Q: What to bring?

Your passport, passport-sized photos, ID and visa . You’ll need these to enrol with your university, join societies, and get a part-time job (if you want one). Bedding . Kitchen utensils. Don’t forget that you can order Bedding, Kitchen, Bathroom Kits and more from our partners at UniKitOut all delivered directly to your home and waiting for you upon arrival. Plus, save 10% with discount code HELLO10 Decorations and personal things that make your room feel like home. Clothes of all types – from lounging around, to going to lectures, to nights out, to formal balls. Oh, and coat hangers . If you’re bringing electrical items, bring extension leads , and a UK plug converter too. Bike, helmet, bicycle repair kit . A bike’s a cheap, environmentally-friendly way to get around your new city. We have free bike storage at almost all our properties, too. A first aid ki t – plasters, sterile dressings, that kind of thing. Just in case. Oh, and don’t forget your books and stationery!

Question 1

What to bring?

Accepted Answer

Your passport, passport-sized photos, ID and visa. You’ll need these to enrol with your university, join societies, and get a part-time job (if you want one).
Bedding .
Kitchen utensils.
Don’t forget that you can order Bedding, Kitchen, Bathroom Kits and more from our partners at UniKitOut all delivered directly to your home and waiting for you upon arrival. Plus, save 10% with discount code HELLO10
Decorations and personal things that make your room feel like home.
Clothes of all types – from lounging around, to going to lectures, to nights out, to formal balls. Oh, and coat hangers.
If you’re bringing electrical items, bring extension leads, and a UK plug converter too.
Bike, helmet, bicycle repair kit. A bike’s a cheap, environmentally-friendly way to get around your new city. We have free bike storage at almost all our properties, too.
A first aid kit – plasters, sterile dressings, that kind of thing. Just in case.
Oh, and don’t forget your books and stationery!

Question 2

Contract for Accommodation

Accepted Answer

All booking requests for accommodation made on the website are subject to acceptance by us. We are not obliged to accept your booking request and may, at our discretion, decline to accept any booking request for any reason. If – for whatever reason – we can’t make you an offer of accommodation, we’ll let you know as soon as possible, explain why, or offer you an alternative solution.

Where we accept your booking request, we’ll send you an offer of accommodation. You will need to accept the offer of accommodation online to confirm the booking. We reserve the right to withdraw an offer of accommodation at any time before it is accepted by you on the website. Please note that our offer of accommodation shall automatically lapse if you do not confirm the booking within 5 days of receipt.

You can accept our offer of accommodation and confirm the booking by:

logging into your account on the website
providing details of your guarantor (if applicable);
providing ID documentation and any further information which we may request from you; and
reading through and signing your tenancy agreement.

Your booking will be confirmed and the contract to supply the accommodation created when you sign your tenancy agreement. You acknowledge and agree that once you have signed the tenancy agreement you will have no right to cancel the contract, and shall be liable to pay the full rent and any related fees relating to the accommodation for the duration of the tenancy.

Question 3

Guarantors and Payment Terms

Accepted Answer

If you don’t have a UK-based guarantor, we’ll ask you to pay the full years’ rent upfront ten days before your contract starts.

Alternatively, we partner with a guarantor service – UKGuarantor – who can act as a guarantor on your behalf for a small fee. You can select this option when you make a booking at any of our Hello Student managed properties.

If you do have a guarantor, you can pay your rent in three instalments. The first, ten days before your contract starts (or you won’t be able to move in). The second in January. And the last in April.

In some cases, (like if your student loan comes through later) you may be able to pay in four instalments instead.

Question 4

If You Don't Get a Place at University

Accepted Answer

If you’re a first-year prospective undergraduate student and your offer at your preferred higher education institute is withdrawn, we may be able to release you from your tenancy agreement if:

You find a suitable replacement to take a new tenancy agreement for the rest of your tenancy. This person must: be at least 18 years old and enrolled as a full-time student in a university close to the accommodation; enter into a tenancy agreement with us and pay all sums due within it; and provide a guarantor where reasonable, who must accept the terms and conditions set out in the tenancy agreement; and
you provide a written rejection letter from your chosen higher education institute; and
you provide a copy of the acceptance letter from your new higher education institute.

Question 5

All utilities

Accepted Answer

Electricity, gas, and 24-hour hot water. You’ll also get a stand-alone heater – your room, your preferred temperature, you’re in control.

Question 6

High-speed internet and Wi-Fi

Accepted Answer

Throughout the building and bedrooms, with an ethernet cable connection in your room. You’ll receive details on how to connect your devices when you move in.

Question 7

Council tax

Accepted Answer

As a student, you don’t have to pay. (But once your course has officially ended, you’ll no longer be classified as a student. So if you keep living in the UK after your course is over, you’ll have to start paying council tax.)

Question 8

TV

Accepted Answer

A flat-screen, 32-inch TV, to be precise. With 40 channels. The majority of our apartments and studios have a TV in either the bedroom or shared common space – but do check with your accommodation manager to make sure.

Bringing your own TV? There’ll be a TV aerial point in your bedroom, so it’s easy to set up.

Question 9

Personal contents insurance

Accepted Answer

To see exactly what’s covered, just ask your accommodation manager.

Question 10

Furniture

Accepted Answer

You’ll always get a bed, desk, chair, bookshelves, wardrobe, and plenty of storage.

Question 11

Communal spaces and facilities

Accepted Answer

Living in a Hello Student property means living, working, and relaxing with lots of other students. As part of your rent, you’ll get shared communal spaces, like gyms, cinema rooms, games rooms, and study areas.

Question 12

Cleaning

Accepted Answer

You’re responsible for cleaning your own room, and your shared kitchen if you’re living in an apartment. (Fair enough, right?!) But don’t worry, we take care of all other rooms, corridors and communal areas.

Question 13

Friendly management

Accepted Answer

Your accommodation manager is like an administrator, event planner, and buddy, all rolled into one. They will:

Welcome you to your new home, give you your keys and show you around.
Tell you whatever you need to know about the local area – the best shops, where your campus is, and much more.
Arrange events for your whole building to enjoy (if you have any ideas, they’d love to hear them!).
Keep your parcels safe, and email you when they arrive.
Take your rent payments and answer any questions about booking or accounts.
Arrange maintenance visits for your room.
Be there. To talk, to listen, about anything that’s on your mind. If you want to arrange a quiet private chat, just ask.

Head to reception to find your accommodation manager – that’s their base during working hours. Even after hours though, there’ll always be a resident representative on site for anything you need.

Chatham Lodge