Cancel your tenancy

The process for moving out of University accommodation before the tenancy end date.

Your accommodation contract

To read your tenancy agreement, login to the Accommodation Portal.

Moving out but continuing to study at the University (including online study)

You may want to move out of your residence before your contract ends but continue to study at the University. For example, you may want to move into a private-rented residence. If you want to move out because you are unhappy where you are living, we recommend contacting our wellbeing support staff who are available to talk through your concerns.

In this situation, you will be liable for the rent on your room until the end date of your tenancy, unless a replacement tenant can be found. There is more information on replacement tenants in the next section. You should read the full terms of your tenancy agreement, which is available in your Accommodation Portal, Section 4 explains the terms of cancellation in full. You must read and understand these terms before making the decision to move out.

If after reading this you still want to move out, you must complete the intention to leave form via the Accommodation Portal. We will email you to confirm receipt of your form and your rental liability.

In order for us to begin the intention to leave process, we need to wait for your suspension or withdrawal to be confirmed from your faculty. This process may take several weeks. We will provide an update when we have had confirmation from your faculty.

There is no need to contact us if you have already completed the intention to leave form and contacted your faculty.

Replacement tenants

It is possible to be released from your tenancy and rental liability if you have more than three months remaining on your tenancy and you find a suitable replacement tenant.

A suitable replacement tenant is a current University of Bristol student who does not already live in University accommodation. They must be a current postgraduate student (if taking over a postgraduate tenancy) or a current undergraduate (if taking over an undergraduate tenancy). A pre-sessional student or a current student who already has a University tenancy are not suitable replacement tenants.

You can use your own methods to find a suitable replacement tenant, such as student bulletin boards or social media platforms. Student Accommodation are not responsible for finding replacement tenants.

When you have found a suitable replacement tenant, you will need to contact us with the replacement tenants full name and student number.

We will respond within 7 days to confirm if the proposed tenant is a suitable replacement. Once you have received written approval from us for your replacement tenant, we will arrange a new tenancy for the replacement, this will take a minimum of a further 7 days before the new tenant can move in. If the new tenant does not move in, your liability on the room will remain in place.

Please be aware that subletting is not permitted under the terms of your tenancy and anyone found to be living in a room without a tenancy agreement in their name will be required to leave.

Leaving university or suspending your studies

There is a lot to consider when you are thinking of leaving the University or suspending your studies, so make sure you have read the relevant guidance:

You cannot carry on living in your University residence once you have withdrawn from or suspended your studies, because you will no longer be classified as a student.

You must tell us that you are withdrawing or suspending by completing the intention to leave form via the Accommodation Portal or you will remain liable for the rent on your room. We will check with your department before releasing you from your tenancy.

The last date you will be liable for rent will depend on the reason you are withdrawing or suspending:

for health reasons:

You will be liable for rent until either the date you submitted the intention to leave form via the Accommodation Portal or the date you moved out; whichever is later.

for any other reason:

You must give us two weeks’ notice via the intention to leave form on the Accommodation Portal and you will be liable for rent for these two weeks.

Return to university

If you are suspending your studies, you are not guaranteed an offer of accommodation when you return to university.

This is because students who have suspended their studies are no longer classified as new students and so do not meet the terms of the guarantee. You are not eligible to apply for accommodation in the summer application process.

You may apply for University-allocated accommodation in February, using the returner application process.