The private rental market tends to advertise property for the next academic year from late October and early November. This means that you may be signing for a property 8 months before you actually move in. This does seem a long time in advance. Waiting is an option, but you may find you choices will be more limited.

This will depend on the type of accommodation you are looking for:

University Residences - Information on how to apply can be found here.

Private Halls - You will normally need to apply directly through the Private Halls Provider. A list of these providers can be found here.

Private Rented Accommodation - Most properties are advertised through letting agents. Letting agents will advertise on websites such as Rightmove, Zoopla and Spareroom. It is worth visiting their office in person. Most agents have offices on Woodville Rd, Mundy Place and Albany Rd. All letting agents in Wales must be registered with Rent Smart Wales.

It is important to try to find people with similar expectations. Arguments about noise, guests and cleanliness can quickly escalate. Try to get to know any possible housemates as much as you can before signing a contract. Sometimes a best friend does not mean that they will be the best housemate. Consider how well a night owl and an early bird would get along. If you are struggling to find housemates the options are;

• Add your details to the Student Advice Housing List
• Look at online forums such as Overheard at Cardiff University
• Check out any upcoming Residence Life Events such as Housemate Speed Dating

Most student accommodation is located within easy access of the main Cathays and Heath campuses. The main areas are Cathays and Roath. A map of the campuses and surrounding areas can be found here.

Decide how far you are willing to commute to campus and whether you will need to use public transport or parking facilities. These additional costs may influence your final decision.

It is difficult to give an indication due to rising costs. Prices will depend on usage and the size of the property. Shop around for the best prices – many price comparison sites offer packages.

Ask the agent for an indication as to what the current tenants are paying this year, this will give you a good starting point.

It’s worthwhile having a conversation with all housemates about energy usage before you sign a contract. Having the same expectations regarding reducing costs may avoid conflict later on.

If you are living in student halls the utility costs should be included in the rent.

Not all University accommodation offer a private en-suite bathroom. When applying for accommodation it is important to state that you require an en-suite but please note that this may not be guaranteed.

Ensuite facilities in private shared houses is rare. Enquire with local Letting Agents who will be able to provide details of availability.

Private Halls of Residences may have more en-suite accommodation, but this does depend on the provider and availability.

Aberdare Hall is the only all-female University residence. More information can be found here.

Some private halls may offer single-gendered flats. We would encourage you to contact the Halls provider directly to enquire about this option.

The University has a limited amount of accommodation available for couples and families and priority is usually given to students coming from overseas. More information can be found here. Family and couples accommodation is only available for your first year of study.

For subsequent years of study, the private rental sector will have accommodation throughout the city suitable for families.

Depending on when and how long you need the accommodation will determine your options. Most student accommodation requires you to sign a contract for 12 months.

If you are seeking accommodation during the summer, University Residences are sometimes able to offer short term accommodation for a minimum of 7 nights.

For further advice contact Student Advice.

If you have not been able secure accommodation for the duration of your study at Cardiff University before arrival then we strongly advise you to book a hotel, guest house or hostel for a few nights to you have time to find more permanent accommodation. Other than during September you might be able to stay in a Cardiff University Residence or Private Student Hall on a short-term basis.

If you are at imminent risk of homelessness and have nowhere to sleep contact Student Advice as soon as you can or contact Shelter Cymru Homelessness Helpline on 08000 495 495 or Llamau on 0800 328 0292.

If in University accommodation or Private Halls - speak to your provider to request a room transfer. This may not always be possible and may be subject to availability.

If in a privately rented shared house this may be a little more difficult as you will need to negotiate a room swap with your housemates and they are under no obligation to agree.

University accommodation specifically adapted for wheelchairs users and students with a hearing impairment is available. More information can be found here. Most private halls will have accessible accommodation.

Accessible accommodation in the private rental sector may be difficult. If you have any issues in accessing appropriate accommodation for subsequent years of study, contact the Residences team to enquire whether you are able to stay a further year in the University accommodation.

When applying for University accommodation it is best to state what your requirements are. You may also wish to contact the Student Disability Service to establish how the University can support you throughout your studies.

Unfortunately not. Private Hall providers do not offer parking facilities and many state that you will not be able to park withing a certain radius of the accommodation. If you need an accessible parking space make sure you state this when applying for accommodation.

Privately rented houses are subject to Cardiff Council's Parking Permit Scheme which is currently one resident and one visitor permit. University accommodation has very limited parking and you will need to apply for a permit.

The University has a Guarantor Scheme for fully registered Cardiff University students in attendance at university for the complete period of the tenancy. (The scheme does not cover writing up periods).

Your Landlord may ask you to pay a portion of your rent in advance – before you agree to anything make sure that the property and Landlord are registered with Rent Smart Wales and get a contract check from the Student Advice team.

The University guarantee accommodation for first year undergraduate students , and International postgraduate subject to the offer of accommodation being accepted by the deadline. Home students will need to make alternative accommodation arrangements for subsequent years of study. More information can be found here.

International students are able to apply to stay in University Residences for subsequent years study but this is subject to availability. International students wishing to stay in University Residences will need to apply to the Residences Team – more information can be found here.

We recommend that you contact the Residences Team who will be able to confirm whether there is any availability. The team can be contacted at [email protected].

A holding deposit is a payment to a landlord or letting agent to reserve a property. You should only pay a holding deposit if you are serious about renting the property.

A landlord or agent cannot ask you to pay a holding deposit for a property in Wales unless they first provide you with certain written information, including details about what you would have to pay for the occupation contract.

The deposit cannot be more than 1 weeks rent. It is refundable or deductible from a security deposit if you decide to rent the property.

More information can be found here.

From December 2022 for most rented accommodation in Wales you will sign a standard occupation contract. More information about signing a contract can be found here.

Shelter Cymru state;

Your landlord must give you a written contract within 14 days of your contract starting. The contract will explain your rights and the responsibilities that you and your landlord have. It must also contain certain information. If your landlord doesn’t give you the written contract or the information in it is wrong, find out what you can do here.

You should also be given:

• a contact for your landlord.
• information about the deposit protection scheme used by your landlord if you have paid a deposit
• a copy of the annual gas safety check dated within the last year
• an electrical installation condition report dated within the last 5 years
• an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) dated within the last 10 years

Student Advice offer a contract checking service. Please email a copy of your contract to [email protected]

If you are living in a private rented shared house it is very likely that your landlord will ask you to sign a joint contact. This means that:

• All those named on the contract have joint and several liability. This means that you are all responsible for the paying the full rent on the property, not just your share for the duration of the tenancy.
• All those named on the contact are responsible for the terms of the tenancy. This includes damage.
• One tenant maybe a lead tenant and take responsible for communication with the letting and/or landlord and the security deposit.
• If one or more tenants wants to move out and surrender the contract before it ends, they will most like need to find a replacement unless there is break clause. If you do not you and all the other tenants remain responsible for paying the rent.

A security deposit is a sum of money- usually one month’s rent. It is refundable at the end of the tenancy but deductions maybe taken if rent is owed or the property is damaged.

When you pay a deposit for a standard occupation contract, the landlord or letting agent must, within 30 days of receiving the deposit:

• protect it through a Government-backed deposit protection scheme, and
• provide you with certain information about the deposit and the scheme. The law calls this ‘prescribed information’.