1.1 The University operates a database of privately owned properties, available for students via the Applicant Portal and the Student Portal. Property owners gain listing by registering properties and providing copies of evidence of compliance with necessary legal standards such as Gas Safety certificates and those relating to Houses in Multiple Occupancy.

1.2 The University does not control individual properties, and students looking to rent accommodation in the private sector are strongly advised to view the property and to take independent advice about the contract before you sign.

1.3 In the case of privately owned properties, the legal contract is between the student and the owner (landlord) and the University has no formal standing in that relationship. The Student Accommodation Office will do what it can to facilitate communication in case of dispute or difficulty, to try to avoid matters going to law unless unavoidable, but in the final analysis only the student and the landlord concerned are able to resolve issues relating to accommodation contracts.

1.4 Students are advised that if they have a dispute with their landlord about a property in which they are living, this will need to be resolved with the landlord within the accommodation contract. Students are not advised to withhold rent in the context of any potential dispute since this can give rise to legal action on the part of the property owner. It is also likely to cause a landlord to remove their property from the database, thereby limiting choice for other students.

1.5 Landlords establish rents and undertake financial transactions directly with the students to whom their property is let. If landlords of properties registered on the University database report difficulty in collecting rent over a period of time, the Student Accommodation Office team will offer to make contact with the student(s) concerned to advise them of the concerns and of the potential for legal action to recover rents. This will normally involve emailing the student(s) on their university account(s) and/or writing to their local address and their registered home address to explain that the owner is concerned about non-payment of rent and ask the student(s) to contact the owner to resolve the matter, noting that the owner may have recourse to law. Landlords can make use of proceedings in the Small Claims Court or may seek a Possession Order.

1.6 In communicating with the student(s) concerned, the University is making no judgement about the rights or wrongs of the case, since it is in no position to do so, but is simply forewarning the student(s) of a potential legal dispute. The University will include information about sources of advice or support in case of a dispute.

1.7 On request from a landlord, the University may post letters from them to the student(s) registered home address, but without revealing the home address to the landlord.