UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION
The University has many different options for campus accommodation and can provide accommodation to cater for most needs. Check out their webpages here to see the different accommodation options on offer.
University accommodation is a great way to meet new people when you first start at Essex and provides easy access to classes and lecture halls. If you are a returning student going into your next year of study, you can also apply to live in University owned accommodation and you can request to live with your friends as a group.
University Accommodation Terms and Conditions
The University’s terms and conditions for Accommodation can be found on the Accommodation Office website. It outlines the terms of your offer of accommodation like a tenancy agreement. The University Accommodation is for a fixed period. For Undergraduate students it's usually 39 weeks and for Postgraduate students it's usually 50 weeks.
Please note, if you accept an offer for accommodation, there is no 'cooling off' period. Even if you decide you no longer wish to live on campus, you will be expected to pay rent until the end of the agreed rental period.
University Accommodation Fees
The University Accommodation fees are usually charged termly around the time of student finance payments. They're based on the cost per week for your accommodation and include all bills and rates that would normally be paid separately in private tenancies.
The University rental fees also include a block hall insurance policy with Howden Insurance Services that insures your personal belongings in you room. It's important to check the cover that's provided under this arrangement as items probably won't be covered for damage out of your accommodation (for example, a laptop might not be covered if damaged in the library). You can take out extra cover if you'd like to increase the level of protection. You can find more details on the University web pages:
There are deadlines by which payments must be made for each term. If you have not paid by the deadline, your accommodation internet may be disconnected. Reminders about rent will be sent to your University email address so you should check this each day. 5 weeks after the payment due date, if no attempt has been made to pay the debt, the University might apply for a Notice to Quit to begin eviction proceedings. If you find yourself in this position, please contact the SU Advice to discuss your options
If you're having problems paying your accommodation fees, you should contact the Student Services Hub initially to discuss options. You can also speak to one of our SU Advice Advisers to discuss the process to request a payment plan - please note SU Advice cannot guarantee a payment plan will be accepted.
Leaving University Accommodation Early
Your tenancy agreement with the University is for a set period when you accept the allocation offer. It is not possible to leave your tenancy agreement early if you're continuing as a full-time registered student.
If you withdraw from your studies or intermit (take a temporary period of leave) you can apply for early release from your accommodation contract. You will need to contact the Student Services Hub to inform them and get approval for an early departure date.
Faults and repairs
If there's a problem with something in your accommodation, you should report it as soon as you can to the relevant team depending on which accommodation you are living in. To find the relevant contact details to report faults/repairs please see here.
It is important to try to reduce damage that may be caused by any faults or issues, even if these are not caused by you (for example, if there is a pipe leak you should take steps to catch the water in a bowl/bucket to avoid damage to the floor). Damage that is deemed to have been caused by the tenants will be charged to the tenant(s) responsible.