FAQs
Browse through some of our most frequently asked questions.
FAQs
Booking
Single bookings
Our online application process is really simple and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Step 1 – Fill out the application form, indicating your room type preferences.
Step 2 – We will check our availability and allocate you to the most suitable room we have available.
Step 3 – Once you receive confirmation from us that your application has been successful, head to our booking portal to pay your booking fee.
Step 4 – Fill in some details about you and your guarantor and upload some proof of ID, student status and address documents. You’ve got 7 days from paying your booking fee to complete this.
Step 5 – Sign your tenancy agreement. Once we’ve reviewed your documents, you and your guarantor can sign your tenancy agreement online.
Group bookings
For the first time, we’re offering group bookings so that you and your friends can easily live together.
Step 1 – one person fills out the application form on behalf of the whole group, providing names and email addresses for each person
Step 2 – we will check our availability and match your group to the most suitable flat we have available.
Step 3 – Once you receive confirmation from us that your application has been successful, head to our booking portal to pay your booking fee. You’ll have three days from receiving your room offer in which to do so.
Step 4 – fill in some details about yourself, your course and your guarantor and upload some proof of ID, student status and address documents. You’ve got 7 days from paying your booking fee to complete this.
Step 5 – sign your tenancy agreement. Once we’ve reviewed your documents, you and your guarantor can sign your tenancy agreement online.
Yes! We are offering group bookings for the first time this year. Take a look above at how the group booking process works.
We offer 45-week tenancies as standard so you don’t have to pay to live with us over the summer if you don’t want to. Summer stays are available of course so you can move in early or extend your stay over the summer if you wish. For the academic year 2024/25, our academic year contracts begin on Saturday 31st August and end on Saturday 12th July 2025.
Yes. You can book with confidence at Rivermead Islands knowing that if you do not get your grades, you can cancel your booking free of charge. We will require confirmation from the university. Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions for more details.
Our cancellation policy is set out in our Booking Terms and Conditions. Please contact us to discuss your cancellation.
Rent charges vary depending on which type of room you book. All our prices are set out in the booking process and range from £165 per week to £220 per week. Click here to find out more about our different room types.
You will need to pay a £300 booking fee in order to secure your room. If you proceed with your booking at Rivermead Islands, this will then become your security deposit and will be placed in a registered deposit scheme for the duration of your tenancy.
Yes. A guarantor is usually a parent or guardian and will be required to step in and pay your rent if you don’t do so. Your guarantor must be UK-based. If you are unable to provide a UK-based guarantor, you will need to arrange for a third party guarantor service like Housing Hand to act as your guarantor. More information about Housing Hand can be found here: https://housinghand.co.uk/guarantor-service/
You will need to pay a £300 booking fee in order to secure your room. If you proceed with your booking at Rivermead Islands, this will then become your security deposit and will be placed in a registered deposit scheme for the duration of your tenancy.
We have a small number of single-sex flats available. You will be able to indicate your preference for a single-sex flat when making your booking. Priority will be given to those who require single-sex accommodation for religious reasons.
We have a variety of rooms available at Rivermead Islands to provide for a wide range of accessibility requirements. Please proceed with the booking process and select room in your desired rent band. You will be asked about your requirements as part of the booking process, which will help us work with you to find a room suitable for you. Once you have made your booking, we will get in touch with you to discuss your requirements in more detail and ensure we provide a room that is right for you.
Paying my rent
Rent is due in four instalments, in August, September, January and April. These instalment dates are designed to fit in with student finance payment dates and are as follows:
August – 4 weeks’ rent
September – 17 weeks’ rent
January – 14 weeks’ rent
April – 10 weeks’ rent
Many of our residents will receive student loans and our rent payment dates are designed to match these dates. If you are having financial difficulties, you should speak to the Rivermead Islands team as soon as possible.
Practicalities
Yes. Laundry facilities are available for the exclusive use of Rivermead Islands residents on the ground floor of The Lofts.
Yes. Weekly cleaning of your bedroom and kitchen is included in your rent but it remains your responsibility to keep these areas clean and tidy. Your bedroom and kitchen will be cleaned once per week on a designated day. You may occasionally ask the cleaners to skip your room, but this should only be in exceptional circumstances.
All post will be received by the concierge team and stored securely at Reception. You will receive a collection notification through the RI app.
Lifestyle and Community
Yes. Resident safety is our top priority. Buildings, flats and bedrooms have secure entry systems, and the site is monitored by CCTV. Our concierge team is also present and contactable on-site 24/7.
Yes. We have partnered with Glide to provide high-speed internet throughout Rivermead Islands at no extra cost.
No. Smoking or vaping is not permitted in any part of our buildings or anywhere on site, except for the designated smoking area.
No. Drugs and ‘legal highs’ are not permitted anywhere on-site and will be confiscated without residents’ consent.
No. Dual occupancy is not permitted. You are permitted to have guests stay with you occasionally but they should be accompanied by you at all times and should not keep belongings in you room or kitchen.
No. Subletting is not permitted.
Yes. You can have overnight guests stay with you occasionally. You are responsible for the behaviour of any guests you bring to the Islands.
No. You are welcome to come and go as you please. If returning home late we would ask you to respect your fellow residents and do so quietly.
We arrange a welcome party each year for our residents at City Bowl, our on-site sports bar and bowling alley. We also arrange a number of social events throughout the year, so you won’t be short of opportunities to make friends.
Yes. City Bowl, our on-site sports bar and bowling alley, offers a wide range of food and drink which can be purchased in person or through RI (our resident concierge app). There are also vending machines offering food, drink and other essentials.
What to Bring
Residents are strongly discouraged from bringing a car as there is no resident parking available on-site or nearby. The site is right next to campus and a ten-minute street-lit walk from the city centre. The site is on several bus routes and a car-sharing scheme is available.
Yes. We have plenty of bike racks available.
No pets are permitted except for registered assistance dogs (by prior agreement).
No. You should bring your own bedding and towels. Double-bed sized bedding is suitable for your bed. Bedding and towel packs are available for purchase through RI (our resident concierge app) and can be delivered to your room in advance so that your room is ready for you when you arrive.
No. You should bring your own kitchen equipment. Please note that all hobs are induction hobs, so your pots and pans will need to be induction compatible. Kitchen equipment packs are available for purchase through RI (our resident concierge app) and can be delivered to your room in advance so that your room is ready for you when you arrive. We will be putting you in touch with your fellow flatmates during the summer prior to your stay commencing in September. We would suggest that you discuss kitchen equipment with your flatmates to ensure you all have enough space in the kitchen.
Get in Touch
Do you have a question that you don’t see answered here?
Send one of our friendly team members a message.
Email: info@rivermeadislands.co.uk
Get in Touch
Do you have a question that you don’t see answered here?
Send one of our friendly team members a message.
Email: info@rivermeadislands.co.uk
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