Most landlords and letting agents require students, who are renting in the private market, to have a Guarantor that lives in the UK. The guarantor – a third-party individual or organisation – guarantees to pay the landlord any rent which the student fails to pay and the cost of any damage for which the student is responsible and fails to pay.

If you cannot provide one, they will probably require you to pay most, if not all of, the rent for the full contract before you move in. This is a considerable financial challenge for many students.

For students, international or domestic, if you don't have access to a UK Guarantor for any reason we suggest you look at: https://ukguarantor.com

When you move into a rented property, most landlords or letting agents will ask you for a deposit.

A deposit is a sum of money which acts as a guarantee against: damage you might do to the property, cleaning bills if you've left the property in poor condition, bills that are left unpaid, like fuel or telephone bills or unpaid rent.

If there are no issues when you move out, the landlord has to pay your deposit back to you in full - which should have been kept in 1 of the 3 available Tenancy Deposit Schemes. However, if any of the above happens, the deposit can be used to cover costs so the landlord doesn't have to pay them. The deposit cannot be used to replace items that are damaged, or worn, due to normal wear or tear.

In Scotland, the amount that can be charged as a deposit cannot be more than two months' rent. For example, if the rent is £500 a month, you cannot be asked for more than a £1000 deposit.