Hythe Mills

Can I live at this property?

You must be a full-time student to live with us. You can book with us whether you have a conditional or unconditional offer. However, please be aware of our cancellation policy prior to booking should your place at university not yet be confirmed.

Are pets allowed?

No pets of any kind are permitted in this property, except registered assistance dogs.

Can I choose who I live with?

If you are applying to live with friends, please ensure that you follow our create application link online, list the friends that you would like to live with and we will then contact them and make the arrangements for you!

Can I choose my room?

If you follow the book now process you can select the room of your choice or you can make special requests within the create application route which we will do our best to accommodate, however all requests and subject to availability and conditions.

Can I request to move rooms during my tenancy?

You would need to make a formal request to the accommodation team of the property you are residing in. If you request to move rooms during your tenancy please note there is an admin fee of 50.00. You will also be issued with new documents confirming the details of the room move which you will need to sign or accept online.

Should your new room be more expensive, then you and your Guarantor shall be liable for the higher rent from the date you are given access to it.

Do you provide summer accommodation?

Yes, our summer bookings usually open around March. Keep a look out for pricing and information or contact the property team.

Do I have to move out in the holidays?

Your room is yours for the full contract period and you don't need to move out during academic breaks.

Does my rental price include insurance?

Contents insurance is included at some properties which will be specified in your tenancy agreement.

Do I need to pay council tax?

If you are a qualifying full-time student, you will be exempt from paying Council Tax. You must provide us with your council tax exemption certificate which your university will be able to arrange.

If you do not have this when you move in because you have not yet enrolled on your course, please ensure that you bring with you the name of your university and your university student ID number.

How do I pay my rent?

Your rent can be paid in a number of ways:

* Online via by logging into your student account

* At the property reception desk

* By telephone to the property team

* By bank transfer (please ensure you use your name and student ID as the payment reference).

Your bank may charge you a fee to make an international payment so please make sure you check their terms and conditions first.

Can I pay in instalments?

If you have a valid UK Guarantor, you can choose to pay your rent in three instalments, which are due in September, January and April.

If you dont have a valid UK Guarantor, you are required to pay the full rent in August, 14 days prior to your contract start date.

Please note you must have paid the rent due by the time you arrive to check in.

Other instalment options may be available, however admin fees may apply.

When do I pay my rent?

When you accept your room offer, you'll be given two options:

* To pay your rent in full

* To pay your rent in instalments spread throughout the year

You can choose whichever is most convenient for you. Some instalment options may have an admin fee.

What is included in my rent?

All utility bills such as gas, electricity, water are included in your rent. Unlimited wifi* is also included. Your TV licence is not included in your rent as this is not classed as a utility and is your responsibility to purchase.

All of our properties offer a Wi-Fi connection included within the rent, so you won't have to pay anything to get online. During your stay, unless otherwise provided by your accommodation, your internet provider will also offer both free and premium television packages. Depending on the site at which you choose to live at, your internet provider will be either StudentCom, or Ask4.

* StudentCom services include Wi-fi connectivity for up to 5 devices.

* Ask4 provides connectivity for up to 3 devices, with optional upgrades for further devices to be added.

For information on the speed of your internet connection, please your Property Team for more information.

*a one off connection fee may apply dependent on property. Please see your property page for more information.

Can I move in before I pay my rent?

All rent that is due must have been paid when you check-in. If you are having difficulties or this will be a problem, please contact the property as early as possible who will assist you.

What if I don't have a UK guarantor?

If you are unable to provide your own UK Guarantor, we recommend the service of Housing Hand you can find further information, prices and how to apply on their website.

Who can be a guarantor?

To be a guarantor you must:

* Be resident in the UK for a minimum of 1 year

* Be over 21 years of age

* Be a homeowner or in full-time employment)

* Provide a copy of photographic identification, such as a passport, driving license or ID badge

* Provide a copy of proof of your UK address which must be less than 3 months old, such as a utility bill (e.g. electricity, water, gas, telephone), a bank statement or a Council Tax bill.

Can I pay my rent from overseas?

You can pay your rent either online by logging in to your student account, by bank transfer or by credit or debit card over the phone.

Your bank may charge you a fee to make an international payment so please make sure you check their terms and conditions first.

What can I do if my student loan hasnt arrived yet?

You can defer your rent instalments to be in line with your student loan payments if you wish. All requests for deferred payments must be made by 1st August in each academic year to the property team.

You will be required to provide evidence of your student loan schedule to the property team in order for the payment plan to be set up.

You will be required to pay two weeks rent 14 days prior to your contract start date, which will be deducted from the balance of your first instalment on the agreed date.

A one off admin fee of 50 will be charged and payable with the initial 2 weeks rent payment and this 50 admin fee will not deducted from the balance of rent due.

Please note deferring your rent must be pre-arranged and agreed with the property manager prior to your move in date. If no arrangement has been made, rent is due as per your tenancy agreement.

Do I need a guarantor?

If you wish to pay your rent in instalments, you will need a UK guarantor.

Do I need a guarantor if I am a sponsored student?

We may be able to accept sponsors in place of guarantors in some cases, however this depends on the terms of your sponsorship and whether your sponsor is willing to guarantee rent payments. If you are a sponsored student, please contact your chosen property directly to enquire about using a sponsor in place of guarantor.

Can I pay my rent weekly?

Weekly rent payments are not available, however Straits Manor offers a number of instalment options for students to pay their rent.

When does the discount come off my rent?

All discounts offered will be deducted off your final instalment of rent.

What do I do if Im a first year student and Im still waiting for my exam results?

If youre still waiting for your exam results and youre not sure whether your place at university is confirmed, dont worry, you can still apply.

If you are a prospective first year student and your offer of a place at your preferred University or Higher Education Institute is withdrawn because you do not achieve the required entry grades, you may be eligible to be released from your agreement.

You must provide written evidence from the University/UCAS that you do not have a place within 3 days of your results being published (and no later than 1st September, whichever date is sooner) and we will release you from your contract without penalty and refund your deposit.

You may also be eligible to be released from this agreement if you are a prospective first year student and you choose to go to a different University because you have exceeded your expected grades. To apply to be released from your agreement, you will need to supply us with a copy of:

* A written or email confirmation that you wish to cancel your reservation, stating full name and full details of the property booked

* A written rejection letter from your chosen university/college or UCAS, a screen shot of your UCAS status which confirms that the required results were not achieved, or a copy of the proof of acceptance of your new university by UCAS adjustment.

These document(s) must be received by us within 3 calendar days from the date your results are published. If you fail to provide the information within 3 days, your deposit will not be refunded and you may be held rent liable.

What if I want to cancel my booking?

Our full termination policy is within your online account.

We will only accept cancellation of an accepted room offer if you cancel your application up to 14 days after the date your booking is confirmed. From 1st August this period reduces to 7 days. As confirmed in your agreement, we will refund the full security deposit.

Please note, 20 will be deducted from the refunded amount to cover international bank charges for deposit refunds made to non-UK banks under these circumstances.

If you cancel your booking after those 14 days, you remain liable for the weekly rent (for each and every week or part week) until we are able to re-let the room. If we are able to re-let the room we will release you from the agreement upon payment of a 250 release fee which we will recover by retaining your deposit (which will not, therefore, be returned).

What do I do if Im a first year post-graduate student and Im still waiting for my exam results?

If you're still waiting for your exam results and you're not sure whether your place at university is confirmed, don't worry, you can still apply.

If you are a prospective first year student and your offer of a place at your preferred University or Higher Education Institute is withdrawn because you do not achieve the required entry grades, you may be eligible to be released from your agreement.

You must provide written evidence from the University/UCAS that you do not have a place within 3 days of your results being published (and no later than 1st September, whichever date is sooner) and we will release you from your contract without penalty and refund your deposit.

You may also be eligible to be released from this agreement if you are a prospective first year student and you choose to go to a different University because you have exceeded your expected grades. To apply to be released from your agreement, you will need to supply us with a copy of:

* A written or email confirmation that you wish to cancel your reservation, stating full name and full details of the property booked

* A written rejection letter from your chosen university/college or UCAS, a screen shot of your UCAS status which confirms that the required results were not achieved, or a copy of the proof of acceptance of your new university by UCAS adjustment.

These document(s) must be received by us within 3 calendar days from the date your results are published. If you fail to provide the information within 3 days, your deposit will not be refunded and you may be held rent liable.

How do I book a room?

To book a room, create an online account and select book now. You can choose the property, your room and the required tenancy length, then pay your deposit and accept the room offer within a few minutes.

If you have any special requests or requirements please use the 'create application' route instead.

Do I have to pay a booking fee?

We don't charge a booking fee. When you accept your room offer, youll be asked to pay a deposit to secure your room which is secured with a deposit protection service and refunded at the end of your tenancy.

Can I book if Im under 18?

If you turn 18 in the first semester of university, we can accept your booking with no restrictions other than an adult over the age of 18 must be a co-signatory on your tenancy agreement and must accept the terms of it.

We can accept under 18s in some of our properties subject to our Policy for Students under the Age of 18.

What do I need to bring with me?

When you come to pick up your keys you need to bring some photographic ID. To find out what else you may need to bring check out our what to take to university page.

Is there car parking facilities for when I move in?

Some properties have car parking facilities available for a small charge, please speak to your property team directly if you would like to reserve car parking.

How much are deposits?

Deposits vary by property from 50 to 250 and your deposit is placed into a deposit protection scheme, where it is held safely throughout the academic year and will be returned to you at the end of your contract subject to the contract terms.

The deposit you pay when making the application cannot be used towards a rent instalment as this is secured with a deposit protection scheme for the duration of your tenancy.

What happens to my deposit?

Your deposit is placed into a deposit protection scheme, where it is held safely throughout the academic year and will be returned to you at the end of your contract subject to the contract terms.

* Deposit Protection Service (England and Wales)

* Letting Protection Service (Scotland)

When do I get my deposit back?

Your deposit will be returned to you after your tenancy agreement has ended and your room has been inspected. The amount returned to you will depend on any outstanding charges and any damage found in your room or the communal areas of your apartment. Please see your tenancy agreement for more information. The deposit can take up to 30 working days to be credited at the end of your tenancy period.

All deposits are secured with a deposit protection scheme, such as the Deposit Protection Service or Letting Protection Scotland. You will be contacted by the deposit protection scheme and asked to authorise the refund and submit your bank details to them. For this you will require your deposit repayment ID, which will have been sent to you via email at the time of registering your deposit.

Please be aware, the deposit refund process is managed by the deposit protection scheme and is not able to be influenced by us. Should you have any queries regarding your deposit repayment ID, you should contact the deposit protection scheme directly: Deposit Protection Service or Letting Protection Service.

Please note if you ask for your deposit to be repaid to a non-UK bank account, bank charges will apply. Please see deposit protection scheme FAQs:

Deposit Protection Service (England and Wales)

Letting Protection Service (Scotland)

Can I terminate my tenancy once I have moved into the accommodation?

No, you cannot terminate your tenancy agreement once you have moved in, even if you have terminated your university/college course. You can move out of the accommodation, but you will remain liable for the remaining rent charges until the end of the fixed term period, or until you find a suitable replacement student who we agree to. Once we have accepted the replacement student, you must return the room key to the property office and confirm your contact details when you leave.

You can submit an appeal to be released from the contract earlier than the fixed end date by submitting a request to the property office along with supporting evidence. This will be passed to a panel who will review your request and make consideration of your circumstances. Once the panel has reached its decision, both you and your guarantor will be notified in writing.