With some student houses it may be a requirement or you could be given the option to pay a summer retainer which would be half rent usually for July and August. With this landlord and agents tend to let you store your belongings in the property but do not give you access to live in the property over that time. It is important to check what the rules will be during the summer and whether anyone who wants to stay there during the whole summer or for part of the summer will be able to. It is also important to make sure you know if you will be allowed to leave belongings there.