Accommodation FAQs

Is there a deadline for applying for accommodation?

Accommodation applications open on 1 December 2024. You can apply as soon as you've received your offer letter from University of Birmingham.

To guarantee your chance to book a room in accommodation, you must submit your application by:

• 30 June 2025 (UK undergraduate students)
• 31 July 2025 (non-UK undergraduate and postgraduate students)

We recommend submitting your application by the above dates even if you're not eligible for our Guarantee Scheme. We will invite you to book a room with us if we have any available once those in the scheme have booked theirs. If we have no available rooms, we will support you in finding student accommodation in the private sector. 

How can I find my ID number if I’ve lost my offer letter?

You can contact Student Living though our online helpdesk or by calling +44(0)121 512 2158. You’ll need to provide us with your full name, date of birth, and the first line of your current address.

If you haven’t received your offer letter, please contact Admissions at admissions@bham.ac.uk or by calling +44(0)121 415 8900.

What should I do if I need to change my email address?

To change your email address, please contact admissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk from the email account you used in your application. You’ll need to tell them what email address you’d like to use, along with your student ID number.

Haven’t got access to your old email account? You’ll need to contact Admissions to confirm your home address and date of birth to change your email address.

Can I apply for accommodation for just one term?

You can do; however, students who apply for a full year of accommodation will be given priority. If you receive an accommodation offer, you’ll be required to pay in full.

Only students enrolled on a semester abroad or studying for one semester at University of Birmingham are eligible to apply for one-term accommodation.

I have a disability/medical need. Can you support me?

Yes, we always take any disability or medical need you may have into consideration. We will work with you to ensure your student home meets your requirements wherever possible and supports you on your student journey. For examples of how we can help, please visit our accessible accommodation webpage. You can also browse a selection of our accessible student homes.

When applying for accessible accommodation, you will need to register with the University's Student Disability Service. Once we have a referral from the team, we will work closely with them and you to find you the right student home. 

I don't drink alcohol. Can I live with other students who don't?

If you would like to be in alcohol-free accommodation, you can state this as a personal preference on your application. We’ll do our best to place you in alcohol-free accommodation; however, we cannot guarantee a place will be available.

Wherever you call home, you'll create a shared living agreement with your flatmates about the use of alcohol in your flat to ensure everyone can live in an environment they feel safe and happy in. 

Can I apply for kosher accommodation?

If you’d like to live in a kosher environment, please state this under the ‘additional information’ section of your application. We’ll endeavour to fulfil your request, but please bear in mind that rooms are allocated once we know how many applicants have selected this preference. Therefore, we can’t guarantee kosher accommodation. 

Do I have to pay a deposit?

No, but you'll need to pay a £550 Advance Payment. This is essential for securing your accommodation and is an initial instalment towards your accommodation costs. Therefore, you won’t receive this payment back at the end of your contract, and it will not be deducted from your remaining accommodation costs. Once you have paid the Advance Payment, you will be able to choose how to pay for your accommodation. Please see below for more information.

What’s included in my accommodation fee?

All utility bills, Wi-Fi, telephone calls from your room to other rooms in the University, and basic contents insurance are included in the cost of your accommodation. If you're in Student Living Plus (catered) accommodation, credit for food and drink will also be in included; each week, your student ID card will be loaded with money to spend at over 20 outlets on campus.  

Postgraduates, Study Abroad, Exchange, and presessional students on a ten-, six- or four-week course will also receive a free bedding, kitchen and dining pack. 

How do I pay for my accommodation? 

You can pay for your accommodation in full or in manageable monthly instalments via direct debit. You can also provide sponsorship details if someone else is covering the costs for you.

There is no discount for paying your accommodation fees in full. 

Please see our 'Paying accommodation fees' page for more information. 

My accommodation has been cancelled. What can I do?

If your offer of accommodation has been cancelled and you still require a room, please contact Student Living as soon as possible. 

When can I move in?

All contracts for the 2025/26 academic year start in September 2025. You’ll be able to select a timeslot for moving in through the Accommodation Portal once you've secured your accommodation and completed the Accommodation Pass. 

Arrivals Weekend will take place between 19 – 21 September 2025. Welcome Week 2025 will take place from Monday 22 September 2025.

For more information about moving into your new home, please visit our 'Settling into your new home' page. 

Can I cancel my accommodation and get a refund?

Once you’ve accepted your accommodation offer and made your Advance Payment, you’ll only be released from your contract if we can find another student to replace you. If we can't, you will not be refunded and will be required to pay for your accommodation in full. If you believe you have overpaid your accommodation fees, you can request a refund. 

Can I bring my car with me to University?

With most our accommodation within an easy walk or bus journey from campus, and fantastic transport links nearby, you don't need to bring a car with you to make the most of student life. Also, car parking at University of Birmingham is extremely limited. We therefore do not recommend that you bring your car with you. 

If you need a car for accessibility reasons, a limited number of student parking permits are available for Pritchatts Park Village and The Vale Village. Please see our 'Applying for a parking permit' page for more information. 

Where should I go if I have a query about my accommodation?

If your village reception team or Customer Service Manager is unable to assist, you can get in touch with us through the Student Living Helpdesk. You can also visit us in the Student Living Hub in University Centre. Our opening times are Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. 

What do I need to bring with me for my flat? 

Please take a look at the inventory for your flat on our 'Contracts, inventories and facilities' page. 

The education and welfare of our students is of the utmost importance to us. That’s why all our students have access to a wide-ranging network of support services for both academic and non-academic issues. There are also processes in place to identify students in need of support and to refer them to the relevant service.

In the interests of respecting student privacy, we’re unable to discuss any concerns you may have without the student’s permission, as per our disclosure of information. We appreciate this can be frustrating; however, this is a legal requirement (Data Protection Act 2018), and University policy prohibits the disclosure of an individual’s information. There are only certain situations in which this may not apply, and is dealt with in respect to the University’s duty of care.

What can I do if I am concerned?

The University will take your concerns seriously. Whilst we cannot discuss a student’s situation or circumstances with you without their permission, including giving confirmation of whether they are attending the University, we can contact the student and offer appropriate help. It is then the student’s responsibility as to whether they choose to take advantage of that support and advice.

Where can I stay when visiting University of Birmingham?

The University’s Edgbaston Park Hotel offers contemporary en-suite accommodation just ten minutes from the centre of campus. With rooms to suit all budgets and tastes, as well as a restaurant and bar, the hotel has everything you’ll need for a comfortable and convenient stay with us. 

What if I have other questions?

The Student Living team is here to support you with any accommodation queries. You can contact us using the Student Living Helpdesk or by calling +44(0)121 512 2158. We’re open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. 

Where can I find information about accommodation in the private sector? 

The University’s Community Living team is here to support you if you’d like to rent accommodation privately. You can get in touch with them and browse dedicated resources through the Community Living website.

We recommend searching for your student home through the University’s official off-campus property search engine, UoB Property Search. Managed by Community Living and fuelled by Studentpad, through UoB Property Search you can search for all types of short- and long-term accommodation and rest easy knowing that you’ll only see adverts from recognised members of Birmingham's private renting community.

Only landlords and letting agents who are members of Community Living’s Lettings Membership Scheme, and who have pledged to follow the University’s Code of Conduct, can advertise on UoB Property Search. We therefore guarantee at least a minimum set of accommodation standards.

I have a spare room in my shared house. Can I advertise it? 

Yes, you can advertise it through UoB Property Search’s message board, but Community Living will need to see the gas certificate first. Your landlord should be able to provide you with this.  

I haven’t got my deposit back. What can I do?

All deposits should be covered by deposit protection schemes. You’ll need to contact the relevant scheme to find out more. Your landlord or letting agent will be able to tell you which scheme your deposit was protected with. If you need any more advice, please call into the Student Living Hub in University Centre.

My deposit hasn’t been returned in full. Can I dispute this? 

Yes, the deposit protection schemes all have dispute services where all issues can be resolved. 

Where do I find the council tax exemption form? 

You’ll find this and frequently asked council tax exemption questions on our council tax page. Make sure you’ve registered your term-time address online.

I need short-term accommodation, can you help? 

Community Living can support your search for short-term accommodation in the private sector. Pop in and see the team in the Student Living Hub in University Centre. The hub is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

We've also partnered with Uninist to help you find a student home. The team specialises in short-term, flexible accommodation, making it easy for you to find accommodation that doesn’t tie you in for the year – all in one place.  

Can you check my contract for me before I sign it? 

We recommend that you get your contract checked, even if it’s from a reputable company. You can do this easily using Community Living’s free, online contract-checking tool or by visiting the Community Living team in person at the Student Living Hub.

We’ll be able to point out any important information about charges, what’s expected of you as a tenant, and what rights you have regarding your landlord. We also recommend that you always view the property before you sign a contract. 

What do I do if I have issues with my landlord?

When sorting out any issues yourself, make sure you put any requests or complaints in writing to your landlord. If you continue to have problems, please speak to our Community Living team. 

I’m a landlord – how do I advertise my property to students? 

First, you need to be a member of Community Living’s Lettings Membership Scheme (LMS). Second, your property needs to have up-to-date gas and electric safety certificates and an energy performance certificate. You’ll then have all the relevant certificates and approvals to advertise on UoB Property Search, which you can do so for free until July 2024.

Whether you’re curious about life at University of Birmingham, looking for some help with your application, or just have a general accommodation-related question, we’re here for you. Contact us through the Student Living Helpdesk or visit us in the Student Living Hub in University Centre.