Renting in London as a Student: Contracts, Deposits and Right to Rent

Renting a room in London as an international student comes down to three things: the contract length, how your deposit is protected, and the right to rent check. UCL’s 2026-27 fee table shows how wide the price range is, from £153.86 to £529.06 a week across UCL halls, University of London halls and partner buildings. This guide uses UCL’s table as a worked example, then sets out what gov.uk and Imperial College say about deposits and right to rent. For rents across London universities, see our London student accommodation guide.

Figures come from UCL’s “Fees for 2026-27” accommodation page and the gov.uk and Imperial College pages listed under Sources, checked on 29 October 2026. I have not verified prices for other London universities or for private landlords, so this guide does not quote them.

What UCL’s 2026-27 fee table shows

The page lists about 130 room rows across more than 30 buildings, so these are ranges, not every price. The lowest rent shown is £153.86 for a single room at Ann Stephenson House or Max Rayne House; the highest is £529.06 for a studio at urbanest St Pancras. I could not find a deposit amount or a “last updated” date on the page.

Contract lengths

• 40 weeks: 26 September 2026 to 3 July 2027.
• 39 weeks: 26 September 2026 to 26 June 2027.
• 51 weeks: 26 September 2026 to 18 September 2027, which is also the returning-student contract at urbanest Canary Wharf.
• Part-year options: 26 September 2026 to 4 January 2027 (about 14 weeks) and 4 January to 26 June 2027 (about 25 weeks).

Rent is invoiced in instalments: for the main contracts, the first invoice was due in October 2026, the second in January 2027 and the third in May 2027. A longer contract costs more in total even when the weekly rate is lower, so compare the total for the contract, not just the weekly figure.

If you rent privately in London

• Right to rent: Imperial College says landlords or agents will check a student’s right to rent before a new private tenancy starts, using a gov.uk share code or an accepted passport or immigration document. The check cannot be done more than 28 days before you sign. Imperial’s page was last modified on 1 January 2025, so check the current gov.uk guidance.
• Deposit protection: in England, gov.uk says a landlord or agent must place your deposit in a government-approved scheme (Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days of receiving it, and return it within 10 days of you both agreeing the amount. The gov.uk page notes that assured periodic tenancies replaced assured shorthold tenancies on 1 May 2026, and it does not say how student lets are treated, so ask your university’s advice service.
• Before paying: view the room in person or on a live video call, get a written contract, and never transfer money before you have one.

I could not verify areas, commute times or the popularity of London neighbourhoods from official sources, so I have not ranked them. Check each building’s distance and transport links on a map yourself. Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide.

FAQs about renting in London as a student

How much does UCL accommodation cost?

UCL’s 2026-27 table lists weekly rents from £153.86 to £529.06, depending on the building and room type.

Do international students need a right to rent check in London?

Imperial College says students entering a new private tenancy are checked by the landlord or agent before moving in, using a share code or an accepted document.

Is my deposit protected?

In England, gov.uk says deposits must be held in an approved scheme within 30 days. Ask your university’s student advice service how this applies to your type of tenancy.

Sources

• UCL: accommodation fees 2026-27
• GOV.UK: deposit protection schemes
• Imperial College London: right to rent

All checked 29 October 2026.