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Homes for Students Cancellation Policy – Summary

This policy explains how you can cancel your student housing booking with Homes for Students and its associated brands (Prestige Student Living, Urban Student Life, Universal Student Living, etc.). Note: if your university has its own cancellation rules, those will take priority.

Tenancy Agreement

Your housing agreement is a legally binding contract for a fixed period, meaning you're responsible for the full rent. Homes for Students acts as the landlord’s agent. Cancellation terms depend on when and why you're cancelling, and whether a replacement tenant is found.

Booking

If Homes for Students cannot offer you a room, they’ll notify you within 2 working days. No payment will be due.

Once they offer a room, you have:

• 3 calendar days to accept and pay the deposit during normal booking periods.
• 1 calendar day during the peak clearing period (August and September).

Once you accept and pay the deposit, the booking is confirmed and you're in a legally binding contract.

If you miss the deadline, the offer expires. While it may be reissued, the same room, price, or promotion is not guaranteed.

Cancelling a Booking

Initial Cancellation Period (Cooling Off)

• You can cancel within 7 calendar days after booking.
• If cancelled within this period, you’ll receive a full refund of your deposit.
• Refunds may take several weeks due to processing with the tenancy deposit scheme.
• For international refunds, £20 will be deducted to cover bank charges.

Cancelling After the Cooling Off Period

If you cancel after 7 days, you remain liable for rent until a replacement tenant acceptable to the landlord is found and has:

• Paid rent,
• Moved in, or
• Passed their own 7-day cooling off period without cancelling.

Homes for Students is not obligated to accept your suggested replacement.

The replacement room may be let at the current market rate, not necessarily your original rate.

If re-let:

• Your deposit will be refunded, minus any applicable charges,
• A £50 contract variation fee will apply,
• No £50 fee applies if the tenancy ends under any applicable legal notice period.

Deposits are non-transferable to another person or another year.

Cancelling After Moving In / After Collecting Keys

• Same conditions as above apply.
• You remain liable for rent until a suitable replacement is found or the legal notice period ends.
• The room must be clean and suitable for re-letting, and available for viewings.
• You must return your keys within 5 working days of your contract ending or a replacement being accepted.
• Deposits will not be returned until the tenancy end date.
• You're still liable if your replacement cancels within their 7-day cooling off period.

Republic of Ireland (Only)

• Cancellation within 24 hours of signing the Licence: no rent liability.
• Cancellation after payment is receipted: all money is forfeited.

Special Cases

First-Year Applicants & Postgraduates – No Place, No Pay

If your university withdraws your offer due to unmet entry grades or

You exceed your grades and attend a different university:

• You can cancel without penalty and receive a full deposit refund.
• You must email Homes for Students and provide:

1. Written university/UCAS proof of rejection or acceptance elsewhere,
2. Within 3 calendar days of results publication, and no later than August 28th.

Second-Year & Subsequent Year Students

Same 7-day cooling-off period applies.

After that, cancellation is allowed only if:

• A replacement tenant is found,
• A legal notice period applies under legislation,
• Or your university place is withdrawn due to unmet progression grades.

You must provide university confirmation within 3 days of receiving it.

If not received on time, rent liability continues until the room is re-let.

International Visa Applicants – No Visa, No Pay

Before Tenancy Starts:

If your visa is refused before tenancy begins:

• Email HFS within 3 calendar days of the refusal notice (and before September 20th).
• Include official proof from UK Visas & Immigration.
• Your deposit will be refunded in full.

After Tenancy Starts:

If you haven’t collected keys: You remain liable until a replacement is found.

If visa is revoked after moving in:

• Notify Homes for Students within 48 hours,
• Provide official visa revocation proof and a university letter confirming your withdrawal,
• You must vacate, but remain liable until the tenancy ends or a replacement is found.

Cancelling After Moving In (Regardless of Reason)

Even if you leave your course or university, you cannot cancel the contract after moving in.

You must vacate the room but remain liable for rent until:

• A replacement is found,
• A legal notice period ends,
• Or the tenancy expires.

If re-let:

• Deposit refunded minus deductions,
• No £50 fee if ended under a legal notice period,
• £20 bank fee applies for international refunds.

Special Conditions

Medical Grounds

If a pre-existing medical condition (recorded before your booking) prevents university continuation:

You may cancel with:

• A doctor’s letter,
• Proof of university withdrawal or deferral.

You’ll be liable for at least 4 weeks' rent, or to the end of the current rent period (whichever is longer).

The rent period = full contract value ÷ 3 (even if you chose monthly instalments).

If the condition wasn’t on your original application, you remain liable until a replacement is found or tenancy ends.

Exceptional or Sensitive Circumstances

• You may submit a written request (with medical or university support) to the Special Conditions Panel.
• A decision is normally made within 10 working days (may take longer with landlord approval).
• Decisions are final.

Complaints

If you're unsatisfied with how this policy was handled, you can submit a formal complaint. Homes for Students’ complaints procedure outlines how your case will be reviewed and responded to.

The above cancellation policy is a synopsis of the property’s cancellation policy. There could be a few changes incorporated from time to time. Hence, we recommend you review the full Accommodation Contract for a comprehensive understanding of their cancellation policies.

- Installments payment is available with a UK based guarantor.