STUDENTS in Oxford are signing expensive leases almost a year early to secure their homes because of pressure from landlords and letting agents, it was claimed last night.

About 1,500 students at both universities have signed a petition calling on agents to adopt a new ethical code of practice.

It follows accusations that companies rake in thousands of pounds by urging students to sign up for houses as much as 10 months before they move in, and charging hefty holding fees.

Brookes student union adviser Jo Cox said first year students were pressured in October and November to sign up for houses for the following academic year, before they had time to decide who they wanted to live with.

She estimated students were paying up to £775 each towards their following year’s housing by the end of February, when they could pick up cheaper deals if they waited until later in the year. Most have to pay an administration fee, a holding fee, a deposit and at least the first month’s rent up front. Some international students, without UK-based guarantors, are asked for six months rent in advance.

Fine art student Evelyn Jones, 19, signed up for a house for her second year just a month after starting at Brookes.

She said; “Everyone was urged to sign up straight away or lose out. They pretty much pressured us to sign up for a house and we had to pay all the fees up front.

“Now I know I have moved in with the wrong people, and should have waited to find people more suitable.”

Wendy Dant, from the Brookes student advice centre, said: “It really is not fair on the students to make them make big financial decisions when they’re not ready to. No-one else would be asked to sign up for a property 10 months in advance.”

The proposed ethical code of practice would ask letting agents not to pursue students to sign contracts early, and not to advertise properties for the next academic year until February 1.

Chris Shahab, of letting agents Hutton Parker, said: “I know of one letting agent this year who put their list of properties (for the following academic year) out at the beginning of October, when tenants had only moved in in September. Landlords are scared they’re not going to let their properties out.”

He said the company would be happy to sign up to an ethical code of practice, but it needed all firms in the city to agree for it to work.