Looking for student accommodation in London or the South of the UK? Our complimentary property finding service will take the hassle out of finding your perfect home from home.
The service to you
We'll set you up with one of our dedicated account managers who will start the process off by getting to know you and your needs. Whether that means a house in a quiet mews, next door to your university, or an apartment with a concierge and cleaning service, we can help.
From then on they will help you navigate the local markets, organise viewings and be on hand to help you through the offer and contract stages of the process. Then, once you have moved in to your new home, your account manager will also be on hand throughout the tenancy to assist with any queries you may have.
Key benefits
- Dedicated account manager
- Skype property viewings
- Chauffeur driven viewings
- Knowledge and expertise in local area
- Complimentary property finding service
- Local orientation
Can't make a viewing in person?
We also offer virtual calls if you can't make the viewing. Arrange a virtual viewing of our properties with one of our experienced Student Lettings team members.
What to expect once you've applied to rent a property
Before we progress your application, we want to make sure you have a clear picture of what is required and what to expect, particularly in light of recent changes to legislation that affect how student tenancies are set up.
Referencing and guarantor requirements
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, the way in which a landlord can assess and accept a student application has changed. As a result, the strength of your application is now assessed on the basis of your referencing outcome alone.
Where a student applicant does not meet the standard referencing criteria, which is common given that most students are not yet in full-time employment, your application will need to be supported by one of the following:
- A UK-based guarantor - an individual based in the United Kingdom who agrees to meet the rent obligations should you be unable to do so. The guarantor will be referenced in the same way as a tenant and will be required to sign a deed of guarantee.
- A tenant-funded guarantor protection policy - an insurance-backed product that you arrange and pay for yourself, which provides the landlord with equivalent security. We can provide further details on approved providers if this is the route you wish to take.
Without one of the above in place, we are likely unable to progress your application to offer stage, regardless of your personal circumstances or the strength of your wider profile. We appreciate this may feel restrictive, and we are happy to talk you through your options in more detail.
Advance rent: What the law now requires
We are aware that some student applicants, particularly those moving from overseas, have previously offered to pay several months' or even a full year's rent in advance as a way of strengthening their application. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, this is no longer permitted.
No agent or landlord is allowed to request, encourage, or accept an offer of advance rent as part of an application or as a condition of a tenancy being agreed. Any tenancy arranged through Hamptons will therefore be set up on the basis that rent is paid monthly, with only the permitted initial rent payment collected before the tenancy begins.
For the avoidance of doubt: once your tenancy has started, the law does not prevent you from independently choosing to pay rent ahead of schedule. However, any such decision must be entirely your own.
It cannot be requested or required by the landlord or by us as your letting agent, and it cannot be made a condition of the landlord accepting your application. If you choose to make an early payment after your tenancy has begun, that is a matter between you and your landlord, but it must be voluntary in every sense.
Next steps
Once you're ready to proceed, please let your Hamptons consultant know whether you will be providing a UK-based guarantor or arranging a guarantor protection policy, and we will guide you through the next steps.
We are here to make the process as straightforward as possible. If you have any questions about referencing, guarantors, or the tenancy application process, please speak to your Hamptons consultant.
