Everything You Need to Know About Renting for The First Time
Table of contents
A hugely exciting part of university is living with friends for the first time. Ever ySeptember, just under 2 million students go through the process of moving to a new city, finding their friendship group, and working out how to study independently.
Before university, you are spoon-fed in the controlled environment of school and home and then suddenly, it’s welcome to the real world. You’re acquainted with the harsh realities of independence and how to look after yourself, while navigating the complicated rental market within weeks of arriving on campus. From searching for ahome, organising viewings and reading through legal documents to paying your deposit, rent and bills, it’s a massive culture shock. It’s intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be an ordeal.
My motivation to start Hybr came from my own experience studying in Bristol in 2016, navigating the Hunger Games that is UK student renting. I went through the panic of hunting for a house as part of a group of 14. I didn’t even have a chance to see the place before signing the tenancy agreement, in the chaos of making sure we weren’t left homeless. So, in 2019, I went about building the platform I wished I’d had at university.Hybr is a rental platform, tailor-made for students and young graduates. We match groups of young renters to the right housing based on their ideal location, budget, and group size. We support students, for free, in finding houses, house-shares and any relevant services they need, such as bills, move-in packs, and rental advice.
Around 20% of first year students miss out on Halls of Residence, and the majority of 2nd, 3rd and 4th years + rent privately. So, if you’re considering renting a property whileyou study, here’s everything you need to know before you go to university in September.
Choosing who you want to live with
Often in your first year, you will be assigned a room in a Halls of Residence, which is runby your university. It’s a complete lottery as to whether you will get along with the peopleon your corridor, but don’t worry - they do not have to be your life-long friends.
Don’t be afraid to start speaking to new friends about who they plan to live with -whether you meet them on your course, in a club or society you join, at the library, or ona night out. Or, if you’ve struggled to find your people (which is totally normal, by the way), you can join a house-share with students your age, at your university, on Hybr.
When to start looking
This varies depending on where you are. Here’s a quick overview:
- Bristol, Cardiff, Bath, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds: November onwards(to move-in September 2025)
- Lincoln, Lancaster, and Liverpool: February onwards (to move-in September2025)
- London: May onwards (to move-in September 2025)
- If your university isn’t listed above, then reach out to your university accommodation team, or the Hybr team to find out when you should startlooking.
What are you looking for?
It’s important to consider what’s important for you to find a safe living space. Think about:
- Location - proximity to university, student areas, transport links.
- Budget - look at your finances to determine what your limit on rent is (including bills, travel and tenancy length). For an idea of how much you can afford to pay per month, try out our rent calculator.
- Number of housemates you want to live with (if any)
- Style - natural light, ensuite, or room size.
Find a place
Once you’ve found a property that you like the look of, it’s a good idea to arrange aviewing before confirming your booking (we all know pictures can be deceiving). Or, askfor a video tour if you are outside the UK (best to do this live on FaceTime).
Remember to always ask questions like:
- How long has the property been on the market?
- Are there any known issues (like mould) or renovations done recently?
- Are all bills included?
- What are the neighbours like, and is the neighbourhood safe?
If you decide that it’s the place for you, move quickly! You don’t want someone elsetaking the property that you have set your heart on. You’ve got to show you’re keen andproactive, and have all your documents together.
Ready to apply
Don’t panic! This part of the process can be daunting, but it’s nothing to worry about.You will receive a form from your landlord asking for your home address, phone number,email, and student ID.
You will also need to fill out a guarantor form. A guarantor is someone who agrees to payyour portion of the rent if you can’t (usually a family member living in the UK). Werecommend deciding who will be your guarantor before you start looking for a house soyou are prepared. If you do not have a UK guarantor, you can use a 3rd party scheme(like Housing Hand or Rent Guarantor).
Time to sign!
Be sure to read your tenancy agreement carefully, as it’s a legally binding document, which states the rules of the property and the rights of the tenant and landlord. If you are renting a house with multiple bedrooms, you will often be asked to sign a ‘Joint andSeveral Tenancy Agreement,’ which means you are liable for the rent if anyone in yourgroup does not pay. So, make sure you trust your housemates!
After this is all signed and accepted, you will pay a ‘non-refundable retainer’, which will become your deposit once you have moved in.
You should be aware of all of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Here are 4things to be aware of when signing your tenancy agreement:
- Always ask questions - clarify anything in your tenancy agreement that you don't understand.
- Be prepared - maintenance and repairs are inevitable, so it is important to know in advance who is responsible for maintenance tasks (ie. looking after the garden if there is one!), and who you should contact to report any issues.
- Know your rights - you have a right to live in a property that meets all health and safety regulations, if you feel that any are not being met do not hesitate to raise this with your landlord, or someone at your university.
- Ask for confirmation that your deposit has been protected - landlords are required to protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme, andreturn it to you if the house is returned in the same condition as it was when you moved in.
- Now all those documents are out of the way, it is finally time to move in.
Move into your new home
Some things will be very easy to forget in all the excitement (and stress) of the move in, but they will pay off further down the line.
Here are 5 key things to know and do when you move in.
- Organise to be there for check-in, to meet the agent and build a relationship, get your keys, and go through the inventory. Give yourself enough time for check-out, and clearing the house before you end your tenancy.
- Go through the inventory that your landlord should provide in detail. Have alook around for any damage - chips in the paintwork, stains in the carpet, etc -and note them down. Take pictures and videos of it all and store it in a GoogleDrive folder or Notion page. This will protect you from paying for any damages not caused by you.
- Check you have a Gas Safety Certificate. Landlords are legally required torenew it every 12 months.
- Sort out your utilities. Hybr is partnered with The Bunch who help our tenantsmanage their bills and broadband.
- Apply to be exempt from paying council taxes if you are a student.
- Decorate! Make it feel like home (check out Facebook Marketplace).
- Communication is key - regular contact, raising issues promptly, and being responsive to questions, will help build a good relationship.
So you’ve now moved in and can enjoy your new home, and independence. If you haveany further questions about the process of moving in or even encounter any problems during it, please drop us an email at hello@hybr.co.uk, or join us at one of our webinarsto speak to our team. We work with students and landlords every day so we’d be happy to answer any of your questions.