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Private sector housing advice

For the majority of students, their time living in private-rented accommodation is fun and hassle-free. But if you do run into difficulties with any aspect of your accommodation, the information on these pages can help.

On this page

Common issues:

Finding accommodation: 

Where to get further support

Guidance on common housing issues

Information on how and where to look for detailed guidance on common housing issues. 

Wanting to leave a tenancy early 

If you signed a fixed-term tenancy but want to move out, for whatever reason, before you tenancy expires, you need to be aware of serval issues. Visit the Shelter website for information and advice on ending a fixed term tenancy early.  

Deposit queries 

If your landlord is withholding your deposit there are steps you can take to ensure any amount is fair and accountable. Visit the Shelter wesbite for information and advice on all aspects of tenancy deposits.

Repairs and maintenance 

Responsibility for repairs can depend on the type of repair and the contract you have with your landlord. Visit the Shelter website for information and advice responsibility for repairs.  

Guarantors

Some private housing providers want students to have a guarantor who lives in the UK. Find out more about guarantors and what you can do you do not have one on our guarantors webpage. 

Council tax 

Understanding council tax including what it is, who is exempt and how to apply is covered in our Council tax exemptions webpage.

Landlord concerns

If you are concerned your landlord is not fulfilig their obligations or meeting your rights as a tenant, visit the Shelter complaints about landlords webpage. 

Guidance on finding accommodation

Get links and resources to help you successfully navigate the Bristol private rental market.  

Finding accommodation 

Get detailed information on how to go about house hunting in our Finding Accommodation webpages and ensure you also look at our Google map of rental areas. 

Avoiding scams

Housing scams operate in the UK, where people pose as landlords and ask for large sums of money for accommodation that doesn’t exist. Read our information on renting safely for information on what to look out for. 

Short term accommodation

It can be hard to find short-term accommodation in Bristol. Our short term accommodation webpage contains tips and resources to help start your search. 

All private landlords in England must check the immigration status of new tenants. See our Right to Rent information on what to expect if you are planning to rent accommodation from a private landlord.

Choosing the right place 

Details of what you need to look for on viewing of any potential properties is covered in our information on viewings, with links to resources to take along with you and questions you should ask the landlord or agent. 

Understanding your contract

Contracts or tenancy agreements can be lengthy and it might seem like a lot of effort to go through the whole document in detail, but it is definitely worth it in
the long run. Our Tenancies and terms webpage gives details of what to expect. 

Where to get further help

If you have looked at the factsheets and resources on our website and need more detailed support in relation to the issues you are experiencing, there are a range of services you can contact for detailed advice and support:

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