Moving away from home is a big step — and we're here to support you in finding a place to live while you study at Emil Dale Academy in Letchworth Garden City.

We offer an introductory accommodation service — we help match students with local hosts, landlords, or university halls, but please note: it is your responsibility to secure your final housing agreement directly with the host family, landlord, or university.

That said, we've never had a student go without housing, and we'll do everything we can to guide and support you.

Types of Accommodation

1. Host Families

Mainly for Sixth Form Students

• Local families rent out a room in their home — many have worked with us for years.
• All hosts are DBS checked through EDA.
• A supportive, homely environment for younger students or those under 18.
• Weekly rent: £90–£150
• Hosts may be based in Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage, Baldock, Stotfold, Biggleswade, and other nearby towns.
• Travel to Emil Dale is essential to plan for.

2. Boarding House at St Francis College

For Female Students on the Sixth Form Course

• Boarding rooms at the local, independent girls' school St Francis College.
• Three–four minutes' walk to the main Emil Dale building.
• House Parents living on-site within the boarding house.
• Breakfast and dinner provided daily.
• Access to the boarding kitchen, if required.
• Laundry service and regular bedding changes included.
• Access to the fitness suite.
• Access to the dance studio and swimming pool at weekends.

The offering is for full weeks (including weekends), for Emil Dale term-time only. Payment is made to St Francis monthly, via direct debit. Spaces are limited, and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for boarding will open in April 2027.

3. Shared Houses / Flat Shares

Typically for Degree & CertHE Students

• Shared student houses, rented through private landlords.
• Weekly rent: £100–£150
• Utilities: budget around £50–£70 per month
• Most students arrange housing in August or September — no need to panic if things aren't sorted straight away.
• Letchworth, Hitchin, Stevenage, and Baldock are popular commuter towns, accommodation is often not advertised until relatively close to the move-in date, therefore students tend to secure housing in August/ September. This is also when graduates usually move out of their current accommodation.
• We also have many students who choose to live in and around Hatfield, as it is a large university town with accommodation often well suited to student living. Hatfield offers both rail links to the local area and straightforward road access to the Academy.

4. University Halls of Residence

For Degree & CertHE Students

• We can connect you to student halls at the University of Bedfordshire in Bedford/Luton.
• Students are also eligible to join student halls at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield.

How It Works

• We act as an introductory agency
• We build and maintain a list of trusted local landlords and DBS-checked host families, and we update this list throughout the year.
• In July, all new students are invited to an Induction Day at Emil Dale. You'll meet your year group and explore the local area, including where you might want to live.
• You are responsible for contacting and securing accommodation, but we're here to help every step of the way.
• We've never had a student left without housing — we're proud of that track record.

EDA Accommodation Facebook Group

We also run a private Facebook group for Emil Dale students, where:

• Students can connect with each other
• Hosts and landlords post available rooms
• You can form house groups and get advice
• The group is updated regularly, and it's a great way to find your future flatmates.

Housing Benefit

Some Sixth Form students may be eligible for Housing Benefit through Hertfordshire Council.

Eligibility:

• Under 19 at the start of your course
• Enrolled in a Further Education programme
• Living in private accommodation (not owned or affiliated with EDA)

Visit the council website for more details.

Please note: Emil Dale is not responsible for any Housing Benefit decisions or changes to government policy.

Important Notes

• Students must be prepared to travel — many hosts and student houses are in surrounding towns.
• Travel costs and time should be factored into your planning.
• If you're under 18, landlords generally won't rent properties to you — in this case, a host family is the best route.
• If you already have private accommodation arranged, please let us know so we can support accordingly.

Are You a Host or Landlord?

We're always looking for new hosts and landlords to join our network!

If you:

• Have a room to rent
• Own a property suitable for student tenants
• Want to support young performers and creatives

Please email: accommodation@emildale.co.uk