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Please note - renters' rights are changing from 1 May 2026 due to the new Renters' Rights Act
- There will be n0 more fixed term Assured Shorthold Tenancies, and therefore housing may become available at different times as the existing tenants leave
- Landlords will only be able to request one month's rent upfront - requesting any more than this could be a sign of a scam
- Rental bidding will be outlawed, and landlords and letting agents will be unable to ask for, encourage, or accept any bids above the published asking rent
UCL Halls of Residence
Most students spend their first year at University in halls. These buildings are usually owned by UCL or private providers. UCL has varying types of accommodation based on your degree, if you have a family, or if you need accommodation over the summer.
For the 2026-27 academic year, UCL will guarantee an offer of accommodation to all full-time, first-year undergraduate students who are studying at UCL for the first time and who meet the eligibility criteria.
UCL has a wide variety of accommodation which is grouped into different prices depending on how close it is to the Bloomsbury campus and the condition of the building (basically, if it's new or has been recently refurbished, it's likely to cost more).
Undergraduate contracts are generally for 39 weeks (September to June), whilst Postgraduates contracts are generally for 50 weeks and 4 days (September to September).
UCL has also launched a new option for returning students - urbanest Canary Wharf.
Students with families
UCL has a small number of residences for students who have a partner and/or dependents. These range from double rooms to one or two bedrooms self-contained flats. If you fit into one of these groups then take a look at the accommodation you may be eligible for; however, bear in mind that accommodation is not guaranteed for these groups.
Private Halls of Residence
A lot of postgraduate and undergraduate students will find accommodation in private halls. UCL works with several different organisations to offer private accommodation to students living in London. Some of these are halls that UCL has a number of places in to allocate to students, others are halls that UCL has agreed specific prices with. Private halls can vary but most rooms are en-suite with shared kitchen facilities. Private halls will also have common rooms, study spaces and are a good way of meeting new students. One thing to note is that overall costs of living in private halls can be higher than shared accommodation.
UCL is a member of University of London Housing Services, who offer a comprehensive service to all University of London students. They have a range of properties that they rent out themselves, including a number of registered independent halls of residence. You can find more information of the University of London Housing Services website. They also publish a very useful booklet – London Student Housing Guide - which covers all aspects of finding and living in private rented accommodation.
You can visit UCL's Alternative Accommodation for Students page to find out about many private halls of residence, including any specific prices negotiated by UCL.
Your Rights when Living in Halls
If you live in halls provided by UCL, you are known as an 'occupier with basic protection'. This is important to know as it determines what rights you have. Students in halls enter into a licence agreement with UCL where you’re allowed to occupy the specific accommodation (usually a ‘study bedroom’, but this can also include studios and flats) and access communal areas. As a licensee you have no legal interest in the property but are required to uphold a number of obligations such as paying the fees. For 2025/26 you can read the Licence Agreement and other general regulations on UCL’s website.
If you want to terminate the licence agreement, you can do so in the following manner:
- You must submit a ‘Notice to Quit’ request to UCL via the online accommodation portal. Please note that you will be liable to pay your accommodation fees to UCL until another student is found that can take over your room. If no student is found, you are liable until the end of your Licence Agreement which is 20 June 2026 (12 September 2026 for a 51 week contract length), or 5 January 2026 if you have a Term 1 only License Agreement.
Private Sector Accommodation
Many students find accommodation in the private sector, where properties are owned by individual landlords and some are managed by letting agents. You'll typically be renting a private bedroom within a shared house and share spaces like a kitchen, living room, and sometimes a bathroom.
You will likely have an agreement called an "Assured Shorthold Tenancy" which gives you different rights and responsibilities, compared to living in University accommodation. You can find out more about this our Advice for Renters webpage.
Please note that the upcoming Renters' Rights Act will remove fixed term assured tenancies, and all tenancies will instead be periodic.
To find out more about searching for private sector accommodation, check out our Finding Accommodation information.