International student questions, answered
Booking a UK home from another country brings real worries — visas, deposits, what happens if plans change. Here are honest answers to the questions students ask us most.
What happens if my student visa is refused?
Report a visa refusal through your booking or contact support with the relevant evidence. Refund eligibility depends on your actual accepted terms, the payment source and applicable rights. A report does not automatically cancel the agreement or confirm a refund; rent, any separate deposit and an optional service are considered under their own terms.
How are rent payments and the security deposit handled?
Card payments use Stripe. The security deposit is recorded separately from rent and commission; the applicable deposit holder, protection or custody arrangements must be reviewed and disclosed before payment. Stripe processing is not escrow or a guarantee of funds. Read about our review process.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Review the actual cancellation and refund terms before agreeing or paying. To request cancellation, use your booking or contact support. The appropriate reviewer considers the agreement, evidence, actual payments and applicable rights; submitting a request does not automatically establish cancellation or a refund.
I can't view the property in person — how do I know it's real?
New listings require review before approval, and an approved booking route requires its applicable current identity, authority and accommodation checks. Registration or a listing is not a guarantee of accuracy, safety or future condition. Check the actual room, provider and agreement, ask for a free in-person or live-video viewing where available, and report inconsistencies before committing. Paid bookings remain paused.
I don't have a UK-based guarantor. Can I still book?
A guarantor is not automatically required for every adult booking. Requirements depend on the landlord's reviewed agreement. You can request guarantor support, but our contact review does not supply a financial guarantee or replace a separately signed guarantee where one is required.
How do payments work — do I pay everything upfront?
Paid bookings remain paused. For an approved new seven-night settling-in stay, actual rent is collected after agreement on its lawful due date; the early 48-hour check does not postpone collection. Review the exact rent, separate deposit holder and due dates before agreeing. Arrival Plus is optional, separate and unavailable for sale until approved and staffed. Existing bookings keep their accepted payment terms.
What if something is wrong when I arrive?
Record the actual access, keys, condition and relevant evidence, then report concerns through your booking or contact support. Both parties can respond. Serious concerns can still be raised after the early 48-hour check. Call 999 for immediate danger; the free Safety Centre provides urgent-help routes. HomeBridge is not an emergency service and cannot promise an immediate response or replacement room.
What if someone asks me to pay outside HomeBridge?
For a HomeBridge booking, use only the payment instructions shown in your booking and contact support about unexpected requests for cash or transfers. Do not assume a request is authorised because it came from a listing contact. Card processing does not make a booking risk-free.
Do you have homes near my university?
Browse accommodation by university to check current inventory. The initial paid pilot is for adults in England. Clearly labelled showcase listings are examples and cannot be booked.
Still have a question?
Contact support about your booking or the review process. Check current service hours; an enquiry does not guarantee an immediate response. For urgent-help routes, visit the free Safety Centre.
Talk to our team