June 2012, the University Housing Office, in collaboration with the University of Brighton, organised an event for Landlords aimed at improving the student experience of living in the private sector and attracted over 100 Landlords who between them manage 600 bed-sapces in the city. We hope to work with the Sussex Students' Union to produce another event in 2013, watch this space for more details.
