What should I do if I have a dispute?

Speak to your landlord or hall manager  

The first step is to try and talk to your landlord or hall manager directly to sort it out. Explain your concerns calmly and try to come to an agreement. It's a good idea to have a written record of raising the concern. 

Contact your letting agent

If you are renting through a letting agent, you can contact them to raise the issue. They may be able to help resolve things or be a mediator for you and your landlord if you are having trouble getting through to them about your issue. 

Check your tenancy agreement

Have a look over your tenancy agreement to see if there are any clauses or provisions that could help resolve the dispute. For example, your agreement may outline specific procedures and processes for dispute resolution. The aim is to have it resolved as quickly and calmly as possible, so knowing your facts can help a lot!

Your tenancy agreement will also have loads more important information, so to know what to look out for,  read what should I get from my landlord when I have agreed to rent the property?

Contact your university accommodation office

This may not apply if you are in your second or third year and in private accommodation, but if you are renting university-managed accommodation, then you can contact your university accommodation office for assistance. If you are living in a private hall of residence you could contact the head office if you are not getting a response from the hall manager. 

Contact a dispute resolution service

If you are unable to resolve the dispute through the above steps, you can contact a dispute resolution service such as the Housing Ombudsman Service or a local Citizens Advice Bureau. If you are living in halls of residence you could also refer your complaint to ANUK which is a voluntary code many of them participate in. This is a sort of last option if none of the above tips help. It is always preferable to speak to your landlord and solve it directly, but do take the issue further if you think it would help. 

It's important to remember that you have rights as a tenant, and landlords have legal obligations to provide safe and habitable accommodation. If you are experiencing issues with your accommodation then remember to be brave, speak up and take action!

For our comprehensive guide on issues with your accommodation and how to avoid them check out our