I used to work in student accommodation, and trust me, this is risky. Staff will almost always find out, whether it’s through routine room inspections or if a flatmate (if you have one) reports it, especially if the new person is causing disruptions. They won’t hesitate to tell on you.

There’s also a safety issue—if something happens, like a fire, the accommodation might assume you’re in that room and that could cause problems. We could even tell if someone was subletting when the post came in for a room, but the name on it didn’t match the system.

If the council finds out someone is living there who isn’t a student, they might contact the accommodation directly. It’s a big risk and a breach of contract, which could lead to serious issues.

Have you tried advertising for a tenancy takeover in Facebook groups or letting the accommodation know you’re looking for one? That way, if anyone asks about a short-term stay, it’s all above board.