Users with Special Needs

This section is designed to give those groups of people with specialised needs additional help and support.

Students with a disability

Unipol, the Universities and some private landlords have a selection of wheelchair accessible accommodation.

Unipol

Finding suitable accommodation can be difficult for disabled students and specialist help is needed in what can be a complex area. Unipol would like to help you find the right property for your needs if we can, so please contact Sarah Kelly, Tenancy Support Officer on S.kelly @unipol.org.uk.

Unipol does provide some properties that are suitable for wheelchair users and it may be possible to make further modifications to suit your specific requirements. These properties are located at Carlton Hill, Mill Street, and Clarendon Place. All this accommodation is on the ground floor and the showering facilities at Carlton Hill and Mill Street have been adapted and have disabled car parking available. Carlton Hill and Mill Street are purpose built student accommodation and Clarendon Place is a converted Victorian house.

If you require this accommodation it is helpful if you supply Unipol with full details of your disability and any special needs that you have so that we can ensure the accommodation is suitable. If you have had a needs assessment by the University or College disability services it is useful to have a copy of the relevant sections of this.

It is essential that you visit the property prior to signing the tenancy and this should be arranged directly with Unipol.

Private Sector

There are wheelchair accessible properties available in the private sector. If you would like more information please contact the Unipol Accommodation Bureau on 0113 246 01 69 option 1.

University of Leeds

Leeds University can provide accommodation for wheelchair users. If you wish to apply for this accommodation you should contact disability services who will refer you to the accommodation office.

The University’s disability services provide support and advice for students with disabilities and they will ensure you are allocated appropriate accommodation and provided with all the practical help you may need on a day-to-day basis.

If you have any sort of disability which may affect the kind of accommodation you need, you should contact both disability services and the accommodation services as soon as possible.

Accommodation Services

University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT
Telephone: +44 (0)8701 2001 89
Email: accom@leeds.ac.uk

Disability Services

Ground Floor, Economic & Social Studies Building
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT

Telephone: 0113 343 3927
Fax: 0113 343 3944
Minicom: 0113 343 2616
Website: www.leeds.ac.uk/disabilityservices
Email: disability@leeds.ac.uk

Leeds Metropolitan University

Leeds Met can allocate accommodation to students with disabilities within their portfolio. It is important to contact the Student Accommodation Service to ensure that any special arrangements can be taken care of prior to your arrival. It is also recommended that you register with the Disability Support team to arrange an assessment of your requirements.

Student Accommodation Service

Telephone: 0113 283 2600 Ext.3277 or 3278 & 0113 283 5972
Website: Accommodation Services
Email: accommodation@leedsmet.ac.uk

Disability Support team

Telephone: 0113 2833115
Website: Disability Services

Leeds College of Music (LCM)

LCM has a diverse student population and welcomes applications from people with disabilities. As the college is committed to providing specific support for students with disabilities, you are strongly advised to declare your disability or any additional support needs you have. The college has a Student Disability Advisor offering a range of advice and support throughout the application process and for the duration of your course. If you have special requirements for your accommodation please contact the Student Disability Advisor to discuss your individual needs in more detail.

Alison Raine,
Student Disability Advisor,
Telephone: 0113 222 3421
Website: Disability Services
Email: a.raine@lcm.ac.uk

Leeds College of Art

Please contact the student support team directly for information and advice.

Telephone: 0113 202 8000
Website: Student Support Team
Email: info@leeds-art.ac.uk

Short term accommodation

Accommodation up to 2 weeks

If you are looking for accommodation for a very short period then it may be more appropriate to find bed and breakfast accommodation through Gateway Yorkshire who offer an accommodation booking service with details of room availability in hotels, guest houses or bed and breakfasts.

Gateway Yorkshire
Telephone: 0800 80 8050.
Website: www.yorkshire.com/stay

Accommodation up to 6 months

In a competitive market such as Leeds more landlords are now offering more flexible contract periods, however, many landlords will still be looking for a July to June let. If you are looking for a let of up to 6 months you could always contact the landlords advertising on our website. In addition, try using our Student to Student Notice Board on the website. Many students advertising rooms on a short-term basis are either looking for a replacement for themselves in their contract or looking to sub-let their room for a specific period. Make sure that the student concerned is allowed to sublet their room in terms of their contract before you agree anything so as to avoid any potential problems later.

You may wish to browse through 'Accommodation Available' but you should place a notice about yourself in the section 'Short Term/Summer Lets'. You may leave contact details on your advert or ask people to reply to you at the site. There is a delay of a few hours before your message will appear as we have to check all messages before they appear on the site.

Some landlords will offer shorter lets, especially from January through to the end of June. Try doing an 'Advanced Search', where you put in all the amenities you wish to have from your accommodation, including location, maximum rent etc. Near the bottom of this search facility there is a tick box ‘suitable for short term lets’, which should be ticked. When you press 'search', a list of properties which meet your criteria will appear. On each advert the owner's contact details will be displayed so that you may contact him/her directly to make appointments to view. Confirm with them when you ring whether they are still prepared to consider a short let.

You could also try searching in the section 'Rooms in a Private Home'. Owners of these properties are sometimes prepared to be a little more flexible about the length of contract they offer.

Summer lets

Often students wish to remain in Leeds over the summer but do not wish to commit to a full 52 week let, for example Postgraduates students completing their studies. The student to student noticeboard is again very useful in securing this type of accommodation. Many students who have signed 52 week contracts will be away from Leeds over the summer and may wish to let their rooms out over this period, often using the student to student noticeboard to do this.

Over the summer vacation period Leeds University offers variety of accommodation directly on campus. You can choose between a self catering accommodation and B&B. The prices start from £21.00 + VAT per person per night. This accommodation is available from 22nd June to 8th September 2012 inclusive. For more information please contact the Conference Office at University of Leeds.

Conference Office
Email: enquiries
Tel: 0113 343 6100
Online booking: Book Online

Unipol will be offering short term summer lets at a city centre site, Carlton Hill from 1st July to 31st August 2012. The rent includes all utility bills and on-site parking. The shared flats for 5 people are furnished with double beds with a shared kitchen/lounge and two bathrooms both fitted with showers and baths. Information about prices and booking will be available in spring 2012.

Under 18

Unipol

Unipol can offer accommodation to students aged under 18 in our Mill Street property. To secure a room, Unipol would require that a parent or responsible adult acts as a guarantor for you and signs our policy on accommodating under 18's. You would also be required to make a quarterly rent payment and pay a deposit in advance of moving in.

To ensure your ongoing wellbeing the Tenancy Support Officer will meet with students under 18 once a month until they turn 18. Mill Street is currently the only accommodation we offer to under 18s as it benefits from a 24-hour staff presence. If you have any questions about Unipol accommodation for under 18s please contact Sarah Kelly, the Tenancy Support Officer at s.kelly @unipol.org.uk.

If you would like alternative accommodation you can search our website to find housing with another private landlord. However you should mention your age before making a booking. It is important to be clear at the beginning as this avoids confusion and misunderstandings later. In this instance a private landlord is likely to ask for someone to act as your guarantor. This person will take on full responsibility for all the terms and conditions of your tenancy if you fail to meet them. Unipol would recommend that you seek advice before entering in to any such agreement.

There is another type of agreement that some institutions use to enable them to offer accommodation to under 18s. This is called a license agreement. In this instance the accommodation provider is likely to request that your parent\ guardian sign the agreement on your behalf. The ‘duty of care’ in housing under 18s is extremely complex, if you are unclear how this could affect you please contact your institution directly.

To read Unipol's under 18's policy click here
For links to useful websites dedicated to under 18's click here

University of Leeds

Leeds University can offer accommodation to under 18s.

Please contact the accommodation office directly for more details.

Accommodation Services
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT
Telephone: +44 (0)8701 2001 89
Website: Accommodation
Email: accom@leeds.ac.uk

Leeds Metropolitan University

Leeds Met can offer accommodation to under 18s where the student’s parent\ guardian is prepared to sign a license agreement on their behalf.

Please contact the accommodation office directly for more details.

Student Accommodation Service
Telephone: 0113 283 2600 Ext.3277 or 3278 & 0113 283 5972
Website: www.leedsmet.ac.uk/fm/accomm/
Email: accommodation@leedsmet.ac.uk

Leeds College of Music (LCM)

The LCM is not in a position to offer you accommodation directly. For more information and support please contact the Student Accommodation Advisor at the College direct.

Anne Best
Student Accommodation Advisor
Tel: 0113 222 3514
Email: a.best@lcm.ac.uk

Leeds College of Art (LCAD)

The LCAD is not in a position to offer you accommodation directly. For more information and support please contact the Student Support Team at the College direct.

Student Support Team
Telephone: 0113 202 8000
Email: info@leeds-art.ac.uk

International Students

Every year, hundreds of International Students come to study in the UK without having pre-booked accommodation. You will most likely already know about the types of accommodation offered by your University, but may not have booked a place in one. Unipol can help you meet other students in the same position, or other national students, so that you can find a home while you study. We provide access to shared student accommodation, private halls, family accommodation or individual residences such as self-contained flats.

Through close collaboration with the Leeds University International Office and University of Leeds Accommodation Office, Unipol is able to offer international students extra support and assistance with their house hunting. A special scheme has been set up, where specially trained helpers are available from the beginning of September through to early October to offer a one-to-one introduction to using the website. In addition they will be able to offer invaluable advice and information to help you settle in.

Unipol

Unipol works closely with the Universities to help international students meet each other and look for houses and find suitable accommodation in the private sector. We assist you to make informed decisions, to choose a house and people that you are happy to live with. Staff will be available to offer support and advice on all aspects of house hunting in the private sector. Staff will help you to form groups (if you would like to), you can search the web, contact landlords and arrange viewings.

Leeds has a great choice of private-sector housing and is popular with international students, because it offers a great choice of houses in the private sector that can be much cheaper than University residences. Contracts usually last 52 weeks with the possibility of staying on, unlike university contracts.

Before you sign any contract Unipol would recommend that you seek advice from your student union who offer a contract checking service.

University of Leeds

Leeds University guarantees you a place in their accommodation for the year if you are:

an international undergraduate (i.e. you pay fees at the international rate). You are guaranteed a place in our accommodation until you finish your course, provided you apply by the stated deadlines (usually March).
An undergraduate exchange student in their first year
An international postgraduate student (i.e. you pay fees at the international rate) and you are new to Leeds

But you have to apply by the deadlines:

1st July if you're an international postgraduate student starting in September or October.
1st December if you're an undergraduate exchange student coming to Leeds in January (for semester 2)

For more information on accommodation for International students, including temporary accommodation please visit:

Leeds Metropolitan University

Leeds Metropolitan University guarantees you a place in their accommodation as long as you complete an online application form. The Closing date for International Student applications is the 31st July and to be guaranteed a place in University accommodation you must send a £200 booking deposit by this date.

If you are coming to study for one semester only, you must apply by 31st July for the first semester and by 12th December for the second semester and tick the appropriate box on the application form. Accommodation for one semester may be limited to certain sites only.

If you would like to apply for University accommodation please see the website for information about how to do this

Leeds Metropolitan Accommodation Office

Families and Couples

Accommodation for families is in very high demand and although Unipol has made the provision of housing in this area a top priority, there is still a shortage and demand often exceeds supply. Unipol and the Universities operate complimentary but different systems for helping students with dependants and following the steps below will guide you through this process.

Unipol

Unipol has made the provision of family accommodation a top priority and can therefore offer a good selection of housing.

If you are interested in a Unipol property you should register on the family mailing list. You can put yourself on the mailing list by clicking here. You will then see a screen dedicated to information about Family Housing. Please read this information carefully then click ‘online form’ at the bottom of the page. Enter your details to be added to the email mailing list.

Notification of available properties

When a suitable property for your family becomes available you will be sent an email, informing you of the vacancy. Please note that many people may receive the email notification, it is not sent exclusively to you and is not a guaranteed offer of accommodation. If you are interested in the vacancy please follow the information in the email to arrange a viewing.

Couples

Please note that although couples can register on the family mailing list these properties are rare and are usually advertised on the website straight away, so please keep a close look at the website as well as checking your emails regularly.

University of Leeds

The University has around 100 furnished flats in Leeds suitable for couples and families, but demand for this accommodation is very high and there is a long waiting list. If you intend to bring your partner or children to Leeds, contact accommodation services as soon as possible and they will let you know whether any University accommodation is available.

If you are or will be attending the University of Leeds there is some accommodation (Shay Street/ Holborn Terrace and Woodsley Terrace) allocated through the University of Leeds accommodation office but managed by Unipol. To be considered for this accommodation you should register with them in addition to adding your name to the family mailing list at Unipol. Shay Street/ Holborn Terrace and Woodsley Terrace are ONLY available to University of Leeds students.

Contact details for The University of Leeds Accommodation Office are as follows:

Phone:      0113 343 6074
Website:    Accommodation Office - family housing
Email:       accom@leeds.ac.uk

LeedsMet University

Currently offer no provision for families within their portfolio. The accommodation services will direct their students with dependants to use the Unipol service.

Leeds College of Art

Currently offer no provision for families within their portfolio. The accommodation services will direct their students with dependants to use the Unipol service.

Leeds College of music

Currently offer no provision for families within their portfolio. The accommodation services will direct their students with dependants to use the Unipol service.

The Private Sector

You may have to look for your own privately rented accommodation, which will mean coming to Leeds before term starts. Unipol can help you to try and find suitable accommodation, and accommodation services will also provide help and support.

Accommodation that may be suitable for families is advertised on the website. However you would need to contact the landlord of the property you were interested in to discuss its suitability for your family. If you use the advanced search facility you can fine tune your search to give you only the properties that are suitable to you. Here you can more specifically select the type and location of property and also choose which amenities you would like the property to have. This allows you complete flexibility over the features you want in the accommodation. At the bottom of the advanced search page you can tick the box that says 'Suitable for families'. This will bring up any properties where owners have specifically stated that they feel their properties are suitable for such students.

The Yellow pages can be looked at for other letting agents. Decide which areas you feel are suitable and contact letting agencies in those areas. Letting agents outside the traditional student areas may be more used to letting to families or couples and therefore have accommodation suitable for you. In addition areas where demand is lower, often a little further away from the city centre, may be able to offer suitable accommodation at more competitive rents. For advice and information on areas please click here.

Important points to remember:

Do not simply "turn up" hoping that a house will become available because you may end up needing temporary accommodation, which can be very expensive.
It can take several weeks to find family accommodation in the private-sector.
It is advisable to travel to the UK alone and take temporary single person accommodation while you seek the right accommodation for your family. You are strongly advised NOT to bring your spouse and/or children with you until accommodation has been secured
Never sign a long-term contract for a single room if you intend to bring your family to join you later. Landlords are legally entitled to make you pay the rent for the full contract.

Members of Staff

Unipol

As a member of staff at one of the universities you are eligible to apply for a Unipol owned or managed property. Please select Unipol housing for a list of available properties.

The universities sometimes offer accommodation to members of staff directly please see the information below.

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds has a small stock of property for letting to members of staff to assist them whilst they find more permanent accommodation, and to short term official visitors to the University. These are known as rentroll properties, and are operated by the Property office. These properties are allocated on a priority system and are available for short-term lettings.

All the properties are provided with basic furnishings and are available on a six month assured shorthold tenancy agreement. The minimum let period is one month.

You are advised to give 3 months notice of impending arrival, with an absolute minimum of one month. Generally, you would be informed approximately two months before the due arrival date whether or not they would be able to accommodate you.

Staff accommodation at the University of Leeds

Professionals

Unipol

A growing number of professionals who are not necessarily in the position where they could, or want to purchase a property still have quite high expectations as to the type and condition of accommodation they require. In addition with the oversupply of accommodation to the student sector a number of landlords have decided to move in to professional lets and therefore this growing sector can now offer a good variety of properties from professional house shares through to self-contained units, city living through to suburbia.

Many students who studied in Leeds stay on in the city for at least a year after completing their studies. The Unipol website is a great place to look for your new home. Many of our landlords are happy to let to professionals but please check this when you call to set up your viewing.

Often young professionals look in areas out of the traditional student ones for more choice. Chapel Allerton, Far Headingley, Horsforth, Beeston and Armley are all areas that have become increasingly popular with postgraduates and young professionals. For advice and information on areas click here.

Some young professionals find it useful to use the noticeboard to find other people in the same position or students to share a house. You are welcome to use this facility but should make it clear in your messages that you are not a student as any house share you go in to will make the property subject to council tax. For this reason it may be better to try and find other professionals to share with.

Using a Managing Agent

Unipol also has a scheme for Managing Agents called the 'Supporter of the Unipol Code'. Agents who join this scheme are commited to offer a proportion of their properties that meet the standards in the Unipol Code. Many agents now offer properties for professionals. To see a list of agents who have joined this scheme please click here

Unipol Properties

A few properties managed by Unipol can be let to non students, please email for availability.