Student Accommodation

Moving to London to study? We make it a lot less daunting.

Finding somewhere to live in a city you have never been to, often from another country and in another timezone, is genuinely stressful. We do this a lot, and we make it simpler.

For students and parents

Three things you should be able to take for granted

Whoever is paying the rent will want to know these before you sign anything.

Safety

Every property is checked before it is marketed. That means a current gas safety record where there is gas, an electrical installation report renewed at least every five years, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire-safe furnishings, and a valid Energy Performance Certificate. If a certificate is missing, the property does not go on our list.

Care

One named advisor accompanies you from the first enquiry to the day you collect the keys, and answers the questions you feel silly asking. We work evenings and weekends around lectures and time zones, and we will tell you honestly if a property is wrong for you.

Financial security

Your deposit is registered with a government-approved protection scheme and you are sent written confirmation of where it is held. Money we hold is covered by Client Money Protection, and if we get something wrong you can take it to The Property Ombudsman, free of charge and independently of us.

No fees, ever. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 we cannot charge you for viewings, referencing, a guarantor, or drawing up the tenancy, and we do not. The only money you pay is rent, a refundable deposit capped at five weeks' rent (six where the annual rent is £50,000 or more), a refundable holding deposit of at most one week's rent, and no more than one month's rent in advance.

How we help

Your own advisor. One named person who gets to know what you need and stays with you from first enquiry to move-in.
Remote viewings. Live video walk-throughs so you can see a property properly without flying over for it.
Guarantor guidance. Most students need a UK-based guarantor. If you do not have one, we will explain the alternatives before you waste time on applications.
Honest area advice. We will tell you how long the commute to your campus really takes, and what a neighbourhood is actually like in the evening.
Safety checked. Every property we let is compliant, gas, electrics, alarms and deposit protection.

Close to the universities we know best

Our patch covers a lot of London's student geography: UCL, SOAS and Birkbeck around Bloomsbury and King's Cross; London Business School and Regent's University by Regent's Park; Imperial College and the Royal College of Art in South Kensington; and King's College across its central sites.

What you'll need

Photo ID and proof of your right to rent in the UK (passport and visa or share code)
A UK-based guarantor, or an approved guarantor service
Your university offer or enrolment letter
A refundable deposit, capped by law at five weeks' rent, or six weeks where the annual rent is £50,000 or more

You will not pay us a penny in fees

Agency fees to tenants have been illegal since 2019. Nobody should charge you for viewings, referencing or "administration". If another agent tries, walk away.

Good news for students in 2026

Since the Renters' Rights Act came into force, tenancies are periodic rather than fixed-term, so you are no longer locked into twelve months if your plans change, you can give two months' notice at any point. Landlords also cannot ask for more than one month’s rent in advance on new tenancies, which removes a real barrier for international students.

Questions? Email info@globalqualityestates.com or message us on WhatsApp, we are used to answering from different timezones.

Frequently asked questions

I don't have a UK guarantor. Can I still rent?

Usually yes. Options include an approved guarantor service, or discussing alternative arrangements with the landlord. Since May 2026 landlords cannot demand large amounts of rent up front on new tenancies, so talk to us before assuming you are stuck.

Can I view a property from abroad?

Yes. We do live video viewings so you can ask questions in real time and see the parts of a property that photographs conveniently miss.

How much deposit will I need?

By law, no more than five weeks' rent where the annual rent is below £50,000. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and returned at the end of the tenancy less any agreed deductions.

When should I start looking?

For a September start, serious searching from June or July works well. Much earlier and the good properties are not on the market yet; much later and you are competing with everyone else.

Landlords

Thinking of letting your property?

Get a free, no-obligation valuation and see how our management service can take the weight off your shoulders.

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