Rent, insurance and contracts

Last updated:
20 February 2026

Workspace setup from Nina Cutler’s project, featuring an assortment of crafting tool - paint roller, sandpaper, wooden sticks, string, goggles, and cardboard gear - on a white surface with faint blue lines. — **Working tools by Nina Cutler, 2018 MA Material Futures, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson**

Deposit and rent payments

University managed halls

For university managed halls, your deposit and rent payments will be paid to UAL Accommodation Services.

We manage these halls:

Archwood House
Gardens House
Glassyard Building
Highline Building
Portland House
Sketch House
The Costume Store.

When you book, you’ll need to pay:

£250 damage deposit – refunded at the end of your tenancy (minus any costs for damage or other charges)
£250 of advance rent – used for your first rent payment.

How to pay

Pay by Mastercard or Visa credit/debit card only.
We don’t accept bank transfers for deposit or advance rent.

Rent payment options

Pay in full when booking.
Pay termly through a Recurring Card Payment (RCP) plan. The card you use for your deposit will be charged automatically on each payment.
If you need to change your card details on your plan, contact the Accommodation Finance team at accomfinance@arts.ac.uk.

Payment dates for 2025/26

Term 1: 6 September 2025
Term 2: 13 January 2026
Term 3: 14 April 2026

UK student maintenance loans

You can request to move your first rent instalment date to match when your loan is paid.
If you receive an offer for a UAL managed hall, we’ll send you the instructions by email on how to arrange this.
Even if your payment date changes, you’ll still need to pay rent from your contract start date.

Other funding

Using a loan, bursary or a scholarship to cover your accommodation fees?

Contact our Accommodation Finance team at accomfinance@arts.ac.uk. This may affect your rent payments.

Partner halls

Partner halls are managed by external providers:

Emily Bowes Court (Unite Students)
Furzedown Student Village and Cedars Hall (Find digs)
Wick Park (Homes for Students)
Stratford One (Unite Students)
YourTRIBE Southwark (YourTRIBE).

You’ll still need to book through the student accommodation portal. The deposit and rent payments will be paid directly to the provider instead.

If you receive an offer for 1 of our partner halls, the provider will contact you to explain you with payment instructions.

Partially funded rooms

Each academic year, we have a limited number of partially funded rooms available in some of our newer halls. These rooms are a great opportunity for students from all backgrounds to live together and benefit from the modern facilities that these halls offer. Located across London, partially funded rooms are accessible to students no matter which college you are studying at.

The partially funded rooms will be bookable online via the UAL Accommodation Portal. To meet the eligibility criteria for the rooms, students must be:

UK home fee students studying an on-site Foundation, Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree on a full-time course at UAL, beginning or continuing at the start of the next academic year.
The student's household income must not exceed £65,000 per year.
Care leavers and students who are estranged from their families will also be eligible to book these rooms.

If there are partially funded rooms remaining once students from the above groups have completed their bookings, all other students enrolled on a full-time, on-site course at UAL will be eligible to book a partially funded room.

Partially funded rooms are located in these halls:

Please note that the UAL Student Funding Team will conduct checks to confirm the eligibility of students who book partially funded rooms.

If you are a UAL student currently living in a partially funded room and wish to remain in one for the following academic year, you will need to book again via the UAL Accommodation Portal when bookings open for current students

Find out more about booking a room in halls.

Finance and funding support

Student Advice Service can help provide support and advice if you have financial difficulties:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7514 6900
Email: student.services@arts.ac.uk

Contracts

When you accept your offer, you’re entering into a legal agreement with University of the Arts London or your accommodation provider.

Always read your contract in full before accepting.
If you’re unsure who your agreement is with, contact the Accommodation Services team.

Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act (opens in new tab) strengthens how higher-risk residential buildings are managed and kept safe. It applies to tall residential buildings that are over 18 metres in height or have seven or more storeys.

Some UAL Halls fall under this building legislation and we have a Resident Engagement Strategy in place which sets out how we keep our residents informed and involved in the key decisions that affect their hall.

Find out more about how UAL complies with The Building Safety Act (opens in new tab).

Insurance

All UAL managed halls and partner halls are covered by Howden Insurance cover (formerly Endsleigh).

Before you move in, you’ll need to:

confirm your cover
check what’s included and not covered
download a copy of the policy.

We understand students have a limited budget. Howden has launched brand new, unique student insurance options. They have been designed to cover the risks that you may experience during your time in student accommodation.

You can make a claim on the Howden website (opens in new tab).