The Shield

Risk-Free Bookings for 2021/22

Book your accommodation for the 2021/22 academic year before 30th June 2021 and cancel on or before that date with no penalty. Only valid for direct bookings and bookings made via International Agents. Bookings made under University nomination agreements are excluded from this offer. Only valid for tenancies of more than 43 weeks. Cancellations must be made via email to the Residents’ Team of the accommodation booked and must be received on or before 23:59 on Wednesday 30th June 2021. Any advance rent payments made will be refunded once we have confirmed the cancellation of the booking. This offer may be removed or amended at any time.

After the 30th June, we operate a 72-hour 'Cooling-off' period up to the 31st of July so if your circumstances change you can cancel your booking. To cancel your booking you need to email the accommodation team within 72 hours of signing your Tenancy Agreement. From the 1st August, the 'Cooling-off' period is reduced to 24 hours. Once the 'Cooling-off' period has expired, you can cancel your booking if:
1. You do not have a visa to enter the UK
2. You have not acquired the grades to be offered a place at the chosen university
3. You have failed to achieve the grades to continue your study at university

In these circumstances, you can cancel your booking prior to the tenancy start date by providing evidence to the Accommodation Manager within 72 hours of being notified. To cancel your booking under these circumstances, please send your UCAS notification/ Visa refusal documentation to the Accommodation Manager within 72 hours of receiving it.

There are no other circumstances when we will accept a request for cancellation either before or during the tenancy.

It may be possible with the Landlord's agreement to transfer your obligations to someone else who would be eligible to live at the property. There is no obligation on our part to find you a replacement tenant. You can advertise your accommodation or undertake your own search for a replacement tenant. If you find a replacement tenant we will need to do some basic checks to confirm their eligibility to take over the tenancy.

Before we will accept a new tenant your account and all obligations need to be up to date and any rent due up to the changeover will need to be paid. Once the new person has signed the tenancy agreement and made the first rent payment they will take responsibility for future rent payments and all other obligations as stated in the agreement. 

Covid-Travel Peace of Mind

If travel restrictions related to Covid-19 prevent you from travelling to the UK or Ireland for the start of the 2021/22 academic year, and therefore unable to take up your study place at University, you may cancel your accommodation without penalty. Written evidence from the University must be sent by email to the Residents’ Team no later than 10th September 2021 confirming that you are no longer registered as a student with the institution. If you wish to delay your arrival until travel restrictions are lifted, we will amend your Tenancy Start Date in line with your new arrival date. Requests must be made by email to the Residents’ Team of the accommodation booked. We will apply a credit to your account for the period between your original Tenancy Start Date and your new one. All tenancies will start on a Saturday.

Guarantors

All applicants are required to nominate a responsible person to act as a Guarantor. The Guarantor must be over 18 years old and have the means to accept the responsibility to act as Guarantor and cannot be someone who is living with you (other than parents or guardians) or in other accommodation managed by us.

A Guarantor is required to meet all the obligations as set out in the tenancy agreement including payment of rent if not paid by you and any costs arising from breaches of the tenancy. We will also contact the Guarantor if you have been involved with serious incidents of antisocial behaviour. If the full rent due for the tenancy period is made in advance of the tenancy start date and you the applicant are over 18 years of age a guarantor will not be required.