A deposit must normally be paid in advance. The amount varies but one month's rent is typical. Students who rent accommodation in the private sector enter into a legal agreement with the landlord. The University recommends that all students have a written tenancy agreement, though you should not sign anything you do not understand. Receipts should be obtained for any payment made to a landlord, confirming the amount paid and what the payment was for.
Some landlords offer rooms in their own homes.
The tenants will normally have use of the kitchen and perhaps a sitting room. Different legal conditions apply when you rent a room in the landlord's house, and this type of accommodation may be more suitable for those students whose stay in Swansea is only a few months. Some rooms are let in family homes where meals are provided. This type of accommodation is known as lodgings. Some landladies who provide lodgings will also allow use of their kitchens.