Accommodation support – Bath Spa University

Accommodation support – Bath Spa University
Support and FAQs
We're committed to ensuring that you have a good living experience while studying with us. There's a range of accommodation support available to you.
Quick links
Lifestyle preferences
Residents' Handbook
Priority halls
Help with costs
Living with us
FAQs
Accommodation support
The Student Accommodation team is here to support you. If we can’t answer your question, we’ll advise on where you can get support.
Email:
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0)1225 876 777
Meet us at the
Student Hub
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1pm and 4pm
Follow us on
for more tips
Urgent support
For urgent out-of-hours support, please contact the Security team on
+44 (0)1225 875555
or dial 999.
Housing advice
Citizens Advice
Shelter
Licence Agreement
A licence agreement is a legally binding document that you sign before moving into halls of residence. It's a written agreement between you and the University that states the:
Details of the room you'll be occupying
Price of that room per week
Length of the contract
Terms and conditions that both yourself and the University have to uphold while you're in residence.
We send the
Bath Spa University Licence Agreement
to you before you move to Bath. Before you sign this, please read it carefully, making sure you understand the terms and conditions.
Residents' Handbook
All the info you could need while you're in our accommodation, including details on health and safety, fire safety and laundry.
Important information and policies
Accommodation Code of Conduct
Students living within Bath Spa halls of residence should make themselves familiar with the Accommodation Code of Conduct. It contains details on the procedures we'll use if a student in halls of residence behaves in a way that has a negative impact on others, breaches any of the terms and conditions of the Residents' Handbook, or commits a criminal offence.
Accommodation Code of Conduct Procedure (.pdf)
Student Disciplinary Procedure (.pdf)
Bath Spa cancellation terms and conditions
For the terms and conditions regarding cancellation of Bath Spa managed accommodation please see the link below.
BSU Occupation Licence Agreement
Short-term and emergency accommodation policy
For our short term and emergency accommodation policy, please see the link below:
Short-Term / Emergency Accommodation Policy (.pdf)
Complaints
Students have a right to a high standard of accommodation and we'll act to ensure that these standards are maintained. If you have a problem or complaint, first and foremost it's important that you get in touch to talk about it with a member of the Student Accommodation Team. If you prefer, this can be communicated in writing.
Please note that your complaint will be treated in a confidential way. We'll only talk to or correspond with another person (including your family) about your complaint if you provide written authority for us to do so. The majority of complaints can be satisfactorily resolved in this way and this is known as Local Informal Resolution, as outlined within the
Student Complaints Procedure
If you feel your complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved by the Student Accommodation Team, you can submit a Formal Complaint using the University Complaints Procedure. Further details on how to do this
can be found here
Nomination properties
We offer rooms in our University-managed halls of residence but also rooms in private halls of residence, managed by external housing providers.
These are what's known as "nomination properties." This means that you apply to live in them via the University's application process but your tenancy agreement is with the external or third-party provider, not the University.
We remain involved in your tenancy throughout your stay, and you'll have access to the same student services, such as
Student Wellbeing Services
Some of details around cancellations and your prepayment are different to the standard University policies or process, and this information will be included in your contract, so please read it carefully.
UCAS' has a
definition
of private halls of residence providers, along with other helpful information.
Contents insurance cover
Bath Spa University insures the building and its own contents against loss or damage due to fire and flood. Please note the following:
The University does not insure against negligence, accident or vandalism, and in the event of being responsible for such an occurrence you may be charged accordingly
The University does not accept responsibility for the loss of, theft of, or damage to residents’ or other individuals’ property
The University has arranged possessions insurance with Howden Insurance to cover your possessions whilst living in University managed accommodation.
It is your responsibility to check the scope and level of the insurance cover and arrange additional cover as required
The Policy Number is: Bath Spa University HH1216. You can view your full policy details and extend cover
Find out more in the insurance policy document below
Group Contents Insurance Policy
Reporting repairs
If something breaks or stops working in your accommodation, please report this promptly to the Maintenance Team. One of our Maintenance Team will then come to assess the problem and arrange for a repair to be carried out.
You can report any repair via
MyServices:
in the following way:
Log into MyServices where you’ll be able to log a job with the Buildings Maintenance team in the Estates and Services department
Enter the problem in the description box, ensuring to include your name and room number.
When a request for maintenance has been received and logged by the Maintenance Team you'll receive an email notification.
Please note that maintenance work can take place from 8am onwards.
Students that fail to report problems when they occur may be held liable for any subsequent damage that may happen as a result of neglect.
Out of hours repairs reporting
If you report a repair outside of office hours, Monday to Thursday 8am - 4:30pm (4pm Friday), the request will be responded to the next working day.
Emergency repairs
If you discover an issue that requires immediate action to be taken e.g.:
Serious flooding and leaks
Loss of water supply
Complete loss of all electricity
Hazards affecting immediate safety of residents.
please contact the Security Team at Newton Park on
+44 (0)1225 875555
You can also contact Security by phoning 5555 if you have an internal phone in your flat. Security will determine the severity of the problem and call out emergency contractors if necessary.
For information on our Maintenance response times, please read the
Service level agreement
Information for parents and guardians
Parents, relatives and friends
often contact the University to ask for information about students. They may ask how they’re settling in or try to resolve a problem on the student's behalf.
Please note that we can’t discuss student information with anyone, even a family member, without permission from the student. This is due to the Data Protection Act, which protects a person’s right to privacy in relation to their personal information.
We encourage you to contact the student directly or encourage the student to get in touch with the University to access available
help and support
A-Z of student support
Under 18s policy
We treat all students equally under the terms and conditions of the Licence Agreement, regardless of age. We can offer additional support if requested.
We don't carry out DBS checks for staff attending the residences, other students, or any visiting guests.
Students who are under 18 must abide by our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure, License Agreement and terms and conditions, and stay away from the lake on Newton Park Campus.
More information can be found in our
Safeguarding Policy and Procedure
We're committed to best practice
We’ve committed to the
Universities UK Student Accommodation Code
in all University managed halls of residence.
These Codes promote best practice and protect your rights to a safe, quality place to live. They've been developed to help you get the best out of your time living in University accommodation.
Help with accommodation costs
Check your Student Finance entitlement
Use the
Student Finance calculator
to check your online account. Ensure that you're receiving your full entitlement to Student Finance and that you’ve applied for a means-tested maintenance loan (which takes your household income into account).
Speak to a Wellbeing Advisor
If you're having problems with your student finance, you can speak with a Wellbeing Advisor from
Student Wellbeing Services
Find a part-time job
Most students can work during their studies and often secure part-time employment to supplement their maintenance loan. Our
Careers service
can help you search for part-time work in Bath and develop your employability skills.
Research student bank accounts
It's also worth investigating the various
student bank accounts
available to you. Many include interest-free overdrafts that can help you throughout your studies.
You can set this up before you arrive at University by using your UCAS letter confirming your place at University. Some also offer other perks such as the 16-25 Railcard. The Money Saving Expert website includes further useful information.
Read our cost-of-living information
Student Wellbeing Services offer detailed information on the support available to help with the
Cost of Living
Explore other sources of funding
Visit our
Scholarships and Bursaries
page to see what you may be entitled to.
Turn2Us
have a grant search tool that allows you to filter information according to what’s relevant to your circumstances.
Accommodation bursary
For the 2025/26 academic year, we’re providing UK students whose household income is £20,000 or less with a £1,000 bursary to put towards rental payments and other housing-related expenses. UK students whose household income is between £20,000 and £30,000 are eligible to receive a £500 bursary. Eligible students will receive this payment automatically by 31 January 2026.
This bursary is only applicable to first year undergraduate students living in BSU-managed or third-party nominations halls of residence. If you’re in private accommodation, you won’t be eligible. If you have any questions, please contact the Accommodation team:
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
Lifestyle preferences
You probably hope to meet like-minded people at your uni halls, which is why our friendly Accommodation team is here to support you throughout the application process. On the
application form for accommodation
, you can state your preferences for your halls, for example:
Quiet
Alcohol free
Mature students
Single sex/gender
LGBTQ+
We’ll do our best to cater for your preferences and bring you closer to other students who share your characteristics and values.
FAQs
Wondering how to apply for accommodation, or what's in your room? We answer your common questions below.
About my application
How do I pay for my accommodation?
For students in Bath Spa University-managed halls we offer payment by instalment and this can be arranged when registering online.
Instalments are offered to coincide with students receiving their three student maintenance loan payments, and are managed by way of a recurring card mandate (using a debit or credit card) and you can enter the details safely and securely when you receive your
joining instructions
We strongly recommend the three instalment payments, as most students prefer to pay their accommodation fees from their maintenance loan funding. However, if after completing online registration you'd like to pay your accommodation fees monthly, please contact the
Student Fees
team who can arrange this for you:
fees@bathspa.ac.uk
Please note, we're unable to make changes until registration is complete.
One-off debit or credit card payment can also be made
online
Please note:
There's no commission charge for payments by debit or credit card.
Where payment by instalment is permitted, there's no additional charge.
If your card number changes or is reissued, or your expiry date changes, please remember to update your debit or credit card details via the
AppHub
Please note that online card payments are done at your own risk. Due to the nature of online security, we encourage you to protect your financial information wherever possible.
Please see our
Student Finance
page for more details regarding payment.
Can I view the halls of residence before I move in?
You can visit our accommodation during
Open Days
and
Offer Holder Days
Book an Open Day now
You can also explore our
accommodation options
online and find 360° images of our rooms on our
virtual tour
What should I bring?
You should bring bedding, towels, kitchen equipment, cleaning materials, toilet rolls, toiletries and food. Please refer to our full guide on
what to bring
for more information.
Are there laundry facilities?
There are laundry facilities on all sites; these are accessible 24 hours a day. You'll need to provide your own laundry detergent, as we don't provide this.
Laundry facilities are operated by
Washpoint
and are open 24/7 at Newton Park and Bankside House. Payment is taken via a tap-and-go system near the machines.
Faults, issues or enquiries should be reported directly to Washpoint and their customer service team can support you. Washpoint can be contacted by calling
+44 (0)8000 546 546
Do I need to pay a deposit or prepayment reservation fee?
If you're living in Bath Spa University managed halls, you're required to pay a £250 prepayment of your licence fee to secure your room allocation and confirm your offer.
This prepayment is not a deposit and the amount will be taken off over the course of your instalments of the licence fee.
Please note: it's at the discretion of the University as to whether this prepayment will be refunded in the event that you don't move into your allocated room in September.
If you live in halls managed by external providers (Waterside Court, Charlton Court and Twerton Mill) you'll also be required to make a prepayment to confirm your room allocation. You'll receive full information on what you need to provide when you receive your offer.
Which accommodation options can I apply for?
The campus where you'll be studying can sometimes determine which accommodation options you're eligible to apply for.
Students who'll be studying at Newton Park Campus are eligible to live at all of the accommodation options. For example, it's common for students who study at Newton Park to live in one of our city locations.
Students who'll be studying at Sion Hill Campus or Locksbrook Campus (this includes courses taught at City of Bath College, Dartmouth Avenue and The Circus) are eligible to select Charlton Court, Waterside Court, Twerton Mill and Bankside House as one of their preferred options.
Students who'll be studying a combined subject course that is taught at multiple campuses are typically eligible to select any of the accommodation options as a preference.
Will I have to provide guarantor details?
Students who accept an offer of accommodation for a room with Waterside Court, Charlton Court or Twerton Mill will need to provide a guarantor reference.
A guarantor should be a responsible person who will be accountable for paying your rent and any damages should you be unable to make the payments.
By signing the tenancy, your guarantor will accept joint responsibility for the financial aspects of the tenancy agreement.
What If I miss the application deadline?
If you miss the deadline, you can contact the Accommodation team to find out if we have any rooms remaining.
Alternatively, we can support you in your search for accommodation in the private sector. You can contact our team for help and guidance with this. Please email
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
for assistance.
More information about deadlines, these can be found in the 'Timeline' section on our
Applying for Accommodation
page.
I'm a postgraduate student. Can I apply for accommodation?
Most of our accommodation is prioritised for incoming first year undergraduate students, so postgraduate students aren't usually able to apply for accommodation in our halls. Our accommodation isn't always suitable for postgraduate students for a few different reasons:
We offer fixed-term housing contracts which have historically been unsuitable for postgraduate courses, particularly as we can't accommodate an early September start, which is common on postgraduate courses.
The contract lengths we offer don't usually cover the length of your average postgraduate course.
As our halls of residence are prioritised for first year undergraduates, we've found that the environment in our accommodation is not best suited for postgraduate students and their intense level of study.
However, we can still support you in your search for accommodation.
We can share a wealth of resources and information on how to begin searching for alternatives in and around the city of Bath. If you'd be interested in this, please reach out to us and email
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
How do I fill out the application form?
Once our application system goes live, you'll need the following to access the online application form:
Your ten digit personal UCAS ID (which you can find on any UCAS correspondence) or;
Your Bath Spa University student number
Your date of birth.
Please check your personal details to ensure your information is correct.
You'll be asked to select three accommodation preferences. By choosing your accommodation preferences, you're registering interest in any of these accommodation choices.
Please remember that you could ultimately receive an offer for any of our accommodation locations and room types. The application isn't a guarantee that you'll get one of the three preferences you select, though we'll try our best to provide you with one of the options you chose.
What are private halls of residence and what do you mean by external providers?
We offer rooms in our University-managed halls of residence and rooms in private halls of residence, which are managed by external housing providers (Unite Students and iQ Student Accommodation).
These are what's known as "nomination properties." This means that you apply to live in them via the University's application process but your tenancy agreement is with the external provider. You pay your rent directly to them, not the University.
The University remains involved in processes relating to your tenancy throughout your stay, and you'll still have access to the same services, for example,
Student Wellbeing Services
Some of the details around cancellations and your prepayment are slightly different to the standard University policies or processes, and this information will be included in your contract, so please read through it carefully.
UCAS' definition
of private halls of residence providers has lots of helpful information.
I have a disability. What do I need to do to get help with my accommodation?
If you disclosed a disability or medical need on your UCAS form,
Student Wellbeing
should have been in contact with you.
If you didn't disclose this on UCAS, please email
studentwellbeing@bathspa.ac.uk
for further information.
You can also request further information about disability support at Bath Spa and the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
Do you offer family accommodation?
At this time, we do not offer family accommodation. We do not permit guests under the age of 18 in any of our halls of residence. For information about finding family accommodation in and around Bath, please email
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
About my room
Can I stay in my room over the Christmas and Easter holidays?
You can stay in your room or store your belongings throughout the entirety of your contract.
Can I have a fridge in my room?
Fridges aren't allowed in study rooms unless there's a medical need. To apply to bring your own fridge on medical grounds, please contact
Student Wellbeing Services
, who'll liaise with us. Please note: we don't provide fridges.
Is all accommodation mixed?
Generally accommodation is mixed, but we may be able to arrange single-sex accommodation if there's demand. Please make it clear on your application form if you want to live in a single-sex flat. We'll do our best to accommodate this but it can't be guaranteed.
What size is my bed?
Bed sizes vary between the different room types, so please check your room allocation to ensure you bring the correct duvet and sheet set with you.
Here's a general guide:
Lakeside - single beds
Gardens - 124cm x 194cm - this is between a double and small double bed and we recommend bringing double bedding (with a non-fitted sheet)
Bankside House - single beds
Waterside Court - single beds
Charlton Court - 3/4 size beds
Twerton Mill - small-double beds
Do I need a TV licence?
Yes, you'll need to buy your own
TV licence
Can I bring a pet?
You're not permitted to bring any animal, including a bird, fish or any other creature. This will be stated as a condition in all our accommodation contracts. Students with therapy animals may be an exception but this would need to be discussed and authorised by the
Student Wellbeing
team prior to joining the University.
Do I need to pay any utility bills?
All utility bills (including heating, hot water and internet) are included in your rent, apart from a
TV licence
. You'll need to buy your own TV licence.
Can I bring a car?
Unless you're a blue badge holder, you won't be able to bring your car with you to the University, however all our halls are within short walking distance of Bath's excellent public transport system.
Can I smoke in my room?
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside all student accommodation, including your study room or any indoor communal areas; there are dedicated outdoor smoking areas by your halls or common areas.
The use of e-cigarettes and vaping is also not permitted inside any University building.
Can I bring my musical instruments? Will they fit into my room?
Although you're very welcome to bring musical instruments, room sizes will vary, so please check before bringing any large instruments. Please also be mindful of our regulations on noise when playing instruments.
Where can I purchase items for my room?
For students arriving in September,
Uni Kit Out
can arrange for bedding/kitchens to arrive at the University before you move in.
What happens if I move into halls, then decide I want to live somewhere else?
You're legally responsible for paying the total accommodation fees for the year and should refer to the terms and conditions of your contract. Under no circumstances should students enter into two different contracts for accommodation for the same year. Learn more about
tenancy agreements
What internet access will I have?
In BSU managed halls at Gardens and Lakeside:
Internet access is included as a standard service in the rent for BSU managed halls
Internet access is available in all student accommodation buildings on campus
All accommodation buildings have Wi-Fi access, and Gardens residences also have a wired connection in the rooms
More than 80% of the user base has speeds greater than 72 Mbps during peak times
Users can register up to 4 personal devices through the My Devices Portal.
There are internet services available at other student accommodation sites like Bankside; however, these services are managed by a third party and not IT services. In BSU managed halls at Bankside House internet is provided by Glide, see more on the
Glide site
Please be aware:
Residents are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and all activities that occur under your username and password
Bath Spa University offers the service for activities such as the active use of e-mail, instant messaging and browsing the world wide web; it does not have access to corporate intranets
High-volume data transfers, especially sustained high-volume data transfers, are not permitted
Hosting a web server or any other server using our service is prohibited
Trying to access someone else's account, sending unsolicited bulk e-mail, collection of other people's personal data without their knowledge and interference with other network users are all prohibited
Bath Spa University reserves the right to suspend the service if we believe that your use of the service is unreasonably excessive or you are using the service for criminal or illegal activities
Residents do not have the right to resell this service to a third party.
Information for Bath Spa University London students
Most of our accommodation expertise and experience is in the Bath and Somerset area, but we recognise that students attending BSU London need support finding suitable housing within reach of the Hackney campus. Here are some of our tips:
Find a room
Agencies and landlords may advertise properties on sites such as
Zoopla
and
Rightmove
. These are usually most suitable if you have a group of students to live with.
If you're looking for a room on your own,
SpareRoom
can be a great starting point. Ads tend to offer one room within an existing household. Contract lengths can be more flexible.
Find housemates
You may wish to join the
Bath Spa Student House Hunting Discord
page to look for accommodation. We've set up a Bath Spa University London channel and we direct students who approach us with spare rooms to advertise here.
Please email
accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
to request access to our Discord server.
Purpose-built student accommodation
Multiple providers offer student accommodation in East and Central London, and many are advertised and reviewed on
Student Crowd
. These are often slightly more expensive but include the cost of bills. These are usually longer-term solutions:
Canvas Students
Sanctuary Students
Therese House - Yugo
Mannequin House - Student Roost
Rahere Court - Unite Students
iQ Student Accommodation has several locations in the vicinity of BSU London:
Hoxton
– mix of ensuites and studios
Will Wyatt Court
– all ensuite
Shoreditch
– all studios
The Arcade
- mix of ensuites and studios.
Short-term stays
Hostels are typically a cheaper alternative to short-term accommodation if needed for less than a few weeks. However, depending on the provider and length of stay, this is not always cheaper so please browse around to compare prices.
Some local options in the Hackney area include:
Hackney Hub
Park Villa Hostel
Stuart Rooms
The Dictionary Hostel
Please be aware these hostels include cooking facilities and depending on the hostel you could be roomed in a dormitory with quite a few other people.
AirBnB is also another popular short-term option.
You might also be interested in
Living with us
Applying for accommodation
Priority Halls
Life in Bath