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Privately Rented Accommodation in Lincoln
Choosing Privately Rented Accommodation
Before you arrive in the UK, it is important to ensure that you have arranged suitable accommodation and that you are able to move in prior to starting your studies. If you are intending to live in privately rented accommodation we encourage you to research the options available as soon as possible.
Accommodation in the UK can be expensive, which is why international students must provide evidence of the financial requirement to be eligible for a Student visa.
We encourage you to carefully consider how much you can afford to spend on accommodation each month. For further information and advice on the cost of living in the UK, please visit our Living in the UK webpage.
To secure privately rented accommodation, students are required to sign a legally binding contract, often referred to as a tenancy agreement. It is important to remember that once you have signed a tenancy agreement, you will be liable to pay rent even if you decide to live elsewhere.
Before choosing privately rented accommodation and signing a tenancy agreement, here are some important things that you will need to consider:
Are you willing to share accommodation with other students?
Most of the available privately rented student accommodation in Lincoln is based within a flat or a house with sole occupancy bedrooms and communal living areas. If you would prefer to live alone, please remember that studio flats and one-bedroom apartments are difficult to find and significantly more expensive.
How long will you need accommodation for?
Tenancy agreements in the UK are usually valid for a fixed period of time. Once you have signed a tenancy agreement, you will be required to pay rent for the duration specified within the contract.
Do you have a guarantor?
International students will often be required to provide a guarantor to confirm a tenancy agreement. To be eligible, a guarantor must live in the UK and sign a contract confirming that they will accept liability for rent if you are unable to pay. If you do not have a guarantor, you may be required to pay rent for the duration of the contract in advance.
Will your monthly rent payment include bills?
In addition to rent, you might need to pay additional monthly bills for gas, electricity, water, and internet. It is important to consider these costs when planning your budget. For further information and guidance on the average you can expect to pay on bills in privately rented accommodation, please visit our Living in the UK webpage.
Is the property furnished?
In the UK, privately rented accommodation is often unfurnished. If you are considering an unfurnished property it is important to budget for the cost of purchasing basic furniture. You will also need to purchase essential items such as bedding and kitchen equipment.
How will you travel to university?
If you decide to live away from the University, you will need to research how you will travel to campus on a regular basis and how much this will cost. This is important because your timetable may include classes that you must attend on campus up to five days each week.
Securing a Privately Rented Property
The cost and size of privately rented accommodation will vary, and to support students in exploring suitable options we have listed a variety of property marketplaces below. You can visit these websites to search for available houses and flats to rent. We would also recommend that students use the Lincoln Students' Union Housing Accreditation Scheme to explore accredited properties and trusted landlords when searching for a privately rented property.
In the UK a landlord is the owner of a privately rented property. The landlord is legally required to check your passport and visa to ensure that you, and any dependents, have the right to live in the UK.
To secure an available property the landlord may also ask you to make a tenancy deposit. This is a sum of money, payable in advance, which will be returned at the end of the tenancy agreement if there is no damage to the property or rent owed. Your landlord is legally required to pay your deposit into a protected and government-approved tenancy deposit scheme.
Prior to signing a tenancy agreement, please ensure that you have read the contract carefully and understand when you will be required to pay rent. It is important that you make a note of the name and contact details of the property’s landlord in case of an emergency. For further guidance on securing privately rented accommodation, please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs information and advice page.
Finding Family Accommodation
The city of Lincoln and the surrounding area is a popular destination to live, work and study, and demand for family accommodation has increased significantly in recent years.
Unfortunately, this means that the availability of privately rented accommodation for families is very limited and you may need to explore options outside of the city.
Lincolnshire has limited public transport, and if your accommodation is outside of the city you will need to think carefully about how you will travel to University and how much that might cost. To support students in exploring suitable options, we have listed nearby towns and cities that are within a commutable distance of Lincoln below.
- Gainsborough
- Newark
- Nottingham
- Sleaford
- Retford
- Mansfield
- Worksop
- Grantham
Family accommodation can be expensive and you will need to think carefully about your budget. Depending on the size and location, the costs are likely to be between £800-£1,500 per month for a 2-3 bed property.
If you are planning to bring your family with you to the UK you must ensure that you have secured accommodation before your dependents arrive in Lincoln. If you are unable to find suitable family accommodation, you should arrive independently and make arrangements for your dependants to join you once you have a secured a suitable place to live.
It is important to remember that if you plan to apply for the Graduate visa following the completion of your studies, your dependents do not have to live in the UK for the duration of your degree. Your dependants will still be eligible for the Graduate visa if they travel to the UK towards the end of your studies, prior to the end date of your Student visa.
On a Student visa your dependants may live anywhere in the UK and can choose to live with family members elsewhere in the country. However, as a student it is important to remember that you will be required to travel to campus on a regular basis and should plan to live nearby. This is important because your timetable may include classes that you must attend on campus up to five days each week.