Private Accommodation GUIDE
Newton park
Congratulations on being offered your place to study at Bath Spa University. The Student
Housing Team has put together this information to give some guidance and advice on
finding suitable accommodation in and around Bath.
Where to live?
Newton Park is located 5 miles outside the centre of Bath, and 10 miles from Bristol, in the
village of Newton St Loe, just off the A39 Wells Rd. It is on the Bristol side of the city and
therefore easily accessible from either Bath or Bristol by public transport.
Bath & surrounding areas
There is a well-established student rental market for shared student houses and selfcontained accommodation in Bath. Where you choose to live in Bath may be determined by
the mode of transport you will be using to travel to Newton Park. Any accommodation that
is in Bath City Centre, Oldfield Park, Lower Weston or Newbridge should be walking distance
to the main bus route to and from campus. Other service buses in Bath go into the centre so
transport from areas further out are possible, as is the option of cycling or driving from
these areas.
There are villages and towns located between Bath and Bristol which would be fairly easy to
travel from, for example Saltford, Keynsham and Brislington. There is always Bristol itself as
well.
Transport
Buses
The number 15 and 15a Bath Spa University bus service runs
between Newton Park campus and Bath city centre via
Newbridge and Oldfield Park. The number 15/15a runs every
15 minutes from approximately 07:30 until 18:30, then every
30 minutes until approximately 21:30 and hourly until
approximately 2:30. The service is reduced at the weekends
and University holidays, for more information please visit the
First Bus website.
There are numerous other bus services that run from other areas of Bath into the centre,
enabling you to then get the number 15 service. See the network map for more information.
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/journey_planning/maps/bath.php
First bus operates a frequent bus service from Bristol to Bath which stops at the Globe pub,
which is located near to end of the main University drive, leaving a 15 min walk to campus
(or a hop onto the number 15 service if passing).


339/649/X39 runs from Bristol via Brislington, Keynsham and Saltford along the A4
stopping
at
The
Globe,
before
progressing
into
Bath
itself.
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bristol_bath/journey_planning/timetables/index.
php?operator=3&service=339/649/X39&page=1&redirect=no
If you are studying at any of our other campuses, please consult our website.
Trains
Train services run from Bristol to Bath Spa
approximately every 15 minutes and the
journey takes 11-15 minutes. Trains also
arrive at Bath Spa from Chippenham and
other cities further afield. To find out more
please visit the First Great Western website.
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
From Bath Spa train station you can get the number 15/15a bus service to Newton Park
from the bus station, a few minutes’ walk away.
Car Parking
Bath
Parking in Bath is at a premium and the closer that you get to the city centre; the more
difficult it can be to park.
If you are planning to bring a car to Bath then please be aware that there are permit
controlled parking zones in most areas of the city. To find out more about the costs of
purchasing a permit and the number permitted per household, please visit the Bath & North
East Somerset Council website.
Bath Controlled Parking Zones
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/transportandstreets/Parking/streetparkingzones/Pages/Bath%
20CPZ.aspx
Resident Parking Permit information
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/transportandstreets/Parking/streetparkingpermits/pages/Resid
entParkingPermits.aspx
HOME SEARCH
Bath – Student Letting
Bath Spa University invites local landlords to
advertise their properties via the Bath Spa
Studentpad website http://www.bathspastudentpad.co.uk/. This website is only available
for students of Bath Spa. Studentpad has a home search function, which enables you to
search for properties to rent in Bath.
In addition to this there are different message boards where you can post and reply to
messages sent by other students. This is a great place to meet other students looking to rent
in the private sector. We have recently created a message board specifically for PGCE,
Master and Postgraduate students looking to rent in the private sector.
You will require passwords to access the homesearch and message board functions. Please
email accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk with your student details and we will provide these
to you.
We have lots of useful information about renting in the private sector on the Student
Housing web pages http://thehub.bathspa.ac.uk/services/housing.
Please be aware that student lets are commonly for a period of 10 months and run from
September to June. If you are planning to stay in Bath during holidays and vacations, you
may wish to consider using a private letting agency to find a property.
Bath - Private Letting
With a private letting agency, tenancy
agreements are usually for a
minimum of 6 months with a rolling
contract thereafter. Each agency has
different conditions of tenancy so it is
important to check all of the details
before signing a contract. If you
would like some advice about your
tenancy agreement, then please
contact us at Student Housing Services. If we cannot answer your question, then we will
advise you on where to go to get the necessary support. Whilst we are not legal advisors
and cannot endorse your tenancy agreement, we can give you tips and advice on what
should be in a tenancy agreement.
Bristol
We would recommend utilising http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/property and mainstream
websites such as:
www.rightmove.co.uk
www.student.spareroom.co.uk
http://www.primelocation.com
Guarantor & References
Please be aware that Landlords and Letting Agents may require a guarantor, proof of
income and references when you sign up for a property. If you are an International Student
you may be required to provide a UK based guarantor and/or payment of rent in advance as
security. All landlords would normally require a deposit in advance; legally the maximum
amount that can be charged for a deposit is equivalent to two months’ rent. If you are
renting through an agency, then additional agency fees are usually payable. These can vary
significantly from agency to agency, so make sure you find out what the agency fees are
before you sign up for a property.
HOME STAY
We have developed links with local families in Bath who
rent out rooms for students of Bath Spa University. Our
home stay hosts are based all around the city, so we can
usually find a host that will suit your needs. Living with a
host means that they will provide breakfast and evening
meals Monday – Sunday and lunches over the weekend.
If you are interested in finding out more about what
Home Stay has to offer please contact the Student
Housing Team on 01225 875843 or
email accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk
Finding Accommodation Tips
·
You will find that the prices of accommodation in Bath and the surrounding areas will
vary significantly. Bath is a city with more entertainment and facilities in the city centre with
a big tourist trade, so the rental prices reflect this. Areas of Bristol can also compare in
rental prices, whereas on the outskirts of both cities you may find it slightly cheaper.
·
If you have a conditional place at Bath Spa University, then we would advise that you
wait for your exam results before you sign up for any accommodation options. If you sign a
tenancy agreement and then fail to take up your place at Bath Spa, you will still be liable to
pay the rent for the contract length.
·
Ensure you have viewed the property and are happy with the terms of any tenancy
agreement you will be asked to sign before making a commitment.
·
Make sure you meet everyone that you are planning to live with in person before you
sign a tenancy or licence agreement.
If you need any help or support while you are deciding on your accommodation options,
then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

Please make sure an advert is genuine. Do not pay any money before undertaking a viewing
of the property.

The Student Housing Office is happy to provide guidance on tenancy legislation and provide
you with a copy of the Bath Student Housing Handbook if required.
Bath Spa University does not endorse any of the agents or websites listed. Please ensure you are
fully aware of the commitment you are making and are happy with the property. Any decision to
rent a property utilising the information provided is done
so with your own discretion.
Bath Letting
Agencies
Student focused Agents
Roman City Property Management
Tel: 01225 332030
24 Claverton Buildings, Widcombe, Bath,
BA2 4LD
Trustease Residential Letting
Tel: 01225 428884
16 St. Peter’s Terrace, Bath, BA2 3BT
Madison Oakley
Tel: 01225 421441
53 Moorland Road, BA2 3PJ
Useful websites
The websites below are house and flat share groups where you can find accommodation with other
students or residents in Bath.
www.roombuddies.com
www.easyroommate.com
www.spareroom.co.uk
www.flatmateclick.co.uk
www.flatmaterooms.co.uk
Contact us
Student Housing Team
Steward’s Lodge, Bath Spa University, Newton Park Campus,
Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BN
Tel: 01225 876279 Email: accommodation@bathspa.ac.uk