Many colleagues who have relocated from overseas find temporary accommodation (e.g. in a hotel or bed and breakfast) initially as it is much easier to find longer term accommodation once you have entered the UK. The University owns two hotels on or near to campus and you can find more information on the accommodation centre website which is linked below. 

There are also a range of hotels available in Loughborough and websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb can be used to find suitable options. Both of these websites are linked below. 

The University’s Student Accommodation Centre can also provide advice and information to staff relocating to Loughborough and may (subject to availability) be able to provide short term temporary accommodation while you look for longer term accommodation. Unfortunately, they do not have accommodation suitable for couples or families.

For the longer term, you will have two options, depending on your circumstances. You can either let (rent) a property or you can buy one. 

Letting 

Letting (or renting) is where you enter into a contract with a landlord or company to live in a property in exchange for rent. When you let a property you are often subject to certain restrictions that limit what you can do to the property. These will be stated in the contract you sign, which is normally called a tenancy agreement, which is a legal document. When you start letting a property, you are usually required to pay a deposit equivalent to one month’s rent.  

Monthly rental costs will vary depending upon size and condition of the property, inclusion or exclusion of bills, and proximity to the city centre and the University.  

Letting agencies that are a member of a professional body, such as ARLA (Association of ResidentialLetting Agents) or the National Approved Letting Scheme, have tocomply with the body’s code of conduct and you can lodge a complaint if things go wrong. If you decide to work with an agency, it is recommended that you look for those that are registered with one of these organisations 

Websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla can be used to find property to rent and buy in the local area.  

The Student Accommodation Centre will be able to provide you with information about letting properties in the local area. 

What you will need to rent a property in the UK 

The letting agents in the UK will require the following to create a letting agreement: 

- Passport and Visa (if applicable) 

- Confirmation of employment  

- Bank Statement for credit referencing 

- Potential additional checks such as proof of where you have lived for the past 3 years e.g utility bills or reference checks 

If you are a non-EU resident you may also require a UK based guarantor (a person thatunder a contract, agrees to be held responsible for another’s debt) or pay an additional fee. 

The Government provide a ‘how to rent checklist’ that is a useful summary of the renting process in the UK. This is linked below.