We are first years and want to secure our accommodation for next year as soon as possible when can we sign up?

Our main letting period is January to March some agents let properties to first years in October and November. We are responsible student landlords we recognise that you are eager to secure your home for next year but would caution you against rushing into agreements too early. The number one rule is know your housemates! We don't want to have to get involved with substituting house mates a few weeks into your contract. Choose your housemates as wisely as you choose your house and you will not go far wrong! We are happy to sign up second and third years more or less at any time but we feel it is reckless to rush into relationships with first years in their first term in Durham. We advertise our brand at all times but prefer to leave signing contracts to your second term.

We are already in one of your houses and want to stay a second year. How do we sort that out?

Contact your landlord as early as you can to resign the lease. If you have lived together already we don't mind signing you up early - although the landlord will want the lease signing before taking it off the market. If you want to upsize or downsize next year then let us know before the letting season. We can make arrangements to show you around a suitable house for next year.

Are all houses cleaned before we move in?

Absolutely, but please remember that we have a lot of houses to get around. Although we make sure that departing tenants do not leave a mess behind, they are never as good at cleaning as our professional cleaners are. We aim to get all properties properly cleaned within a week or so of the hand over!

Do all houses have a similar lease?

Yes, all Student Home Zone landlords work on similar DSU approved leases

We notice that you have a number of sponsors, are we likely to get loads of junk mail from them?

All of our sponsors are relevant to the student market but we do not want to bombard you with messages to eat at Joe’s Cafe. From time to time we may send messages on their behalf announcing deals that will be truly beneficial to you, however under the Data Protection Act you can always opt out. You will notice that this website unlike others has open access in that we do not require registration which we think is a bit ’Big Brotherish’ - it’s kind of like inviting you to our home and then going through your pockets!

How soon will we receive our deposits back at the end of the Tenancy?

The way that deposits are handled has changed very recently, we now have to register your deposit with a government appointed agency. They will send you a certificate when this is done. The new legislation demands that we return your deposit within 10 days which is always our aim. We try to achieve this this by working with you just before the end of the lease to ensure that everything is as it should be. This does require that you do answer the emails that we send you and ensure that you leave the house as you found it.

The accommodation office has a ’find a house month’ - what is this all about?

Traditionally, houses were released through the accommodation office in the third week of January. This has moved back to February. Many landlords feel that this is a good idea so long as everyone (including the students) sticks to it. The problem is that they dont . We all have a commercial spirit within us and we wont be the first to break ranks we would prefer that everyone observed the rule, but we cannot afford to hang behind politely waiting - we do, after all we have over 100 houses to let.

You have over ten per cent of the student market in Durham. Do you have a forum made up with tenants and landlords?

We do not have one at the moment, but we welcome comments from tenants. If there is a demand for a forum we will put one in place.