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Student Housing
#1 Student Lettings Agency
Need to leave your student house early? Learn how Student Housing’s tenancy severance process works, the valid reasons for applying, and what to expect from start to finish.
When you sign a tenancy agreement, you’re legally committing to pay rent for the full duration of your contract. There’s no automatic right to cancel early — but we know life doesn’t always go to plan.
That’s where our tenancy severance procedure comes in. It’s a fair, transparent way for students to apply to end their tenancy early if genuine circumstances mean you can’t stay for the full term.
You can find the terms and conditions on our website at student-housing.co.uk/tenants/severance.
A severance request can be considered when unavoidable circumstances prevent you from continuing the tenancy. Examples include:
You’ve permanently withdrawn or deferred from university
You’ve transferred to a different city or institution
You’ve experienced significant personal or financial hardship
You have a long-term health or family emergency preventing you from living in the property
Each case is assessed individually. Submitting a severance request doesn’t guarantee approval — but it ensures your situation will be reviewed fairly.
Before applying, make sure you meet the basic requirements — otherwise the application will be declined faster than a Friday-night Domino’s.
You’ll only be eligible if:
The request isn’t within the final six months of your tenancy term.
Your rent account is fully up to date — no arrears, no negative balance, and no outstanding utility charges.
You can provide reasonable evidence supporting your reason for leaving (for example, university withdrawal, serious illness, or a course transfer).
You’ve read and understood the conditions outlined on the official Severance page.
If you don’t meet these conditions, your tenancy continues as normal and you’ll remain fully liable for rent until the tenancy end date.
Even if you apply for severance, your tenancy obligations continue until one of the following happens:
A suitable replacement tenant is found, approved, and signed onto the tenancy.
The landlord or agent formally agrees in writing to release you from your contract.
Until then, you’ll still be responsible for rent payments and utilities.
If your housemates are on a joint tenancy, they’ll also remain jointly liable for the full rent until a new tenant is found. This means the rent can’t simply be reduced or divided differently — all tenants share equal responsibility.
Every case is unique, but here’s what normally happens once you apply through our Severance Request Form:
Submit your request online, including any supporting evidence (for example, proof of withdrawal from university).
Our team reviews your application and contacts you within 3–5 working days.
You’ll receive guidance on next steps, including how to advertise your room or assist with finding a replacement.
Once a replacement tenant is found and approved, a new tenancy agreement is issued.
You’ll pay the standard tenancy change fee (£50) to complete the severance, and your rent liability ends from the date the new tenancy starts.
The quickest way to complete a severance is to advertise your own room. You can:
Share your listing with university housing groups on Facebook or Reddit
Tell your course mates or student societies
Post on student housing boards at your university
Use the “Find a Roommate” or "Accommodation in" pages on Facebook
Advertise on Spare Room, Gumtree, TheStudentRoom
When a potential tenant expresses interest, we’ll handle referencing, guarantor checks, and all the paperwork.
If you’d rather not hunt for a replacement yourself, we can help. Our tenant-find service markets your room to thousands of active students through our website, Rightmove, UniHomes, and social platforms.
What we do:
List and promote your room with professional photography and description
Manage all enquiries and viewings
Vet potential tenants, guarantors, and references
Handle the paperwork and contract transfer
This service is optional, and while it can speed up the process, it’s not guaranteed to find a tenant before your liability ends. You can still advertise the room yourself in the meantime — the faster a new tenant signs, the sooner your rent responsibility stops. Tenant find is no let, no fee (Meaning you don't pay us until we've found a replacement tenant)
Severance is a discretionary service, not a contractual right. The landlord must agree to release you, and Student Housing can only complete the process once a new tenant is secured and the administrative fee is paid.
If no replacement is found, you remain liable for rent and utilities until the end of your fixed-term tenancy.
If you’re thinking about leaving your tenancy early:
Talk to your housemates first. They’ll need to understand the process and how rent responsibilities are handled.
Submit your request online through the official Severance Form.
Provide evidence of your circumstances to help speed up review.
Stay responsive — delays often come from unanswered emails or incomplete details.
Student life can be unpredictable, and sometimes the best option is to move on. The severance process exists to make that possible — fairly and responsibly.
We’re here to help guide you through each step, but remember: until a replacement tenant is secured, you’re still responsible for your tenancy.
If you need help understanding your options, contact your local branch:
📍 Lincoln: 01522 410 646 | lincoln@student-housing.co.uk
📍 Nottingham: 01157 848 600 | nottingham@student-housing.co.uk
📍 Hull: hull@student-housing.co.uk
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#1 Student Lettings Agency
Student Housing is a top-rated student lettings agency offering fully furnished, bills-included accommodation across Lincoln, Nottingham, and Hull. Run by former students, we provide hassle-free, transparent housing tailored for university life.
