Off Campus | Bishop Grosseteste University

Private Halls / Student House Shares

There are pleasant shared houses in Lincoln with accommodation situated around the attractive Cathedral Quarter and the city centre, all within a short walking distance to the University.

The landlords of these properties work in line with the City of Lincoln Student Accreditation Scheme which sets out mandatory safety standards that Landlords must comply with in order to have a property accredited through the University.

Paying for Accommodation

Rent: You will be expected to pay rent either monthly or termly. Most landlords will ask you to setup a standing order or direct debit with them.

Advance Rent Payment: Most landlords are aware that you will be relying on your maintenance loan to pay for your rent and won’t ask for an advance. However, please be aware that there are still a few that will ask for a month or a full term’s rent in advance and you will have to pay this before moving in and you may have to arrange finance to cover this period.

Deposits: Most student Landlords ask new Tenants to pay a deposit which is intended to give Landlords some security against any financial loss they may suffer as a result of any damages a tenant may cause to a property or for unpaid rent/bills. This is then refundable at the end of the tenancy, providing that the property is left in the same condition as when you moved in. Please note that this payment (approx. £150.00 up to one month’s rent) may be due before you receive any maintenance loan and interim finance arrangements may be needed to cover this

All contracts are legally binding – make sure you know what you are committing to before signing. If unsure, please speak to Student Advice or Accommodation.

Tenancy Agreements

Before signing any agreement you should be aware of what you are committing yourself to before signing. The below is a brief guide to contracts. If you need any further information or would like someone to check over a contact; the Accommodation Officer and the Student Advice Team are happy to check this, to make sure they’re above board and don’t contain any unfair terms.

Most Landlords/Agents in Lincoln use a fixed term Assured Shorthold Tenancy which may run for 44 – 50 weeks. The tenancy will detail the start and end date. During this period you are obliged to pay rent to the Landlord for the duration of the tenancy.

It is highly important that you understand the terms and conditions of the tenancy, including handbooks and additional contract appendixes.

Please keep in mind that you will require a Guarantor when applying for properties in the private sector. A Guarantor will legally guarantee that the rent will be paid should there be an occasion that you cannot pay this yourself.

Student House Shares

A list of our accredited Landlords and their available properties can be found at www.bgcstudentpad.co.uk

This page is password protected and is only available to Bishop Grosseteste University students. The current password is ‘connies’.

The cost of shared housing varies with the property and an example of prices is given below (Please note that examples of charges are for guidance only):

Room only for a 48 week fixed term tenancy = £70.00 to £85.00 per week
Room with Utilities Included for a 48 week fixed term tenancy = £70.00 to £97.00 per week

Accreditation Scheme

The City of Lincoln Student Accreditation Scheme provides a set of standards for landlords to provide ‘Safe, Secure, Well Managed Housing’. The scheme is led by Lincoln City Council and has a number of partners including Bishop Grosseteste University, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, Lincolnshire Police Authority and Lincolnshire County Council (Trading Standards).

This information resource is available to both providers and users of student accommodation and will provide details of points of contact for help, assistance and advice.

Useful Contacts

City of Lincoln Council Private Housing Team	Housing Standards Assistant	01522 873752 housing.privatesector@lincoln.gov.uk
City of Lincoln Council Private Housing Team	HMO Licensing and Enforcement Officer	01522 873873 housing.privatesector@lincoln.gov.uk
University of Lincoln	External Liaison Officer	01522 886051
University of Lincoln	Residential Services Manager (Michael Ball)	01522 886231 mball@lincoln.ac.uk
Bishop Grosseteste University	Accommodation Officer (Rachel Crane)	01522 583707 rachel.crane@bishopg.ac.uk
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue	Fire Safety Inspector	01522 580300
Lincolnshire County Council	Trading Standards (Alan Walsh)	01522 552222 alan.walsh@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Contact Us

If you have any queries, questions, or information you require which is not on the Accommodation pages of this website, please contact the Accommodation Office using any of the following methods:

Accommodation Office
Bishop Grosseteste University
Longdales Road
Lincoln
LN1 3DY
Email: accommodation@bishopg.ac.uk
Phone: 01522 583795 / 583707

You are always welcome to pop in and say hello. The team is located in the Accommodation & Estates Office (opposite BG Futures).