(And why it's important you pay it)

If you’re new to Heriot-Watt and sorting out your student accommodation, you’ll quickly come across something called an Advance Rent Payment (ARP). Here’s what it actually means and why it’s important:

The basics

Once you’ve been offered a room in university accommodation, you’ll need to:

1. Accept your offer online through the accommodation portal.
2. Pay a 4-week advance rent payment within 48 hours of accepting.

This step is essential. Without it, your room isn’t secured.

Why do I have to pay it?

Think of the ARP as a way of locking in your place in halls. It shows the university you’re committed and covers your first rent instalment. So when term begins, you’ve already got your first four weeks paid for.

What it’s not

It’s easy to confuse this with a deposit, but it’s not the same thing. A deposit is usually held back until the end of your tenancy and refunded if there’s no damage. The ARP doesn’t work like that. It’s rent you’re paying upfront, and it won’t be coming back to you at the end of the year.

Key things to remember

• You’ve only got 48 hours to make the payment once you’ve accepted your offer, so don’t leave it too late.
• Make sure you’ve accepted your accommodation offer before paying; otherwise the system won’t link it up.
• Budget for it in advance. It’s not an extra cost, just your first month’s rent brought forward.

In short

Your Advance Rent Payment is simply the first four weeks of your rent, paid early to secure your place in halls. It’s not a deposit, so don’t expect it back at the end, but it does mean you’ll start your tenancy with rent already covered.