FAQs

Your rent at Urban Student includes all bills (gas, electricity, water and WiFi), free fortnightly cleaning, free laundry, and full contents insurance through Howden. Every apartment comes fully furnished, including hotel-style bedding and towels, plus kitchen cookware and utensils. An on-site maintenance team is on hand for anything that needs fixing. Council Tax is the tenant’s responsibility, though full-time students are usually exempt for their course duration — we register your student status with Bristol Council automatically.

Yes — every tenancy includes a free fortnightly clean of your apartment. Between cleans, keeping the space tidy day-to-day is the tenant’s responsibility.

Every apartment includes an oven with hob, a fridge, a sink, and ample storage. We will provide most of your utensils, mugs and glasses, as well as a toaster and kettle. However this may vary by property. To check the full inventory list of the room you have booked, please contact us.

Yes. Every tenant is covered by contents insurance through Howden For Students at no extra cost. You’ll receive your policy details in your move-in pack — register on the Howden website or app to view full cover details.

Yes. If you sign your tenancy agreement before 1st September, you can secure the same weekly rent for a 2-year tenancy, with no price increases across that period.

Urban Student is privately owned and managed, it’s not run by the university, and not let through agents.

We own, develop and manage every property ourselves, which means consistent quality, direct contact with a local team who truly cares about your experience living with us. Our apartments were designed for true independent living.

All bills, cleaning and laundry are included as standard, the same as halls, but with more privacy and a more personal service.

You can view an available apartment via its property page on our website, or contact our team directly by email, WhatsApp or WeChat. We also offer virtual tours — ask our team for details. During busy periods, we recommend booking as soon as possible as rooms let quickly.

Yes. We also offer virtual tours if you’d like to see the space beforehand — just contact our  team either via our form or live chat to organise this.

Go to the property page for your chosen apartment and select ‘check availability’, or contact our student team directly by email or WhatsApp. Once you’ve chosen your apartment, you’ll reserve it via our portal on a first-come, first-served basis by paying a £300 holding deposit. You’ll then receive an electronic tenancy agreement to sign within 7 days (48 hours during August/peak season). Once signed, you’re responsible for the rent, and your remaining deposit — 4 weeks’ rent minus your £300 holding deposit — is due within 7 working days. We never request payment details by email. If you find any part of the process confusing or have any questions, our team will be on hand to help!

You must be a full-time student to live with Urban Student. You can book whether you hold a conditional or unconditional offer at university, but please check our cancellation policy first if your university place isn’t yet confirmed. If you’re an International Student, please check our dedicated FAQs for International Students below for further information on documents needed.

Yes. If you turn 18 during your first semester, we can accept your booking with no restrictions other than requiring an adult co-signatory over 18 on your tenancy agreement. Some properties can accept under-18s subject to our Policy for Students under the Age of 18.

Yes, on a limited number of our 1-bedroom apartments, where both residents are full-time students. Both must sign the tenancy agreement and hold student status for the full tenancy.

Yes — you’ll select your exact room number at the booking stage. If you are unsure of which room would suit your needs best, reach out to our team who will be happy to help!

Yes. All our apartments can be booked by a group choosing to live together, and we only accept bookings for a whole household at once. You can also apply for a multi-bed apartment alone, but you’d be responsible for the full apartment’s rent.

All of our properties are within easy reach of UWE Bristol via bus or bike. Check individual property pages for exact distances, or contact our team for the best option to suit you near UWE.

Yes — a £300 holding deposit secures your room. This forms part of your total deposit, which equals 4 weeks’ rent. For example, on £400/week rent, you’d pay £300 upfront, then £1,300 more after signing (4 × £400 = £1,600 total, minus your £300 holding deposit). If you cancel before signing, a deduction covers admin and documentation costs.

Your deposit is protected by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). You’ll receive a deposit repayment ID by email when your deposit is registered, which you’ll use to authorise your refund at the end of your tenancy. Refunds are issued after your room is inspected, minus any charges or damages, and can take up to 30 working days.Your deposit is protected by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). You’ll receive a deposit repayment ID by email when your deposit is registered, which you’ll use to authorise your refund at the end of your tenancy. Refunds are issued after your room is inspected, minus any charges or damages, and can take up to 30 working days.

You can pay online via our website or by bank transfer to our company account. We will never request payment details by email — always double-check that our bank details match the company name on your tenancy agreement, and confirm by phone or a second contact method if in doubt. International transfers may incur a charge from your own bank.

Yes — online via our website (in GBP or your home currency), by bank transfer, or by card over the phone.

If you have a valid UK guarantor, you can pay in four instalments due in September, January, March and June. Without a UK guarantor, full payment is required upfront before your tenancy starts. Rent due must be paid before check-in.

No — your first payment must be made before check-in. If you’re paying upfront, the full amount is due before your tenancy starts.

Your holding deposit reserves the room for 7 days. If the tenancy agreement isn’t signed within that time, the booking is automatically cancelled and the holding deposit isn’t refunded. If you’ve already signed and paid your deposit, cancelling or ending the tenancy incurs a £250 admin fee, and you remain responsible for the rent unless a new tenant takes your place.

A guarantor is only required if you want to pay rent in instalments. To act as a guarantor, someone must hold UK citizenship, be over 21, and be a homeowner or in full-time employment, with valid photo ID and proof of a UK address less than 3 months old. If you don’t have a UK guarantor, we recommend Housing Hand (we don’t accept YourGuarantor.com).

We carry out four management visits per tenancy to check on maintenance and property condition, plus annual safety checks (fire alarms, smoke detectors). You’ll always be given at least 24 hours’ notice.

Post is delivered to your apartment’s letterbox in the building lobby. For larger parcels or anything requiring a signature, you’ll need to be home — or arrange with our team to have important items, like a passport, delivered to our Park Street office instead.

Yes — short-term summer bookings usually open around March. Contact our property team for current pricing and availability.

On-site parking is available at some properties but isn’t included in your rent unless confirmed in writing. Spaces are limited and allocated first-come, first-served — speak to the property team to purchase one.

Smoking isn’t allowed inside any apartment, though designated smoking areas are available outside each building.

Pets are welcome at select properties, including The Manor House and Alison Court, subject to a landlord reference confirming no history of pet-related damage, a signed pet policy, and an additional 5 weeks’ rent as pet deposit. Current tenants elsewhere can also apply when rebooking.

All licences, safety certificates and tenancy documents are available on COHO, our tenant portal, once you’ve moved in.

Yes — we notify the council at the start of your tenancy, so in most cases you don’t need to do anything. If you apply for exemption yourself, make sure your details match what you’ve given us, or a fee may apply. If you’re not exempt, Council Tax is your responsibility.

Email studentproperties@urban-creation.com with your name, contact details, the nature of your complaint, and any relevant dates or evidence. We’ll acknowledge your complaint within 48 hours (excluding weekends/bank holidays) and aim to give a full response within 14 days. If you’re not satisfied with the outcome, you can request it be escalated for further review.

Every building uses a secure mobile key system for authorised access only, with activity tracking and an intercom for visitor identification. CCTV covers all entrances, and an out-of-hours security company is on call. Fire safety includes emergency lighting, 24/7 fire panel monitoring, smoke detectors and mist systems in every apartment, weekly testing, and trained in-house fire marshals. A trained Mental Health First Aider is also part of our team, and we liaise directly with the University of Bristol on any wellbeing concerns.

Don’t worry! There will be someone to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it happens outside of office hours, an emergency security officer can let you in if you’re locked out, with contact details displayed in every building hallway. During office hours, message us on WeChat or WhatsApp and a team member will attend immediately.

We carry out annual checks on fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and other required safety equipment, all completed by certified contractors. You’ll always be notified at least 24 hours in advance of a visit.

Yes. All properties hold the required licences and safety certificates, which are available to view on COHO, our tenant portal, once you’ve moved in.

Look for safety, proximity to your university, cost, transport links, and support services geared towards students moving from abroad — including providers who understand the value of all-inclusive bills. At Urban Student, our properties are perfect for International Students, we are situated in safe areas offer 24/7 staff and secure buildings. We also truly know the meaning of all inclusive, with everything you need, including your linen,  ready and waiting for you upon arrival.

Yes. We offer all-inclusive rent, fully furnished apartments, locations near Bristol’s main universities, and a team experienced in helping international students settle in — many of our residents are international students themselves. We pride ourselves on creating a vibrant and inclusive community within our Urban Student buildings.

Many of our team members are able to speak multiple languages, we will do our best to ensure you’re able to communicate in your native language when necessary. Our team regularly  communicates with residents via WeChat as well as email and WhatsApp, and many of our residents are international students, so our team is well-practised in supporting you in the way that’s easiest for you.

Typically a copy of your passport, your university offer letter, and proof of funding or a guarantor. Our team will guide you through exactly what’s needed.

Yes — we offer virtual tours and video viewings so you can explore a property from anywhere in the world.

Our team offers local area guidance, move-in support, and fast responses to maintenance requests, so you can feel at home in the UK as quickly as possible.