Student Safety

BeSafe

Renting your first house is exciting. It's also one of the easiest times to get caught out. Here's what someone who's been through it would tell you before you sign anything.

The rules

Things you never do

01
Never pay money before you've viewed
Holding deposits, admin fees, "reservation fees" — none of it before you've been inside the property. A legitimate agent will never ask you to secure a house you haven't seen. If they're pressuring you to pay without viewing, walk away. The house will still be there if it's real.
02
Don't view alone — take someone with you
Always bring at least one person you trust. A friend, a flatmate, anyone. Beyond the obvious safety reasons, a second pair of eyes catches things you'll miss — damp behind furniture, dodgy boilers, broken locks. If the "agent" won't let you bring someone, that's a red flag.
03
Check the agent is registered
Any legitimate letting agent in England must be registered with a government-approved redress scheme — either The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme. Look them up before you hand over a penny. Takes two minutes. Also check they're a member of ARLA Propertymark if you want extra peace of mind. Maison only works with registered agents — but always verify yourself.
04
Never hand over your passport or ID to keep
An agent may need to see your ID as part of Right to Rent checks — that's legal and normal. But they have no right to keep it, hold it, or take a copy without your permission. If anyone asks to hold your passport as "security" for anything, refuse. That is not how renting works.
05
Your deposit must be protected
By law, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it — DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS. You must receive written confirmation of this. If they can't show you proof, that's illegal. You can claim it back plus compensation.
06
Read the tenancy agreement before you sign
All of it. Yes, it's long. Look specifically for: notice period, what happens if someone leaves early, what you're responsible for maintaining, any restrictions (pets, guests, alterations). If something doesn't make sense, ask. A good agent will explain it. If they won't, that tells you something.
Know the scams

How you get caught out

Too good to be true

A 5-bed house in Clifton for £80 per person per week. An agent you've never heard of. Photos that look like they came from a different country. If the price is significantly below the market rate, assume it's not real until proven otherwise. Check what similar properties are actually renting for on Rightmove or Zoopla.

The "just pay to secure it" pressure

You're told the property is getting lots of interest and you need to pay a holding deposit right now or you'll lose it. This is a classic pressure tactic. Legitimate agents don't evaporate properties in the hour you need to think. If they do, let them. A real agent will give you time to make a decision you're comfortable with.

Fake private landlords

Private landlords — listed on platforms like OpenRent, Hybr, or SpareRoom — are completely legitimate and increasingly common. Many offer great properties at fair prices. The risk isn't private landlords. The risk is people pretending to be private landlords.

Red flags: listed only on Facebook or WhatsApp with no platform listing, refuses to meet in person, asks for payment before viewing, can't produce a tenancy agreement, or can't show proof they own or manage the property. If in doubt, do a Land Registry search (£3 at gov.uk) — it shows who actually owns the address.

Bank transfer requests

Any request to pay via bank transfer to a personal account — rather than a business account in the agency's name — should stop you cold. Card payments and business account transfers have more protection if something goes wrong. Never pay cash, never pay to a private individual you haven't independently verified.

International students

Extra things you need to know

Moving to the UK to study is a big deal. Renting here works differently to most countries, and some of the ways students get taken advantage of are aimed specifically at people who are new to the system and don't know what's normal. Here's what's worth knowing before you start.

01
Don't rent without seeing it first — ever
The pressure to sort housing from abroad is real. But paying for a property you've never been inside is one of the most common ways international students lose money. The photos can be fake, the address can be real but the agent fictional, or the property can be nothing like described. If you arrive before your course starts, use university temporary accommodation while you look in person. Never pay before you land.
02
Right to Rent — what it means for you
Landlords in England are legally required to check you have the right to rent in the UK. They'll ask to see your visa or BRP (Biometric Residence Permit). This is legal and normal — don't be alarmed. What isn't legal: keeping your documents, charging you for the check, or refusing to rent to you because of your nationality (that's discrimination). If an agent behaves this way, report them.
03
The guarantor problem — and what to do about it
Most UK landlords require a guarantor — someone who agrees to cover your rent if you can't pay. They usually require the guarantor to be UK-based and earning above a threshold. If you don't have a UK guarantor, ask the agent about guarantor schemes (companies like Housing Hand or Reposit that act as your guarantor for a fee). Many Bristol agents work with these. Don't assume you're stuck.
04
Your university is on your side
UoB and UWE both have dedicated housing services and student advisors who know the Bristol rental market. If you're unsure about a contract, a deposit request, or anything a landlord or agent has said — talk to them before you sign. It's free, it's confidential, and they've seen every trick in the book.
05
Watch out for currency transfer scams
If you're sending money from overseas to pay a deposit, only ever transfer to a verified business bank account in the letting agency's registered name. Be sceptical of anyone who asks you to use an unofficial transfer service, cryptocurrency, or a personal account. Once the money leaves your account via bank transfer, it is very hard to recover.
06
You have the same rights as any tenant
Your visa status does not reduce your rights as a tenant. You are entitled to a safe property, a protected deposit, proper notice before entry, and a landlord who maintains the property. Some landlords assume international students won't know this or won't complain. They're wrong. If something's not right, the university housing service, Citizens Advice Bristol, and Shelter can all help you.
Private landlords

Renting from a private landlord

Private landlords — people who own a property and let it directly, often via OpenRent, Hybr, or SpareRoom — are a big part of the Bristol rental market. Renting from one can be great. The process is slightly different to going through an agency. Here's what to expect and what to look for.

01
A legitimate private landlord will prove who they are
They'll show you their ID — driving licence or passport — without being asked. They can show you proof they own or have the right to let the property (a Land Registry document, mortgage statement, or management agreement). If they're cagey about either, that's a flag.
02
They'll have the right paperwork
Before you move in, a landlord is legally required to give you: a valid EPC (Energy Performance Certificate, rated E or above), a current Gas Safety Certificate (annual, if there's gas), an EICR (electrical inspection report, every 5 years), and the government's How to Rent guide. If they can't produce these, they're not compliant — and you should be cautious.
03
The tenancy agreement should be a proper AST
An Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is the standard for most student rentals. It should include: the landlord's full name and address (legally required — a phone number is not enough), the property address, rent amount and due date, deposit amount, tenancy start and end date, and what's included. A homemade one-page "agreement" is not sufficient — use a recognised template or ask your university housing service to check it.
04
Your deposit must still be protected
Private landlords have exactly the same legal obligation as agencies: your deposit must go into a government-approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS) within 30 days, and you must receive written confirmation. No exceptions. If a private landlord says they'll "hold it themselves" — that's illegal.
05
Payment should be traceable
Pay by bank transfer to an account in the landlord's full legal name — the same name on the tenancy agreement. Always use the reference field to note what the payment is for (e.g. "deposit — 14 Example Street"). Keep every receipt. Never pay cash, and never pay to an account name that doesn't match the person you've met.
Private landlords

How to look legitimate — for landlords

If you're a private landlord, students and their parents will be doing their homework on you — especially first-timers who've just read the section above. Here's how to present yourself so there's no doubt you're the real thing. None of this is complicated, but doing it properly makes a real difference.

01
List on a recognised platform
OpenRent, Hybr, and SpareRoom all carry a level of implicit trust — students know them. A listing there is your first credibility signal. A Facebook post or WhatsApp-only contact immediately raises questions, even if you're entirely legitimate. The platform listing costs little and carries a lot.
02
Offer to show ID — don't wait to be asked
Bring your driving licence or passport to viewings and offer to show it. It takes five seconds and removes a big question mark. Students who've been told to verify who they're dealing with will be quietly relieved. Parents especially will notice and appreciate it.
03
Have your compliance documents ready
EPC, Gas Safety Certificate, EICR — have digital copies ready to send before anyone asks. Saying "I'll sort that before you move in" when asked at viewing doesn't land well. Having them ready signals you're an organised, professional landlord — not someone scrambling to comply.
04
Use a proper tenancy agreement
Use a recognised AST template — the NRLA (National Residential Landlords Association) provides good ones, as does OpenRent. Your full legal name and a contact address must be on it (a legal requirement). A well-formatted agreement tells a tenant — and their parents — that you know what you're doing and you're not going to be difficult to deal with.
05
Protect the deposit immediately and send proof
Register the deposit with DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS the day it lands. Send the prescribed information and the deposit certificate to your tenants that same day — don't wait. Students who've done their research will be watching for this. Doing it fast and without prompting builds enormous trust immediately.
06
Be parent-ready
First-year students often have a parent involved in the decision. Be prepared for a parent to call or email with questions — about the property, the tenancy terms, the deposit scheme, the compliance documents. Answer them directly and thoroughly. A landlord who's happy to speak to a parent and answer every question is a landlord parents encourage their child to rent from.

Useful for private landlords:

NRLA (National Residential Landlords Association) — nrla.org.uk
OpenRent — openrent.co.uk
Hybr — hybr.co.uk
Deposit protection — depositprotection.com · mydeposits.co.uk · tenancydepositscheme.com
Land Registry title search — gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Quick reference

Before you sign anything

Useful contacts in Bristol:

UoB Student Housing Service — accommodation@bristol.ac.uk
UWE Student Advice — advice@uwe.ac.uk
Citizens Advice Bristol — citizensadvicebristol.org.uk
Shelter England — shelter.org.uk · helpline 0808 800 4444
Report an agent — tpos.co.uk (The Property Ombudsman)