Frequently asked questions

Before you apply

Does the University of the Arts London's Accommodation Services have an agreed level of service I can expect?

Yes we do:

Our Service Standards

When you contact us in person, by email or by telephone we will be polite, friendly and professional
If you wish to speak with us you will be seen at the Helpdesk at High Holborn between the hours of 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday within 10 minutes
If you email an enquiry to accommodation@arts.ac.uk we will respond within 1 working day
If you want to make an appointment we will meet with you within 1working day
Each hall of residence publishes its own set of service standards; if any of these are not met then please contact the named representative for your Hall
You will receive an immediate electronic response when you make an online application for accommodation

Does University of the Arts, London guarantee Halls accommodation for all first-year students?

We aim to offer all first-year students a room in University accommodation.

How do you decide who gets a place in Halls?

Rooms in the University's halls of residence are allocated primarily to first-year students, with priority given to students:

With a disability or medical condition
Students under the age of 18

Rooms are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Applications are accepted from 04 April 2012 and students applying closest to this date have a greater chance of getting their preferences and of receiving an offer of accommodation.

How much are the Halls?

The Halls vary in size, location, style and price. For the next academic year the rents in our managed accommodation (Halls of Residence) range between £119.00 and £190.00 per week.

Why does the cost vary so much?

Prices are based on the location, distance from the colleges, facilities and the style of accommodation.

I want to live close to my college.

London is a large city and travelling around is part of London life. Very few people live close to their place of work or study. Most students will live in travel zone 2 or 3, i.e. in the inner suburbs and the average journey will be 45 to 60 minutes each way.

What is a student ID number?

Your Student ID is three letters (normally the first three letters of your family name) followed by eight numbers and appears as the reference on any correspondence relating to your course from the University of the Arts London. If you are having difficulty locating your student ID number please contact your College office.

I haven't got a student ID number - what should I do?

Please contact your college for information regarding your student ID number.

If I get a place in the Halls, will I be able to choose which residence?

We ask for three preferences as this helps us with the allocation of rooms, if possible we will try and offer you one of your choices. Unfortunately this is not always possible, as some halls are more popular than others and it is not always possible to satisfy all requests.

I have applied for halls, what happens next?

If you are offered a room in one of the University's halls of residence, you will be notified by email. Please add accommodation@arts.ac.ukto your email address book to ensure you receive the notification mail. If you wish to accept your offer for a room in the halls of residence, you will be required to pay an advance rent and sign and return your contract. Please note that the University of the Arts London has several partnerships with Housing Providers who own and manage accommodation for University of the London students. You will be required to read and sign a contract with the specified Housing Provider.

I am an international student?

If you are an international student (from outside the European Economic Area), you are guaranteed a place in the halls of residence for your first year if your application for accommodation is received by 1st June 2011. You do not need guaranteed accommodation to apply for your student visa.

I am on the Pre-Sessional Academic English Programme (PAEP).

If you plan to study the Pre-Sessional Academic English Programme (PAEP), before the start of your academic course 2011/12 and want to live in halls of residence then you apply online as normal and we will be in touch.

After you apply

What date does my course start?

Please contact your college they will provide all the information you need about your course and course dates.

Will I have to sign a contract in Halls?

Yes. The tenancy agreements for the halls are either 42 weeks or 51 weeks, depending on the property.

Why have you sent me an invoice?

Legally we have to show you the charges for your accommodation and we do this by issuing an annual invoice for all of your accommodation charges. There are a variety of payment methods - please refer to the finance section for greater information.

Why did I not get my first choice of hall of residence?

We ask for your preferences, but cannot guarantee we can offer you a room in a hall of your choice. Some halls are very popular and heavily oversubscribed. We reserve the right to offer you a room in a hall even if it was not included in your preferences as an alternative.

Why did my friend get her first choice and she lives in the same town as me?

On occasion it is just the way the allocation system works taking into account peoples choices, college location and any special requirements.

I have moved in to my hall of residence and want to move to another bedroom. Can I do this?

If your tenancy is with the University then please read the following UAL Room Move Policy. If your tenancy is not with the University then please speak with your accommodation provider directly about their room move policy and process. How do I know if my tenancy is with the University or not?

UAL Room Move Policy - Due to the heavy demand at the start of the academic year for University Accommodation, we regret that applications for room moves are not accepted until after 31^st October. Any vacant rooms arising before this date will be offered to suitable applicants not living in Halls, who still need University Accommodation.

Any resident wishing to apply for a room move must complete a Room Move Request Form, which is available from your Hall of Residence site team, Accommodation Services or to download at Room Move Policy and Request Form (Microsoft Office doc. 30KB)

Please, also note that informal exchanges of rooms are not permitted and may result in disciplinary action being taken against the persons involved.

Residents who are in breach of one or more of their tenancy obligations may not be considered for a room move.

Some room move requests may be given priority over others, so date of application may not be relevant.

All room moves are at the discretion of management and we reserve the right to refuse your application.

Please note that there is a charge of £50 to cover the cost of administration and cleaning, once a transfer has been officially agreed, arranged and completed.

How safe is the area around the hall I have been offered?

There are safety concerns when staying or visiting or working in any major city. Basic safety precautions should be taken and advice is available from Student Services and Accommodation Services. However, on a daily basis millions of people go about their daily business without any difficulty. Most crime in any major city, in fact around 80%, is opportunistic and it is important that students become "streetwise" and take basic precautions.

What should I bring?

All rooms are furnished to include a bed, desk, chair and wardrobe and most rooms also have a small chest of drawers. However, there are a few things you will need when you move into halls. Here is a list to get you started.

Bedding
Towels
Cutlery
Crockery
Cooking utensils
Pots and pans
Tea towels, dish cloth
Cleaning materials for the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen

There are companies that specialise in providing students with the essentials for living in halls, for more information and prices visit http://www.theuni-box.com/ and http://www.all.unied.com/

I want to move out of Halls, what should I do?

All of our residents have to sign a tenancy agreement normally for a fixed period; this is a binding legal agreement. Please refer to your individual contract. If you have a contract with University of the Arts London and you wish to move out, you have to complete and sign an requesting to terminate the tenancy agreement.You will be required to send your completed Early Release Form 2012 to Accommodation Services. When we have received your form we will place you on room on the 'available rooms' list and we will attempt to find a replacement tenant to take you room. Rooms are allocated in order of those on the list, once any vacant rooms in a residence are all occupied.You can also find a replacement tenant as long as they are not already living in another University of the Arts, London residence and also must be a University of the Arts London student. Please note that you are responsible for the rent on the room until a new person signs and moves into the room.

Private accommodation

If I don't want to live in Halls of Residence, can you help me find a flat or house to live in?

We provide plenty of information on how to find accommodation. We also have accommodation lists with accommodation offers from landlord, agents and other student that you can use. You will need to look for accommodation yourself, but we are happy to assist and advise while you do this so you are not alone.

I want to live with other students but don't know anyone. How do I find students to share a house with?

If you are already studying, have a look round your college noticeboards and put notices up yourself. As an online resource, have a look at the "Find A Flatmate" messaging board on the London Student Housing Guide pages at http://www.studenthousing.lon.ac.uk/. Once you have a group, make sure everybody comes to London so you can house-hunt together.

So how do I look for a house or a flat in London?

You will need to come to London first, and stay in temporary accommodation (with friends, for example, or in a hotel). This is important because you need to view accommodation before you accept it and pay any money for it. Once you are in London, use up-to-date accommodation lists to find accommodation offers. Phone landlords, make appointments and the go and view accommodation.

Why are you telling me to come to London? I don't have anywhere to stay, and hotels are expensive. I just want to book a room online.

Please DO NOT try to book a room or flat with a private landlord online! If you do this, you risk losing much more money than you would spend on a hotel. Unfortunately, fraudsters operate on the internet. They advertise accommodation that does not even exist, ask for a deposit payment via a money transfer service (for example, Western Union). Once the money has been paid, they disappear and never respond to emails or phone calls.

London is so big, where do I start looking? What is the best area for students to live in?

There is no specific student area in London and students live all over the city. What is a good area for you depends on which college you are studying at - for example, it does make a difference whether you at Wimbledon, Central Saint Martins or Byam Shaw. Accommodation Services can assist with finding areas and locations to live in.

How much is private accommodation?

It can cost anywhere between £90 and £350 per week. How much you pay depends very much on where you live and how many people you live with! As a general rule, Central London is more expensive than suburbia, and a small studio flat all by yourself will cost you more than a room in a big shared house. Please remember that most rents do not include bills, so you need to budget for rent, utilities and telephone/internet. For information on rental levels in London, please have a look at the Mayor of London's Rent Map at http://www.london.gov.uk/rents/.

Will I have to sign a contract?

Wherever you live, you will have a contract and it is good practice to have it in writing. Most students renting from private landlords will have a so-called "Assured Shorthold Tenancy". This type of contract is usually for 6 months or longer (often 12 months or even 2 years), and you can be a joint tenant or an individual tenant.

I am not sure what contract I have. Can Accommodation Services check it for me?

Yes we can check your contract. Do bring it to the Student Centre at 272 High Holborn on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. If you are about to sign a new contract and your landlord has emailed it to you, please bring a printout to the Student Centre.

I am renting from a private landlord and I want to move out of my house early. How do I do this?

Check your written contract, to see whether you have a break clause that allows you to move out early. If your contract is a tenancy, it will usually run for the length you and the landlord agreed at the start. This is called the "term". If you have a break clause you can leave during the term. If you do not have a break clause you can try to find somebody to replace you and take over the contract from you. This is called an 'Assignment'. Accommodation Services can check your contract for you to see what you can and can't do, so do come to the Student Cetnre at High Holborn for advice if you want to move out early.

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