Private housing

Royal Holloway has partnered with Roome to provide students with free access to accommodation search and housemate matching tools.

Roome is an independent company and is not owned or operated by the University.

Students who choose to create an account will provide information directly to Roome. Any personal data shared through the platform is processed by Roome in accordance with its privacy notice and terms of use. Students should review these before registering and only share information they are comfortable providing.

Private housing near Egham, Englefield Green, Windsor, and Staines offers a wide range of prices. The average rent in the local area is around £140 per week (£600 per month) per person in a shared house, not including bills. If you’re a full time student, living in a house with other full-time students, you don’t have to pay council tax.

With Roome's property search you can:

• Compare listings side-by-side from all different property portals.
• View estimated costs and factor in bills.
• Access student-only partner discounts.

Please note, property information, rental costs and availability are provided through Roome and third-party property providers. While Royal Holloway works with Roome to provide students with free access to the platform, the University does not own or operate the service and cannot guarantee the accuracy of listings, pricing or availability.

Instead of searching across multiple sites, Roome's housing marketplace brings everything together:

• Browse listings from letting agents, landlords, and leading property sites.
• Explore student-friendly options in Egham, Englefield Green, Windsor, and Staines.
• Compare properties by price, size, and amenities all in one place.

You should undertake your own checks before entering into any agreement and satisfy yourself that a property meets your needs.

Not sure who to live with? Roome’s housemate matching makes it simple:

• Create your profile and match with other Royal Holloway students based on lifestyle, budget, and interests.
• Join or build groups to start looking for houses together.
• Chat directly in the app to plan viewings and organise move-in.

Housemate profiles and matching information are provided by users of the platform. Royal Holloway does not verify the accuracy of profiles or compatibility between users.

When you find a property through Roome, you’ll sign a contract directly with the landlord or letting agent. Contracts usually last 12 months.

We recommend:

• Using the Students’ Union contract-checking service.
• Taking your time — properties will continue to be listed until August, so don’t feel pressured to sign too early.

When you find a property through Roome, any tenancy agreement will be between you and the landlord or letting agent.

If you have signed a private sector contract, you shouldn’t then apply to nor accept an offer to live in Halls. If you do, you would be taking out two accommodation contracts at the same time and as a contract is legally binding you’ll be liable for the rent for both properties.

If you’ve applied for accommodation in Halls and already have a contract in the private sector, please let us know so that we can cancel your application and avoid sending you an offer.

The Government produced guide is for tenants and landlords in the private rented sector to help them understand their rights and responsibilities.

It is a legal requirement for landlords in England to provide you with:

• A copy of the ‘How to rent: the checklist for renting in England’
• A valid Gas Safety Certificate
• The Energy Performance Certificate - all privately rented properties must have an energy
  performance rating of E or above (unless a valid exemption applies)
• A valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• Evidence that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order at the start of the tenancy
• Deposit paperwork - If you have provided a deposit, the landlord must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give you prescribed information about it. 

All private landlords in England are required by law to check that any tenant entering a residential tenancy agreement has the right to be in the UK before renting out their property. The Government Right to Rent scheme has been introduced to deter individuals who are in the country illegally from remaining in the UK.

Your landlord may ask to see identity documents that show you’re legally allowed to live in the UK. If you hold a visa, these checks will need to be done within 28 days of the start of your tenancy contract. The checks have to take place in person and the landlord is required by law to take a copy of your documents and retain them for at least one year following the end of your tenancy.