Short Term and Summer Lets
8 min read Guide Updated 2026-03-14
The Basics of Short Term and Summer Lets for Students
You will likely need accommodation outside the standard 40-week or 44-week academic tenancy at some point. A summer internship in London requires a two-month base. Finishing a dissertation keeps you in your university city until September. International students often require year-round housing if they cannot fly home for the holidays.
Short term and summer lets bridge this gap. These agreements typically run from mid-June to early September. They offer flexible durations ranging from four weeks to three months.
Renting for a short period requires a different approach to finding a year-long house share. Landlords prefer long tenancies to avoid void periods. You must actively search for specific summer contracts or negotiate with outgoing tenants to find a temporary room.
Finding a reliable short term let protects you from substandard housing and financial scams. Start your search early. Competition peaks in May when students finalise their summer plans.
Preparing to Find Short Term and Summer Lets in the UK
Prepare early to avoid overpaying for a hastily arranged room. Follow these steps to secure your summer base.
Define Your Exact Dates and Budget
Calculate the exact days you need the room. Short term landlords often charge by the week or even by the night. Only pay for the exact weeks you need if your summer internship starts on 6 July 2026 and ends on 28 August 2026.
Calculate your maximum weekly budget. Landlords often exclude utility bills from summer rent. You must add gas, electricity, and broadband costs to your base rent figure.
Never assume summer rent matches term-time rent. Tourism and festivals drive up demand in cities like London or Edinburgh during July and August. Landlords increase their prices to match this demand. Set a strict spending limit.
Check the council tax rules for your specific dates. You retain your student exemption during the summer if you are continuing your course in September. Graduating students lose their exemption the moment their course officially ends. You must budget for council tax if your short term let extends past your graduation date.
Check University-Owned Summer Accommodation
Start your search at your university accommodation office. Universities open their empty halls of residence to students over the summer months.
Email the accommodation team by April. Request their summer let availability list. Universities offer flexible contracts allowing you to book a room for exact dates.
Mention if you are staying for academic reasons to access potential university subsidies for resitting students.
Request a room viewing before paying any holding deposits. University summer rooms often sit empty for weeks and gather dust. Check the mattress for signs of wear and ensure the desk provides enough space for your computer setup.
Ask the accommodation office if they provide bedding packs or kitchen utensils. Buying new duvets and pans for a two-month stay wastes money. Check other universities in your city if your own institution is full. Universities rent out their empty rooms to students from any institution during the summer break.
Where to Search for Short Term and Summer Lets Online
If university halls are full or unsuitable, you must search the private rental market. You have two main routes for finding temporary student housing.
Search Private Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
Private student halls belong to private companies rather than universities. These buildings experience high vacancy rates over the summer. Providers advertise summer lets to recover this lost income.
Check the websites of providers like Unite Students, Student Roost, and IQ Student Accommodation. These companies frequently offer discounted weekly rates for summer stays.
Question the provider about facility access. Private halls close their gyms or common rooms for deep cleaning during the summer months. Confirm exactly what amenities your rent covers. Always visit the student housing section of our site to read reviews of specific private hall providers.
Check the exact location of the private hall. Many providers place their summer students in blocks far away from the city centre. Calculate your commute time to your internship or university library. Factor the cost of daily bus or train tickets into your total budget. A cheaper room on the outskirts of the city often costs more once you add transport fees.
tenancy agreement for a summer let” loading=”lazy” decoding=”async”>Find Legal Student Sublets
Subletting involves a tenant renting out their room to another person. Students holding 52-week contracts often go home for the summer. These students sublet their rooms to recoup their rent.
Scan university Facebook groups, student union noticeboards, and student housing platforms. You will spot hundreds of students advertising their rooms from June to September.
Subletting without the landlord’s explicit written permission is illegal and grounds for immediate eviction.
Never hand over money to a student without seeing written proof that the landlord permits the sublet. You must sign a formal agreement. You have no legal right to live there if the original tenant just hands you the keys.
Request a formal inventory from the original tenant. This document lists every item in the room and its current condition. Both you and the original tenant must sign this inventory on your move-in day. This paperwork prevents disputes over missing items when you move out in September. Never pay the original tenant a deposit directly unless they register it in a government scheme.
Securing Guarantors for Short Term and Summer Lets
Finding a room is only half the battle. You must pass the landlord’s referencing checks to secure the tenancy.
Arrange a UK Guarantor or Pay Rent in Advance
Private landlords and letting agents demand a UK-based guarantor. A guarantor agrees to pay your rent if you default. This person must reside in the UK and earn above a specific threshold.
International students and care leavers often struggle to provide a UK guarantor. You have two alternatives. Offer to pay the entire summer rent upfront. Paying in advance is highly achievable for a two-month summer let.
Alternatively, use a private guarantor service. Companies like Housing Hand charge a fee to act as your guarantor. Add this fee to your initial budget.
Ask your new employer to act as a reference if you lack a guarantor. Letting agents often accept a formal employment contract stating your summer salary in place of a traditional guarantor. Secure this letter from your HR department at least two weeks before your room search begins. Check our graduate careers guide for advice on communicating with your new employer.
Signing Contracts for Short Term and Summer Lets
Never let the short duration of the tenancy make you careless with the paperwork. A bad contract costs you hundreds of pounds.
Review the Tenancy Agreement and Deposit Protection
Read every clause in the tenancy agreement before signing. Verify the start and end dates match your requirements exactly. Identify who pays the utility bills. Ask the landlord for an estimate of the monthly costs if the contract states bills are excluded.
Verify the deposit requirements. Landlords in England cannot legally charge a deposit exceeding five weeks of rent.
Your landlord must place your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
Demand the deposit protection certificate from the landlord. You can take them to court and claim compensation if they fail to provide it. Never pay a deposit in cash. Pay via bank transfer to create a clear paper trail.
Search the contract for a break clause. A break clause allows you to end the tenancy early if your circumstances change. This clause provides an exit route if your summer internship gets cancelled. Read the contract to see if you must arrange a professional clean before moving out.
Moving Into Short Term and Summer Lets
Your move-in day sets the tone for your entire stay. Protect your deposit by documenting the property thoroughly.
Document the Property Condition on Arrival
Take photographs of every room the moment you arrive. Capture all existing damage, including wall marks, carpet stains, or broken furniture.
Email these photographs to the landlord or letting agent immediately. State clearly that these issues were present when you moved in. This email serves as time-stamped evidence. The landlord cannot blame you for this pre-existing damage when your let ends.
Test all the appliances. Check the shower pressure, turn on the oven, and ensure the fridge is cold. Report any broken items on day one. Check the meter readings the moment you receive the keys. Take clear photographs of the gas and electricity meters. Send these photos to the energy provider to ensure you do not pay for the previous tenant’s energy usage.
Look for signs of pests or mould behind the furniture. Short term lets left empty for weeks often develop damp issues. Report any strange smells or visible mould spores to the landlord immediately. Use our student budget calculator to track your spending during your stay. Keep a close eye on your finances to ensure you do not run out of money before the new academic year begins.
For more detailed advice on managing your money and housing, explore the rest of the guides on unisorted.co.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do students pay council tax during summer lets?
Full-time students remain exempt from paying council tax during the summer holidays between academic years. You must provide the local council with a student certificate from your university to prove your status. The household will receive a council tax bill if you share the property with a non-student, but it will include a 25% single-person discount.
Can I get student finance for a summer let?
Standard undergraduate student finance maintenance loans cover the academic year and do not provide extra funding for the summer months. You must budget your final loan instalment from April to cover your summer rent. Some universities offer hardship funds or specific summer bursaries for care leavers who need year-round accommodation.
Is it legal to sublet my student room for the summer?
You can only sublet your room if your tenancy agreement explicitly allows it or if you get written permission from your landlord. Subletting without permission breaches your contract and gives the landlord the right to evict you. Always get the landlord’s consent in writing before advertising your room to other students.
How much notice do I need to give for a short term let?
You usually cannot end the tenancy early if you sign a fixed-term contract for a specific summer period unless the contract includes a break clause. You must typically give one month of notice if you have a periodic rolling contract. Always read the termination clauses in your specific tenancy agreement before signing.
