Short Term and Summer Lets

Understanding Short Term and Summer Lets

According to the Office for National Statistics (2024), there were 9.9 million nights spent in short-term let accommodation in England between July and September 2023. This massive figure highlights just how active the property market becomes during the summer months. For university students and recent graduates, short term and summer lets offer a flexible housing solution when you do not want to be tied down to a standard 52-week or 44-week tenancy agreement.

Whether you are staying in your university city to complete a summer internship, attending a pre-sessional course, or simply needing a gap-filler before your next long-term lease begins, short-term rentals provide the exact flexibility you require. Unlike standard assured shorthold tenancies that typically lock you in for a full year, short-term lets can range from a few weeks to a few months. This flexibility allows you to adapt your living situation to your academic and professional needs without paying for an empty room.

Why Choose a Short Term Let for University?

The cost of student housing is rising sharply across the country. According to HEPI (2024), the average annual rent for a room in London from a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation provider reached £13,595. Outside the capital, prices also take a significant portion of student loans. According to NUS Scotland (2022), the average annual rent for purpose-built student accommodation in Scotland reached £6,853. With prices this high, paying for an empty room over the summer while you are back home or travelling simply does not make financial sense.

Opting for a short-term let allows you to pay only for the time you actually need a roof over your head. Here are the primary reasons students and recent graduates look for short-term accommodation:

• Summer internships and placements: If you secure a two-month placement in a new city, you need a flexible base without a long-term commitment.
• Graduation gap: Your current student house contract might end in June, but your graduate job does not start until September.
• Resits and extended study: Postgraduate students often need a quiet space near the university library to prepare for late summer exams or finish a master’s dissertation.
• Avoiding dead rent: If you plan to spend the summer travelling or living with parents, signing a shorter term-time contract and using a short-term let for any overlap saves you paying for unused weeks.

Finding the Best Summer Lets for Students

Finding the right place to live for a few months requires a different approach than securing your standard second-year student house. When looking for student housing options, you have several avenues to explore for short-term stays.

University-Owned Accommodation

Many universities open up their halls of residence during the summer months. Because the majority of undergraduates go home, there is a surplus of empty rooms. Universities often rent these out at highly competitive weekly rates. You do not always have to be a student at that specific university to book a room. Many institutions accept students from other universities who are in the city for work or study over the summer.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation

Private student halls operate similarly to university-owned halls. Companies that run these large blocks frequently offer summer let packages. The benefit here is that all your utility bills, internet access, and sometimes even gym memberships are included in the weekly price, making your budgeting incredibly straightforward.

Private Landlords and Subletting

In the private rented sector, you might find landlords willing to offer a three-month contract to fill a void period between academic years. Alternatively, you might find other students looking to sublet their rooms. If a student has signed a 52-week contract but goes home for the summer, they might want someone to take over their room from July to September.

Budgeting for Short Term Student Accommodation

Short-term lets can sometimes carry a premium price tag compared to long-term leases. Landlords charge more to offset the risk of the property sitting empty. Therefore, mapping out your finances is highly recommended before signing any paperwork.

Let us look at a practical worked example of how to budget for a summer let in a major UK city outside of London. Imagine you secure a summer internship paying the National Minimum Wage, and you need a short-term let for eight weeks.

Worked Example: 8-Week Summer Let Budget

• Income: 8 weeks of full-time work (35 hours per week) at £8.60 per hour (18 to 20 age bracket) = £2,408 total income.
• Rent: £160 per week for 8 weeks = £1,280.
• Deposit: Usually equivalent to 4 weeks of rent = £640 (this is refundable, but you need the cash upfront).
• Utility Bills: £25 per week (if not included in the rent) = £200.
• Food and Groceries: £45 per week = £360.
• Transport: £20 per week = £160.
• Total Expenses (excluding deposit): £2,000.
• Remaining Disposable Income: £408 for the 8-week period.

This calculation shows that while your income covers the costs, the margins are tight. You can use our Student Budget Calculator to run your own numbers based on your specific hourly wage and local rent prices. If you are sharing a short-term private rental with other interns, managing the utilities can be tricky. Use our Bills Splitter Tool to ensure everyone pays their fair share without any arguments.

Legal Rights and Contracts in Short Term Lettings

Just because you are only staying in a property for a few weeks does not mean you abandon your legal rights. The framework governing your stay depends entirely on the type of contract you sign. You can find more detailed guidance on tenancy rights on the Citizens Advice website.

Here is a breakdown of the most common agreement types you will encounter when securing short term and summer lets:

If you sign an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, your landlord must place your deposit in a government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it. If they fail to do this, you could be entitled to compensation. Always read the fine print. Ensure the contract clearly states the start and end dates, the exact rent amount, and what happens regarding utility bills.

Alternatives to Traditional Summer Lets

If traditional short-term lets are too expensive or unavailable in your desired area, you have other options to consider. Being resourceful can save you hundreds of pounds, especially if you are trying to stretch your student money as far as possible over the holiday period.

• Property Guardianship: This involves living in an empty commercial or residential building to secure it against squatters. Rent is exceptionally cheap, often half the market rate. However, you must be flexible, as you can be given as little as 28 days of notice to leave.
• Hostels and Long-Stay Discounts: For stays of two to four weeks, booking a bed in a hostel might be the most economical choice. Many hostels offer significant discounts for long-term guests and include all bills and internet.
• House Sitting: Platforms connect homeowners who are going on holiday with sitters who look after their house and pets for free. You get free accommodation in exchange for feeding the cat and watering the plants.

Let us run a quick calculation comparing a traditional short-term let with a property guardianship over a 12-week summer period.

Worked Example: Traditional Let vs. Property Guardian

• Traditional Let: £180 per week rent + £30 per week bills = £210 per week. Total for 12 weeks = £2,520.
• Property Guardian: £90 per week licence fee + £20 per week bills = £110 per week. Total for 12 weeks = £1,320.
• Total Savings: £1,200 over the summer.

This saving could fund your entire autumn term living costs. If you do move into a private short-term let or guardianship that does not include internet, you will need a flexible 30-day rolling contract rather than a 12-month lock-in. You can find the best flexible deals using our Broadband Comparison Tool. As you prepare for your summer activities, whether that involves an internship or applying for graduate roles, make sure your professional profile is ready by using the CV builder and application tracker in your dashboard.