Yes. Without a UK guarantor, most students rent through a university guarantor scheme, a paid guarantor service or purpose-built student accommodation. In England, paying months of rent upfront is no longer an option for most private tenancies: since 1 May 2026, the most a landlord can usually ask for before you move in is one month’s rent (or 28 days if you pay weekly).
Paying rent in advance: what changed in England
GOV.UK says that a new tenancy agreed with a private landlord in England on or after 1 May 2026 is an assured periodic tenancy (different rules apply in student halls and for lodgers). For these tenancies, GOV.UK says:
- A landlord or letting agent “must not accept, ask for or encourage you to pay rent before you both sign the tenancy agreement”.
- After you sign and before the tenancy starts, the most they can usually ask for is one month’s rent, or 28 days’ rent if you pay weekly.
- You can complain to the local council, even if you offered to pay. The council can ask the landlord to repay you.
The law also says terms in an assured tenancy are “of no effect so far as they provide for rent to be due in advance”, apart from this first payment (Housing Act 1988, section 4B).
In Scotland the rules are different. mygov.scot says a landlord can ask for rent before you move in, “usually only … when you have no guarantor”, but cannot charge more than 6 months’ rent in advance.
University guarantor schemes
Some universities act as guarantor for their own students renting privately. Imperial College London is one example. Its Rent Guarantee Scheme page (checked 4 October 2026) says:
- It covers undergraduates (not first years) and postgraduate research students renting private accommodation, not private student halls.
- It guarantees rent only, not damage or other charges.
- Each guarantee lasts up to 12 months, and there is a weekly rent limit and a non-refundable fee.
- One-year master’s students are not currently eligible. The page suggests they explore private guarantor services.
- Imperial has announced that the scheme will be extended to all full-time students on in-person programmes, starting as a pilot with a higher rent limit and fee.
Rules differ widely between universities, and some have no scheme. Search your university’s accommodation or money advice pages for “rent guarantor”.
Paid guarantor services
A guarantor company agrees to cover your rent if you don’t pay, for a fee. Housing Hand’s page says students need proof of study, such as a university letter, UCAS form or student ID, and that applicants can be from the UK or abroad. Your landlord or agent has to accept the company, and if it pays your rent you have to repay it.
Fees vary, so check the current fee on the provider’s own site. In England, GOV.UK says a landlord can ask for a guarantor but cannot make you pay for a particular service. Using one is your choice.
Halls and purpose-built student accommodation
University halls and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) often have their own ways of handling students without a UK guarantor. Ask the provider before you book.
The rules are also different. GOV.UK’s Renters’ Rights Act overview for tenants says different rules apply if you “live in student halls of residence”. Manchester City Council explains that university-owned or managed halls, and “some purpose-built student accommodation that follows the National Code”, are exempt from parts of the Act. It adds: “They may also have different rules about ending a tenancy and paying rent in advance.” So the one-month limit may not apply in these cases. Check your contract.
International students
Many landlords ask for a guarantor based in the UK. Imperial’s page notes this “can be challenging for international students who do not have someone in the UK who can take on this role”. Your options are the same as above:
- your university’s scheme, if you are eligible
- a guarantor company that accepts applicants from abroad
- halls or PBSA that do not ask for a UK guarantor
Start early. Guarantor checks need documents, and your landlord has to agree before you sign.
Worked example (fictional)
Jo is a second-year student in England. She has found a room in a private shared house for £180 a week, paid weekly, with a deposit of 5 weeks’ rent. She has no UK guarantor.
| Payment | Sum | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rent before move-in (28 days) | £180 × 4 | £720 |
| Deposit (5 weeks) | £180 × 5 | £900 |
| Total before she moves in | £720 + £900 | £1,620 |
A year’s rent upfront would be £180 × 52 = £9,360. For an assured tenancy in England her landlord can’t ask for that. Instead, the landlord asks for a guarantor, and Jo applies to her university’s scheme. All figures are fictional.
Check what a guarantor would need
If a parent or relative might act as your guarantor, use the guarantor affordability calculator to see whether their income is likely to pass, and read renting with a guarantor for how the arrangement works. For the full list of costs before moving in, see upfront costs of renting in the UK.
Related: What is a rent guarantor service? · Can a landlord ask for rent in advance? · How much of your student loan goes on rent?
Sources
- GOV.UK: Assured periodic tenancies, rent in advance and deposits (England), checked 4 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Renters’ Rights Act overview for tenants, checked 4 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Fees you can charge as part of a tenancy, checked 4 October 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: Housing Act 1988, section 4B, checked 4 October 2026
- Manchester City Council: Renters’ Rights Act information for students, checked 4 October 2026
- mygov.scot: Paying rent and deposit, checked 4 October 2026
- Imperial College London: Rent Guarantee Scheme, checked 4 October 2026
- Housing Hand: Rent guarantor service (provider page), checked 4 October 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Report a possible error.