Booking & Payments

Booking is completed online through our student portal, Portal X.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your city, property, room type, and tenancy duration
2. Select Book Now and you will be asked to register on our student portal, Portal X
3. Complete your online application, finalising the room and tenancy details.
4. Your application will then be reviewed by the site team
5. Once approved, you’ll receive an email asking you to:
   • Log back into your portal
   • Pay the advance rent (approximately £99, varies by city)
   • Sign your tenancy agreement
   • Arrange for your guarantor to complete their agreement (if paying by instalments)

Important: You’ll have 7 days from approval to complete your booking before it is automatically cancelled. If your booking is cancelled you will need to start the process again by simply logging back into your portal.  Please note in some instances your original room selection may no longer be available.

Depending on availability, you may be able to choose:

• Your room type
• Preferred building/block
• A room close to friends
• A quieter area within the property

Let us know your preference during booking and we’ll do our best to accommodate it.

Definitely. With just an advance rent payment, your room at Flow is secured. And if plans change, we’ve got you covered — a full refund is available as part of our Risk Free Booking offer, giving you total flexibility for your university adventure. Please review our terms and conditions for full details.

Yes — if you are intending to study at a recognised institution, then you can book before receiving your offer, however we will require proof of your student status/confirmation of offer letter prior to checking in.

If your university place is withdrawn because you did not receive the required grades, please contact the Flow Student bookings team 3 days of receiving your notification and no later than 1^st September as our No Place No Pay booking offer may apply.

Depending on your tenancy terms and supporting documentation, you may be eligible for cancellation or release from your booking.

If your university place is still pending, our bookings team can guide you through your options.

Yes — if you and your friends book together, we’ll always try to place you:

• In the same flat
• In neighbouring rooms
• In the same building

This is subject to availability, so booking early gives you the best chance of staying together. Please contact the site team when placing your booking so we can note your preference.

If you do want to live with your friends, why not check out our Refer A Friend offer and see if you are eligible.

For privacy reasons we’re unable to share details of other residents. However, once you’ve moved in you’ll have every opportunity to meet your flatmates — and our social events programme is a great way to get to know people across the whole property.

We always try to give existing residents the opportunity to rebook their room for the following year. Speak to the site team about your options — early expressions of interest give you the best chance of securing the same room.

Yes. You have full access to view and download your tenancy agreement at any time through the resident portal. If you have any questions about the terms, the site team will be happy to help.

No — Flow Student does not require a security deposit.

Please note: any charges relating to damages, lost keys, or breaches of your tenancy agreement would still be handled in line with your tenancy terms and conditions.

Floor plans vary by property and room type. The site team can provide layout information for your specific building — just get in touch and they’ll be happy to help.

Yes — short stay summer accommodation is available at selected Flow Student residences, subject to availability. Bookings run from a minimum of 7 nights up to a maximum of 3 months. For academic year bookings, standard tenancy lengths apply. Please contact the site team or visit our website for more information.

Please contact the site team directly to discuss this. Any addition of an occupant to your tenancy would be subject to approval and the terms of your tenancy agreement.

If you choose to pay by instalments, you will need a guarantor.

If you pay in full upfront, a guarantor is not required.

A guarantor agrees to cover outstanding rent or tenancy charges if payments are missed.

Tenancy lengths and start dates vary by property. Please contact the site team or check availability on the website for your chosen location to find out what options are available.

We understand that sometimes plans need to change. Our booking guarantee means you may be able to cancel your booking at no charge if you don’t achieve the grades required for your chosen university, your visa application is declined, or you decide to attend a university in a city where Flow doesn’t have accommodation. Please review our full cancellation policy for details.

This depends on when you cancel and the circumstances involved. Please review our cancellation policy at flowstudent.co.uk/cancellation-policy and contact the site team as soon as possible if your plans change. The earlier you get in touch, the more options we’ll have available to you.

If your visa is delayed or refused, contact our bookings team within 72 hours of being informed and no later than 20^th September.

We’ll review your circumstances in line with your tenancy agreement and cancellation policy. Supporting documentation may be required.

The earlier you contact us, the more we can help.

We don’t charge a booking fee, Instead, students are typically asked to pay an advance rent during the booking process which forms part of the total rent due.  This is  deducted from the 1^st instalment (and is normally £99, although it can vary between location).  The payment is made via Stripe payments.

What do I need during the booking process?

You may be asked to provide:

• Full personal details (including address and nationality)
• Proof of student status or university offer letter, or if you are studying/intending to study at a educational institution
• Your course name and duration/start year
• Valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)
• Guarantor details (if paying in instalments)
• Card Payment details for the advance rent payment (where applicable)

Having these ready will help speed up your application.

You may be asked to provide: 

• Full personal details (including address and nationality)  

• Proof of student status or university offer letter, or if you are studying/intending to study at a educational institution 

• Your course name and duration/start year 

• Valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)  

• Guarantor details (if paying in instalments)  

• Card Payment details for the advance rent payment (where applicable)  

Having these ready will help speed up your application. 

Yes — we accept both UK and international guarantors.

Guarantors must generally:

• Be 18 years or older
• Demonstrate financial stability
• Provide valid ID and verification documents

UK guarantors must be UK-based and provide proof of address.
International guarantors may be accepted subject to additional checks and must agree that the guarantee is governed by English law.

You can also use a Guarantor Service like Housing Hand  https://housinghand.com

Your rent payment schedule will be set out in your tenancy agreement. You can view your payment dates and instalments at any time through your Flow resident portal. If you have any questions about your payment schedule, please speak to the site team.

Rent payments are made through your Flow resident portal. Log in to view your payment schedule, amounts due, and to make payments. If you need help with the portal, the site team will be happy to assist.

No — Flow Student does not accept cash payments. All rent payments are made online through your resident portal.

If you’re worried about making a payment, please come and speak to us as soon as possible. We’re here to help you figure out the best approach and keeping us in the loop early means we have more options available to support you.

If a payment remains outstanding beyond 14 days of the due date, we may need to contact your guarantor and additional charges may apply in line with your tenancy agreement. Please don’t wait — if you’re struggling, get in touch with the site team as early as possible.