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Booking A Room
How do I book a room?
Book a room with us in 3 simple steps,
- Step 1: Choose your city, accommodation site, contract length and room type here
- Step 2: Complete your application (which creates your dwell portal account). Sit back and let our Sales Team find you the perfect flat!
- Step 3: Log back onto your portal account, accept your Room Offer and sign your E-Contract.
Take a peek at our properties before you book by completing our enquiry form or by giving our friendly Sales Team a call on +44(0)161 200 5560.
But if you can’t make it, don’t worry – our website has pictures, 360 tours and details to help give you a better idea of what to expect!
How do we allocate rooms?
Please note that although we will always try to meet your preferences, we can’t guarantee that we can meet them all.
Can I live with my friends or specify preferences for my flatmates?
Of course! Just state your friend’s names on your application, with them doing the same too. You can also say if you have a preferred gender or year of study for your flatmates.
We’ll try our best to meet your preferences but it’s not always guaranteed and is subject to availability.
What payments do I need to make when applying?
When applying to live with us, there are no fees to pay. This makes it easier for you to book your perfect dwell room!
When do I pay my tenancy deposit?
Once you sign your AST (contract), you will be asked to pay a tenancy deposit which will be protected with My Deposits.
The deposit amounts are as follows:
£200 for all sites, except for Castle Gate Haus where you are required to pay a £300 deposit, and for 121 Princess Street where the deposit is £500.
Is my deposit protected?
Once you have paid your tenancy deposit, we have 30 days to protect this under a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The scheme dwell use is called My Deposits.
You will receive an email from My Deposits on how to activate your account with them, ready to claim back the deposit at the end of your tenancy (you can only claim back the deposit as long as there’s no damage to your room/flat and there’s no outstanding payments on your account).
What is a guarantor? Do I need one?
If you’re paying ahead for the full year, you don’t need a UK guarantor.
However, if you wish to pay your rent by instalments, you will need a UK-based guarantor who is aged 21 or over and in full-time employment. They’ll also need to annually earn at least 3 times your total rent amount, or be a homeowner.
Your guarantor must agree to pay the rent should you default on your payment. Providing a guarantor is common practice in the UK and provides us with the security and knowledge that the rent will be paid in full and on time.
If you cannot provide a qualified UK guarantor, you can contact Housing Hand to provide you with the Guarantor Service. Housing Hand specialises in dealing with International Students who cannot provide a Guarantor in the UK. To find out more, visit Housing Hand
Is the student population diverse?
We want to make a home for our students that is free from discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying.
Can I live with you? Do you accept students in different years of study?
To stay with us, you have to be a student aged 18 years or over by your contract start date, and be in full time study at a U.K university or college (full time is considered studying for at least 21 hours on your university/college campus).
You can book with us whether you hold a conditional or unconditional offer.
However, please be aware of our cancellation policy prior to booking should your place at university not be confirmed.
Can I view the accommodation before applying?
We also have lots of pictures and even 360 degree photos of different rooms on our website as we understand our students are from all around the world and it’s not always easy to visit the site!
Can you tell me what’s in the contract I would be signing?
When accepting a room with dwell, you will need to sign an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy). If you would prefer to see a sample contract before applying, this isn’t a problem. Please read a sample contract here – dwell AST
What is the 'How to rent' guide?
For renting in England, the government shares a ‘How to rent’ guide so that every tenant knows their rights and responsibilities. Whilst the contract you would sign with us is a separate document to the guide, it is good to be familiar with the guide so please ensure you have read it before you sign a contract with us. How to rent guide
What are the schedule of charges mentioned in the contract?
You can view our schedule of charges here
Before you Arrive
What is included in my rent?
All-inclusive utility bills, Wi-Fi and contents insurance are all included in your rent!
How and when do I pay my rent?
We offer two rent method options:
Option 1 – Full Payment; Pay in full by the 1st of July.
Option 2 – Pay in 3 different Instalments; September, January, and April – you can view the exact payment dates in your contract (this may be the best payment option for those looking to pay your rent using your student loan). Please note that to apply to pay by instalments, you must provide a UK-based guarantor who is aged 21 or over and in full-time employment. They’ll also need to annually earn at least 3 times your total rent amount, or be a homeowner.
How can I find out who I’m living with?
Curious about who your flat mates will be? We unfortunately can’t give out names but you can find out who is living at your site on our Facebook Find A Flat Mate Groups, click below for more details.
Can I change my contract once I’ve signed it?
If you want to change things like your room type, room number, contract length or anything else, just get in touch with us on 0161 200 5560 or email us.
We can then let you know if your request is possible, and if so, what the next steps would be and if any charge or change would occur.
Can I bring my pet?
Do You Provide Bedding?
You can order through our partner Uni Kit Out who provide amazing starter kits from bedroom packs to kitchen essentials. They’ve got you covered if you need to kit your flat out!! What’s even better, is that if you have booked to live with dwell Student Living, you get an amazing 10% discount on Uni Kit Out’s kitchen packs. All you need to do is add the discount code DWELL10 when checking out on their Uni Kit Out website.
Checking In
When can I move in?
You can move into your room from the date your contract starts, only if you have paid your correct rent amount and provided all documents. If you’re unsure of when your contract starts, your contract can be viewed in your portal account’s ‘Messages’ section. If you wish to move in early please contact us
What do I need to bring with me?
We already provide some of the essentials but to see what things to bring with you, check out our accommodation checklist here.
Can I store luggage at my site?
Are there any documents I need to bring with me?
You need to have provided all documents to support your room booking before you can check in. If you are unsure if you have already done this, or need to speak to someone about it, please call the team on 0161 200 5560 or email us.
Other than that, you will need to bring a form of photo ID with you so you can collect your keys – we just need to know we’re handing them out to the correct person!
What if I’m arriving out of office hours?
Where do I get my keys from?
Can I park my car when unloading my things?
We do have car parks at most of our sites but to find out if your site does include one, please contact the office on 0161 200 5560.
On contract start dates, parking your car is free – parking at any other time will incur a charge. Please contact your site team for full costs and details.
How do I get from the airport to your site?
Make sure you book airport transfers in advance. If you prefer to take the train, look out for the stations that are closest to you:
MSV: The nearest train station is Oxford Road, a 5-minute walk from us.
MSV South/ The Grafton: The nearest train station is Oxford Road and then hop on a bus just outside the Palace Theatre. Look out for bus routes 41, 42, 43, 142, 143, or 157. After 10 minutes, get off at Whitworth Park and take a short 2-minute walk to our halls.
Cathedral Campus: The closest train station is Liverpool Lime Street. From there, we’re a 5-minute taxi ride away.
Castle Gate: Nottingham train station is just a 10 minute walk away.
Garth Heads: Your nearest station is Manors which is a 2 minute walk to the site
Hotwells House: The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads, you can get a taxi from outside which will take 10 minutes
What can I expect when checking in?
For a quicker check-in, let us know when you are coming, so we can gauge the number of students as well the times of arrival, to ensure our sites are staffed correctly.
Top Tip: make sure you don’t unload your car until you have your keys. Or you could be waiting with all your belongings in the queue.
Living at dwell
How do I stay connected with others?
A great way of staying connected is staying social! We have different social media accounts which helps to keep you up to date with what’s happening at your site. These include Facebook,Tik Tok and Instagram
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- We also have dedicated Facebook groups set up for each individual site so that you can get to know one another before you move in. See below for your site’s group:
Will there be any events happening at my site?
We’d love all of our residents to get to know one another and make lifelong friends! As a way to help this, we have a Student Engagement team who are always trying to find the next best thing to make your stay more enjoyable – this includes holding fun and exciting events throughout the year!
Please keep an eye out on our social media accounts and around your site for details.
If you have any event suggestions, the Residential Life team would love to hear them. You can reach them at: wecreate@dwellstudent.co.uk
If I have any queries about my stay, who can I speak to?
Can I have guests staying over?
Is there any security on site?
Your safety is our priority so all of our properties are equipped with security cameras.
Our Manchester Student Village site has 24/7 security, whilst MSV South and The Grafton have mobile patrols to ensure you’re safe at all times. You can also contact the Manchester security team out of office hours on 0161 200 5540.
If you’re a resident at our Weston Court sites and need to speak to someone out of office hours, you just need to call the normal office number, 0161 441 0635. Our out-of-hours team will be able to help you with any queries.
Our Cathedral Cathedral site has a 24-hour security presence, which is provided by the Cathedral’s security team. You can contact them on 0151 702 7260.
Garth Heads and Hotwells House have mobile security patrols to cover our sites when the office is closed.
Do I need to pay for contents Insurance?
Is there Wi-Fi at my site?
Of course! The Wi-Fi is included in your rent. Your internet connection is provided by Glide. Need some more information about this service, click me
Do I need to purchase a TV license?
If you’re watching or recording programmes on TV or any device, you must have a TV license. It is against the law to not have one – if you caught without a license, you could be charged up to £1000.
For everyone else, you will still need to purchase a TV license.
Where can I park my car? Is there bike storage?
We do have car parking and bike storage at most of our sites, please call us on 0161 200 5560 to check if your site provides these facilities. Please note that you will need to pay to use a car park space – please contact your site team for full prices and details.
What if I want to move rooms?
We take great pride in ensuring we allocate students into the best possible room for them!
However, on occasion, some students may ask for a room move for a variety of reasons.
If you move into your room and then you wish to move to a different room, we would first suggest that you speak to your accommodation team to see if there’s anything they could do to help in the first instance.
Alternatively, to request a room move, you would need to complete the request online via your dwell portal account. If a room move was possible, you may be charged a £50 admin fee.
A room move is not always possible as it depends on the availability/suitability of rooms at the time of your request. Once you submit your request, your accommodation team would get in touch with you to let you know if a move is possible or not, and if it was, they’d also let you know if/when the £50 admin fee is due.
How do I receive parcels and post at my site?
We can only sign for parcels on your behalf if the parcel has your name and your flat/room number on it. Therefore when ordering items online, please make sure you provide the shipper with your full name and room number. Parcels without full details will not be signed for.
After we sign for your parcel, you’ll receive an email notification from us – please bring along your photo ID when collecting parcels at the reception.
Where can I do my laundry?
Communal Cleaning in my flat
The communal areas of your flats are your responsibility. All landlord areas will be cleaned by us on a daily basis.
If you are lucky enough to live with us at Garth Heads, Newcastle you will get your communal flat areas cleaned for you every two weeks at no extra cost.
Will I have to pay for the damages?
We want to make your stay with us as enjoyable as possible. Our on-site maintenance team will attend to your requests (See our repairs and maintenance policy).
We don’t charge for “fair wear and tear” of our properties or fixtures. However, if something gets damaged through abuse or misuse, we’ll repair or replace the item and will charge for doing so.
The behaviour of guests is the responsibility of the tenant who has welcomed them into the property. Any charges that result from a guest’s behaviour will be charged to the respective tenant. If there’s a charge that applies to the shared area within a flat and we’re unable to establish the responsibility, the charge will be shared between all of the flat’s tenants. All charges will be applied to your account and payment will be due within 30 days of this date.
For further details please see our list of all our schedule of charges.
This list is not exhaustive, and we reserve the right to charge for items not mention.
Electrical Equipment?
When using electrical equipment on your site please follow some simple rules
- Only use electrical items purchased from the UK
- Do not overload sockets
- Do not leave items plugged in unattended
- Do not use kitchen appliances in your bedroom
It is your responsibility to ensure that the electrical items brought on to the site are safe and free from defects. Do not use any appliances that are broken, have frayed or exposed cables, are showing signs of overheating or dangerous or loose connections.
On inspection, if our team finds any appliance that would be deemed unsafe, this appliance will be removed.
Moving Out
I want to leave before my contract ends. What shall I do?
If you’re looking to move out before your contract ends, please read through our cancellation policy. It will outline what you need to do next.
Can I stay at my site until my contract end date?
Can I store my belongings in my room over summer?
If you have a summer booking with us and we have received your payment and signed contract, then you can keep your items in your room throughout the summer.
We don’t allow students to leave items in their rooms over the summer if they have not confirmed a summer stay with us.
Any items left in a room after a contract end date will be removed and stored for 7 days. After which, all items will be removed and given to charity or disposed of.
Do I get my deposit back?
All deposits should be returned within 10 days of the contract ending. Any deposit disputes should be sent in writing to the site manager.
Do I have to pay for the damages?
We want to make your stay with us as enjoyable as possible. Our on-site maintenance team will attend to your requests (See our repairs and maintenance policy).
We don’t charge for “fair wear and tear” of our properties or fixtures. However, if something gets damaged through abuse or misuse, we’ll repair or replace the item and will charge for doing so.
The behaviour of guests is the responsibility of the tenant who has welcomed them into the property. Any charges that result from a guest’s behaviour will be charged to the respective tenant. If there’s a charge that applies to the shared area within a flat and we’re unable to establish the responsibility, the charge will be shared between all of the flat’s tenants. All charges will be applied to your account and payment will be due within 30 days of this date.
For further details please see our list of all our schedule of charges..
This list is not exhaustive, and we reserve the right to charge for items not mention.
Summer Stays
Where Can I Book?
Summer stays are available in Liverpool and Manchester, with short term academic year stays available in Newcastle, with a large variety of rooms on offer. We welcome all bookings from large groups to single stays!
dwell summers sell out fast so we recommend you book your stay early to avoid missing out on our amazing prices.
What Summer Stay Can I Book?
If you’re wanting to stay with us over the summer, then check out our dedicated summer page so that you can see the most up to date information:
How Do I Book?
It couldn’t be easier to book a summer stay with dwell, we like to keep things simple!
If you are a current resident or have a booking for September 23, all you need to do is log back in to your dwell portal and make a new booking for summer.
If you are new to dwell, you will need to register with us (takes 2 minutes) and then make your booking.
We don’t charge any applications fees for our summer stays to make things that bit easier.
Extensions & Early Arrivals?
If you are a current resident or new arrival for September and you need to add on some extra nights to your dwell booking, that’s no problem we are more than happy to help.
Need an extension? No problem, you can extend your stay with us up to 2 weeks after your contract ends (for most sites) if you are on a 44-week contract with us. All you need to do is fill in our extension form telling us the date you need your room till.
All completed forms must be emailed to your site teams who will confirm with 2 working days if we can accept the extension request. We try our best to allocate all extension requests however at times this may not be possible. – Extension Form
Need an early arrival? If you are wanting to dwell with us earlier and need a room earlier than your contract start date we will try to accommodate you at most of our sites. All you need to do is fill in our early arrival form, send it to your site email address and await confirmation of booking (please allow 2 working days for our site teams to get in touch). With all early arrival requests we do try to accommodate all students, however, we do have to say no to some requests. You will be notified via email if we are not able to accommodate your early arrival request.
Paying for My Summer Stay
If you have accepted a summer stay and are ready to finalize your booking, it’s simple to make your payment.
Our terms are simple, once you have accepted your summer stay with us you must pay for your stay within 5 days. Failure to pay for your summer stay may result in your booking being cancelled and we will sell the room to another student for summer.
Our summers usually have a waiting list of students wanting a room, so to be fair to all we need the payment for your stay to be confirmed. No Payment = No Summer Stay
You can make your payment in three ways;
- Online – via your dwell portal
- Over the phone/ at the reception – we accept most major credit & debit cards
- Bank transfer – if you want to make a bank transfer please contact your site for bank details. Once you have made your payment please confirm this via email with proof of payment as on occasions payments can take a number of days to be processed by banks
Paying for Your Extension/Early Arrival
If you’ve booked an extension or early arrival you will need to pay for your booking within 5 days of receiving confirmation from your site team that we can accommodate your additional stay.
Failure to pay for your additional stay may result in your additional booking being cancelled
You can make your payment in three ways;
- Online – via your dwell portal
- Over the phone/ at the reception – we accept most major credit & debit cards
- Bank transfer – if you want to make a bank transfer please contact your site for bank details. Once you have made your payment please confirm this via email with proof of payment as on occasions payments can take a number of days to be processed by banks
My Summer Stay Contract
Your summer stay booking will only be confirmed once you have signed your e-licence online and have made full payment for all rent due.
The licence you are signing online is a licence for occupation.
