Morgan Douglas

Student lettings and property management in Durham

Morgan Douglas is an independent letting agency based in Durham that concentrates on housing for university students. Its stated aim is to remove one of the pressures of student life by offering homes in prime locations close enough to campus. Alongside lettings, the agency provides property management and maintenance services, and it works with both student tenants and landlords.

The team describes more than 50 years of combined experience in the sector and presents itself as a point of contact for advice and support on both sides of a tenancy.

Finding and securing a student home

The agency sets out a three-step route from browsing to signing. Prospective tenants can review available homes on the website, where listings include details, pricing and 360° tours, and shortlist candidates from there. Viewings can then be arranged in person or by video call through an online booking form, with confirmation sent quickly so that groups can move on the properties they prefer.

Once a group has chosen a property, Morgan Douglas prepares the contract and guides tenants through the following stages. The agency presents this process as transparent, without hidden surprises or complicated steps.

Tenancy requests, deposits and guarantors

According to the agency's published guidance, a tenancy is requested by email, stating the property address and the full name, phone number and email address of each tenant; a personal email account is preferred over a university one. Agreements are issued on a first come, first served basis, so the first group to request a property receives the contract. Tenants then have 48 hours to read the agreement, enter their own and their guarantor's details, sign and pay the deposit.

Deposits are protected through My Deposits, described as a government-assured deposit scheme operated in line with legislation. On guarantors, the agency states that, following legislative changes, it can no longer accept non-UK guarantors; international tenants are directed to Housing Hand as an alternative guarantor service.

Although the agency focuses on university students, it also lets to non-students, who would be liable for council tax. Where bills are included in the rent, the agency notes that this often covers water, electricity, gas and internet, but that the arrangement varies by property and landlord, so the tenancy agreement (Clause 8) or the office should be consulted for clarification.

Viewings and rent payments

Viewings require 24 hours' notice to the sitting tenants. Rent is set up by direct debit as the tenancy approaches, arranged and viewed through the Concurrent portal, the same system used to sign the tenancy agreement; questions about payments are handled by the finance department.

Support for landlords

Morgan Douglas offers landlords a market appraisal and frames letting a property, particularly for first-time landlords, as a process it aims to make straightforward and tailored to each owner. Its landlord-facing work covers lettings, management and maintenance, with the agency positioning itself as a single point of handling for the different aspects of property management.

Out-of-hours emergencies

Beyond ordinary office hours, tenants have access to a 24/7 emergency helpline staffed in-house, intended for urgent issues that cannot wait for the next working day.

International students and code of practice

The website includes a dedicated section for international students and publishes a Student Letting Code of Practice. The agency also operates a blog and provides online forms for registering interest and enquiring about properties.