Not happy with your current room? Don’t worry — there are options available. This guide walks you through what you can do next, including how to apply for a room move or swap.
Thinking about changing rooms?
There can be many reasons why you might want to change rooms after settling in — from financial circumstances to personal preferences. We want everyone living on campus to enjoy their experience as much as possible. While many students are happy where they are, we know that some may find their current room or living situation isn’t quite the right fit. That’s why we offer a room move and room swap programme, which opens from November onwards.
Why November?
Good question! We ask students to wait until November to give everyone a chance to settle in and find their feet at university. Living with new people – often for the first time – can take some adjustment as you get to know each other and build a comfortable routine.
If you’re finding things tricky, take a look at our Happy Household or How to Handle Housemate Conflict blogs for tips on living well with others.
That said, if you’re struggling with ongoing issues that haven’t been resolved – such as noise, cleanliness, or general flat dynamics – our Student Support and Wellbeing Team is here to help. They have lots of experience supporting students through these kinds of situations and can even arrange flat or house meetings as a neutral third party.
And of course, if you have a pressing reason to move (for example, a medical need), you can contact either the Student Support and Wellbeing Team or the Accommodation Office to discuss your options.
There can be a number of reasons why you may want to change rooms after settling in from financial to personal reasons. We want our students living on campus to enjoy their experience as much as possible, and while many of you will be happy with the room you’re living in there will be some of you who are not. This is why we facilitate a room move or room swap programme from November onwards.
What you need to know about room moves and swaps:
What’s the difference between a room move and a room swap?
A room move happens when there’s an empty room available that we can move you into.
A room swap is a direct exchange between two students currently living on campus.
We help match and manage both room moves and room swaps through our online room move form, from 9.30am on 3 November 2025. The form is quick and easy to complete – just follow the on-screen instructions to submit your request.
Please note that most of our accommodation areas are usually full, so while we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request, we can’t guarantee that a room move or swap will be available.
If your room move is approved and completed – and you haven’t arranged a direct swap yourself (see below) – a £50 change of contract fee will be added to your student account. You’ll need to pay this online within two weeks of moving.
Authorised room moves only
Please remember that only room moves or swaps authorised by the Accommodation Office are permitted. Your accommodation contract must be updated if you move, and this process also ensures:
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We have an accurate record of where everyone is living for fire, safety, and security purposes.
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You’re being charged the correct rent for your room.
If an unauthorised move or swap is discovered, you’ll be required to return to your original room and may face disciplinary action under the University’s Non-Academic Regulations for Students.
In short – don’t move or swap rooms without authorisation from the Accommodation Office first!
Finding students to swap rooms with
If there’s a vacant room available in the area you’d like to move to, we can arrange a room move for you – no swap needed. However, if the area you want to move to is already full, you’ll need to find another student who’s willing to swap rooms with you.
Sometimes, we may already have a student in the area you’re interested in who’s looking to move to your location. If so, we’ll do our best to match you up and get in touch about a possible swap. When matching, we also consider factors such as academic year (to avoid placing new and returning students together) and gender balance within flats or houses.
Finding your own room swap
Many students find potential swaps through social media. It’s a good idea to post that you’re looking for a room swap — include details such as the type of accommodation you have (for example, Keynes en-suite), and the type of room or area you’re hoping to move to.
👉 Do not include your full address in public posts.
You can also look out for posts from other students looking to swap and comment if you’re interested. Remember:
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Only one direct room swap is allowed.
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Both students must already have active accommodation agreements.
Once you’ve found a match
When you’ve both agreed to swap, please email the Accommodation Office using your Kent email addresses and make sure both students are copied in. In your email, include the full addresses of the rooms you wish to swap.
We’ll then reply to confirm, reject, or request more information about your proposed swap.
✅ If your swap is approved and you’ve found your own match, the £50 change of contract fee does not apply.
Before swapping, please make sure your room and shared spaces are clean and free of any unwanted items so that they’re ready for the next student to move straight in.
What if I want to move off campus?
The information above only applies if you’re looking to stay living on campus.
If you’d like to move out of university accommodation but continue studying at Kent, you’ll need to find a replacement tenant to take over your room before you can be released from your accommodation agreement.
A replacement tenant must:
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Be a Kent student on a full-time course.
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Not already have a university accommodation contract for this academic year.
It’s really important that you find a suitable replacement before signing any off-campus accommodation agreement, to avoid being liable for two contracts at once.
If you’re planning to move out because you’re leaving the University, there’s a different process to follow.
In either case, you can check our FAQs for guidance or contact the Accommodation Office as soon as possible – we’ll help you understand what steps to take next.
That’s the room move and swapping process in full! Hopefully you now feel clear on what your next steps are – but if you have any questions or need further support, get in touch with us in the Accommodation Office. We’re always happy to help.