Bencraft Hall

Deposit Fees: 

Deposits vary by property ranging from £50-£250 and your deposit is placed into a deposit protection scheme, where it is held safely throughout the academic year and will be returned to you at the end of your contract subject to the contract terms.

The deposit you pay when making the application cannot be used towards a rent instalment as this is secured with a deposit protection scheme for the duration of your tenancy.

Your deposit will be returned to you after your tenancy agreement has ended and your room has been inspected. The amount returned to you will depend on any outstanding charges and any damage found in your room or the communal areas of your apartment. Please see your tenancy agreement for more information. The deposit can take up to 30 working days to be credited at the end of your tenancy period.

Rent Payments:
-If you have a valid UK Guarantor, you can choose to pay your rent in three instalments, which are due in September, January and April.
-If you don’t have a valid UK Guarantor, you are required to pay the full rent in August, 1 month prior to your contract start date.
-Please note you must have paid the rent due by the time you arrive to check in.
-Pay in 10 instalments with an additional one-time admin fee (UK based guarantor required) 

Mode of Payment:
-Pay using a debit card or a credit card online, over the phone or at the reception
-Pay via direct debit or bank transfer
-No cash payments are accepted

You can cancel your booking up to 14 days after you accept your offer or pay your deposit (the Initial Cancellation Period), which reduces to 7 days from 1st August ahead of the academic year being booked, providing you have not already moved in to the property and we will refund your security deposit in full. Deposits will normally be refunded within 28 working days of cancellation, however the legal obligation as a landlord is to secure all deposits with a third party protection scheme. In the event that your deposit has already been sent to the protection scheme by the time you cancel your booking, your refund could take up to 60 days to be refunded due to the protection scheme’s processing period and your deposit refund will come directly from them – you will need your repayment ID which will be sent to you directly by the protection scheme. If the deposit has already been sent to the deposit protection scheme, unfortunately, the property is unable to influence their processing time.

If you cancel your booking after the 14 day Initial Cancellation Period (7 days after 1st August), you will remain liable for the weekly rent (for each and every week or part week) until they are able to re-let the room. If they are able to re-let the room then they will release you from the agreement upon payment of a £50 variation of contract fee which we will recover by retaining part or all of your deposit. If you have paid a lower deposit amount, that’s the amount that will be retained.

Can I live here?

You must be a full-time student, and be 18 years or older to live in the property. You can book with this property whether you have a conditional or unconditional offer. However, please be aware of the cancellation policy prior to booking should your place at university not yet be confirmed.

Are pets allowed?

No, pets are not permitted in the buildings.

Can I choose who I live with?

If you are applying to live with friends, please ensure that you enlist the details of friends that you would like to live with in the booking form with us.

Can I choose my room?

Rooms are allotted on first cum first served basis.

Can I request to move rooms during my tenancy?

You would need to make a formal request to the accommodation team of the property you are residing at. If you request to move rooms during your tenancy please note there is a room move admin fee of £50.00, you would also be issued with new documents confirming the details of the room move.

A room move would be impacted by the availability at the time of the request and if there is a waiting list for the requested room or flat type.

Should your requested room move result in moving to more expensive accommodation then yourself and the Guarantor shall be liable to pay the higher rent from the date the Tenant is given access to the more expensive accommodation.

Do you provide summer accommodation?

Yes, the summer accommodation of the same provider usually opens around March.

Do I have to move out in the holidays?

No, your room is yours for the full contract period! You won’t have to move out in the holidays, so you won’t have to remove your belongings every term.

How do I book a viewing?

You can book a viewing of any selected property by sending us an email.

How do I cancel or re-arrange my viewing?

By dropping us an email for the same.

Can I book a room without a viewing?

Absolutely. However, we would always recommend booking a viewing wherever possible.

How long does a viewing take?

Usually up to 30 minutes. However, the sales team are always happy to spend as much time as is needed assisting you with your booking.

What will I be shown on my viewing?

All communal areas and room types requested (dependent upon availability).

I'm in a different country, how do I view a property?

All the properties of the provider have access to Skype option, so you can view a property from wherever you want. Just drop us an email the date & time that suits you and we would arrange a viewing for you.

What do I do if I’m a first-year student and I’m still waiting for my exam results?

If you’re still waiting for your exam results and you’re not sure whether your place at university is confirmed, don’t worry! You can still apply. You just need to ensure that if you do not get your place at university, you let us know on your chosen property in writing a maximum of 3 days after the A Level results day, to cancel your booking. You must provide a UCAS letter to verify your change in circumstances. In this instance, you will receive a full refund of your deposit. If you don’t let us know within 3 days, your tenancy agreement will remain in place, and you will be liable for the rent on your room for the entire contract period.

What do you need from me to book a room?

Register with us.

Tell us your preferences and then select your chosen room

Complete all of your personal information and pay your deposit

Accept your tenancy agreement

Provide a UK guarantor (Only if you’re requesting to pay by instalments)

Can I book if I’m under 18?

The bookings from students who are under 18 are accepted only if they will turn 18 in the first term of the academic year. Unfortunately, for health and safety reasons, applications from students who won’t turn 18 in their first term are not accepted.

What is included in my rent?

All utility bills are included in your rent such as gas, electricity and water and unlimited wifi*. However, your TV license is not included and this is the sole responsibility of the resident as this is not classed as a utility. 

Can I  pay my rent from overseas?

You can pay your rent either online, or by bank transfer depending on your chosen property. Please note that if you make your payment using a credit card or an overseas debit card, you will be required to pay a surcharge of 1.5%.

Can I pay my rent weekly?

The largest instalment plan is 10, the total contract value is divided into 10 equal amounts and this is paid across 10 months.

What do I need to provide to be a guarantor?

Please note to be a guarantor you must be in full time employment or a homeowner and lived in the UK (England or Wales) for more than 5 years.

You can provide:

A copy of proof of identity (with photograph) such as:

• Passport
• Driving License
• ID Badge

A copy of proof of address (less than 3 months old) such as: Utility bill statement (i.e. Electricity, Water, Telephone)

• Bank statement
• Council tax bill for current year

Can I move in before I pay my rent?

Students who are up to date with their rental schedule are only allowed to move in early.

What do I do if my student loan hasn’t arrived yet?

A deferred rent payment option is available for students paying their rent instalments with student finance.

Please note the following steps in order to request a deferred rent instalment plan if you are student who has rebooked to live in a Homes for Students property.

In order to defer your 1st, 2nd and 3rd rent payments you will be required to do the following:

1. Provide evidence of your student loan finance schedule, showing when you will receive your 1st payment, please forward this by email to the property you will be living at in September.
2. Make a payment of 2 weeks rent, 14 days prior to your contract starting, the date of your tenancy can be found on your tenancy agreement.
3. The 2 week rent payment will be deducted from the 1st instalment and the remaining balance will need to be paid in line with the date your student finance will be paid.
4. You will also need to advise if you wish to defer the date of the 2nd and 3rd rent payments in line with your student finance, this request also needs to go to your property team.

There is no additional charge for the deferred payment plan for rebooking student

Do I need a guarantor?

If you wish to pay your rent in three instalments, you will need a guarantor. Your guarantor must be a homeowner or in full-time employment.

What happens to my deposit?

Your deposit is placed into a Deposit Protection Scheme, where it is held safely throughout the academic year.

When do I get my deposit back?

Your deposit will be returned to you after your tenancy agreement has ended and your room has been inspected. The amount returned to you will depend on any outstanding charges and any damages found in your room or the communal areas in your flat. Please see your tenancy agreement for more information. The deposit can take up to 30 days to get credited.