With a thriving music scene, an abundance of events, an eclectic cultural calendar and an ever-growing food and drink sector, we can safely say that life in Leeds is never dull.
Read our guide to LeedsYou'll need to bring your own:
- Bedding (it’s a ¾ size bed at Joseph Stones House, except studios which have a double bed)
- Towels
- Crockery (plates, cups and bowls)
- Cutlery (knives, forks, spoons)
- Pans and cooking utensils
- Tupperware for leftovers and lunch boxes
- Clothes hangers
- A laundry bag or bin
- A few things to personalise your room to make it feel like home
Larger Items can usually be ordered and delivered to your accommodation building and delivered to your flat for your arrival.
Our Students’ Union have a Facebook group you can join to meet other new students starting at the conservatoire each September; please email studentunion@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk for more information.
If you are moving into a Unite Students property such as Joseph Stones House, you can connect with your new flatmates using the MyUnite App (free to download from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store).
If you live in Joseph Stones House, or any of the other private halls, you will generally get basic insurance cover as part of the deal – but we strongly advise that you insure your personal belongings, particularly if you will be bringing musical instruments, equipment, a computer etc. with you.
StudentGuard have policies designed for students at a reasonable cost, or you may get cover through your parent/guardian's house insurance.
If your house or flat is solely occupied by full-time students, no.
You can read about council tax exemption for students and apply online at the Leeds City Council website. Once you are fully-enrolled, you can obtain a letter confirming your student status using My Portal.
If you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV or use BBC iPlayer - online, on a TV, or on any device (even a laptop or phone), you will need a TV licence. If you are living in halls and you intend to have your own TV in your room, you must buy your own TV licence. If you are living in a shared house, you will need a TV licence to cover the house. Find out more at the TV Licencing website.
In order for you to receive your room keys, the first accommodation payment is normally required over the summer before enrolment (around the end of August/beginning of September). This is standard procedure by private accommodation companies. Contact your accommodation provider they may be able to set up a payment plan or delay the first payment to suit your circumstances. This can often incur an administration fee.
As you will not receive your student loan until you are fully enrolled at the conservatoire (this triggers the payment system), ensure that you have enough money to cover your first accommodation payment and that you are not relying solely on your loan to pay it.
When arranging rented accommodation you will be expected to sign a contract and pay a deposit of no more than 5 weeks rent in most cases. This is refunded at the end of the rental period unless you have caused any damage or loss to fixtures or furnishings or have unpaid rent.
As part of the Housing Act, deposits paid on Assured Shorthold Tenancies signed after April 2007 are protected. This scheme ensures good practice in deposit handling so that when a tenant pays a deposit and is entitled to receive it back, they can be assured this will happen. You can find more details on the Deposit Protection Scheme website.
We recommend starting your search with Unipol, which lists reputable landlords and provides helpful advice on finding accommodation, including guidance on virtual viewings. Be aware of rental scams and fraud; check the Action Fraud website for advice on how to stay safe.
Before signing a contract, check whether it is a joint or individual tenancy. With a joint tenancy, all tenants share responsibility for the rent and agreement. Under the Renters' Rights Act, if one tenant gives two months' notice to leave, the tenancy ends for everyone, and any remaining tenants would need to arrange a new tenancy with the landlord.
There is a wide range of student accommodation close to Leeds Conservatoire Campus. Please see our website for accommodation that is popular with Conservatoire Students:
An accommodation start-up fund worth £150 is available to applicants who have been receiving benefits or are estranged from their family. To make an application for funding from the scheme and to find out more, please visit the scholarships & bursaries page on our website.
Circumstances may occasionally arise where an applicant will be under 18 on entry to the conservatoire and in this situation, advice will be sought from the Head of Student Support and Wellbeing to ensure that safeguarding obligations are met. It is important to be aware that there are very limited accommodation options available for younger applicants to consider.
It’s the responsibility of parents or guardians to ensure that the accommodation is suitable for your needs.
Please contact the accommodation team by email at accommodation@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk for signposting to accommodation options.
To get in touch with the Accommodation team you can:
Email: accommodation@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Telephone: 0113 222 3411
