To sleep, perchance to dream!

Disclaimer – this article is meant to encourage students to research their accommodation options before arriving at university and to inform them of what to expect from their chosen institution.  It is not a definitive guide to on and off campus or privately let accommodation.  Every university will be different and have a range of options to suit you.

So, you have accepted your offer of a place at university. Congratulations! Your next priority will be researching where you are going to live, in university managed accommodation or in a private let. Your choice probably boils down to two elements - cost versus convenience. Before you make your choice let me help you consider the essential factors.

University Managed Accommodation -   ‘on-campus’, ‘off-campus’ university villages or privately let student residences

On-campus – consists of purpose-built accommodation blocks or Halls of Residence designed with the student in mind; convenient for the Library, the Students’ Union, shops, banks, social facilities and the gym or sports fields. The advantages are obvious, convenience, easy living and social benefits, creating a conducive atmosphere for your studies. 
Some universities will have student villages, purpose-built residences designed for student living which are a short distance from the university.  They will usually be within a secure environment, on a route to the university which is well served by public transport.

Many universities offer guaranteed university accommodation for their first year students. If you can get it, then go for it, it’s a great way to settle into university life, to make friends and a fairly painless way to learn how to budget and look after yourself. 

The accommodation choice may vary according to budget, from single study rooms in flats with a shared bathroom and kitchen to the more luxurious student rooms with a connecting bathroom all to yourself!  They may be single sex or mixed depending upon your preferences. If you’re not keen on cooking check whether there are university based catering facilities nearby.  Some institutions will have catered halls where all your meals are included in the weekly rent. There may be a meal plan whereby you load a ‘credit card’ with some cash and use it to buy food or meals at various outlets throughout the university – you don’t have to return to your halls of residence to eat! You will also need to check out whether there is a phone in your room and if you have access to the internet. Whatever your choices and budget you need to ask how rooms are allocated, when you need to apply, whether there is a deposit and if (and when) it is refundable if you change your mind or don’t make your offer.

University managed accommodation – may mean purpose built residences in student villages, or  accredited privately owned houses, let by  landlords to the University.  The University takes upon the management of the properties and sub-lets them to the students. Your contract will be with the University Accommodation Office and not directly with the Landlord. 

There are several advantages of being in university managed accommodation. If there is a problem, such as the heating not working or a burst pipe, the university’s Accommodation Office will undertake to get it fixed, you don’t have to deal directly with the Landlord. Another advantage of university managed accommodation is that it will have been accredited by the local council, having been inspected and passed the minimum standard for letting. Accredited properties should have good locks on strong doors and windows, will have passed fire and electrical regulations and be in a good enough condition for habitation – ie not damp or with dry rot.  It should also be suitably furnished for student living, containing a desk and good lighting. Please note that Accredited property is not a legal requirement and standards may vary depending upon the area.

Letting Lengths – 30, 39 or 50 weeks – that is the question!

Why are there different letting lengths of rooms in university managed accommodation?

If you are a fresher, (first-year student) and intending to return home for the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays  you may want to opt for a 30 week let.  You may have to vacate your room, including all your possessions, during the vacations. If this is the case you’ll need to check to see if there is a specific place to leave your clothes and belongings.

If you have taken a 30 week let room because you intended to go home during the holidays but change your mind you may still be able to move into a different room during the holidays and just pay extra rent. 

Some students will need to stay in student residences for the Christmas and Easter breaks hence the option for a 39 week let and if you wish to stay throughout the year you can opt for a 50 week let. 

Remember that any debts that a student incurs, (even if is an unpaid library fine) the University has the right to stop the student from graduating!

The support system

Student Residences will have a support system of staff or student mentors (possibly postgraduate students) who are there to oversee the university accommodation ensuring that students are safe, keep within a reasonable noise level at all times and to help students who are ill or homesick.  

Out in the wide world

Some institutions will offer student built accommodation in the first year but expect students to live outside in individually let houses in the second and third years.  At first it may appear daunting to get a group of friends together and take on the responsibility of looking after yourself in a house organising the cooking, cleaning and paying of the bills.  This process is seen to be part of your university experience and an important preparation in leaving education and getting out to work. Most students see it as an enjoyable and fun part of university life and there is usually a great deal of help at hand from the Accommodation Office or the Students’ Union in helping you find the right place, in the right location with the right people.

When you are gathering your friends together, remember that it may be quite different from being in hall with them.  Some students are messy, some obsessed with cleaning, some will want to pay bills on time whereas others may not act in a financially responsible way. It may seem like a good idea to re-create the fun you had with all the members of your floor in halls but it may be wiser to look for a good mix not only from halls, but also from the sports clubs and societies that you belong to.  If you can’t find anyone to live with then just get onto the house-hunting list via the Students’ Union. Don’t be tempted to find a huge house to accommodate a crowd of you together, it may be possible to get smaller houses near each other in the same street – and easier to manage!

You will also need to think about the type of house you want, whether the rooms are a similar size and have similar furnishings, if a couple of rooms are smaller or less well equipped are they cheaper? Is there a lounge or communal area for eating? How well equipped is the kitchen?

The area is important, is it on a bus or train route and how often is there transport to and from the university?  Some areas may be more expensive than others.  You will need to weigh up the pros and cons as to what you want as a group and decide where to compromise if you need to.

One of the benefits of going into university managed accommodation is that if something goes wrong and someone wants to move out then it may be possible for the university accommodation office to find someone to replace them in your property and find them a vacancy in another house. 

Privately Let Accommodation

Budget constraints may mean that you have no option but to move into a privately let room or house, dealing directly with the Landlord. Students are a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to housing so make sure you know what to expect. Do some research to make sure that you get the right place in the right location. Get onto the Student Unions’ website and ask them for a list of Accredited Property or Landlords.

If you are an overseas student DON’T be tempted to reserve your privately let accommodation before you see it! You may feel desperate to get yourself organised so that you can concentrate on your studies but it really is not wise to agree or sign anything before you have inspected the property and are happy with the standard.  It is far better to arrive a little early and stay in a Bed and Breakfast (you can usually rent a university student room on a daily basis during the summer vacation for a very reasonable rate!) whilst you take some time to find the right property in the right place.  There really is no substitute for jumping on a bus and going round several properties before deciding which is right for you. Inspect the property in day-light, don’t go on your own! Check out the property for damp, and for rotten window frames.  Are smoke detectors fitted, do electrical fittings and sockets look up to date and are electrical items labelled?

• If you are a student on your own, looking for someone or a group to share with, take a look at the Students’ Union website – they usually have a Housemates section for people looking to share a house.
• The Students’ Union can give you information about the location of the property, whether it is convenient for public transport, what kind of area it is in and how safe it is.  The Union will probably know the history of the property or Landlord, particularly if there have been any past problems when students have run into difficulties.
• A good website to consult is www.upmystreet.com which gives information about the neighbourhood, schools, business and shops, house prices and crime rates.

BEWARE of Letting Websites that appear genuine but are a scam! Postgraduate students have been particularly vulnerable in the past. Some students have thought they were liaising with landlords, local to the University, who were offering Privately Let rooms via the internet. Students were asked to pass over their bank account details only to find that their accounts had been emptied of all funds before they even arrived in the UK. See   http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/ for details of the scam.

The Tenancy Agreement, the Deposit, Rent, Bills etc

Okay, let’s assume that you have seen the room of your dreams in a shared house or that you have found the perfect, one bedroom flat, what’s next?

• Ask to see the Accreditation Certificate and before you move in obtain a Tenancy Agreement from the Landlord. The Agreement should consist of:
• Landlord’s name and address of the property being let
• What kind of deposit is required – usually a month’s rent
• What type of tenancy it is, joint or individual – i.e. who is liable to pay the rent
• Length of the tenancy with a starting and end date.
• The amount of rent and how often it is payable
• If Utility bills i.e. gas, water and electricity are included or not.
• Is the TV Licence and Internet provided and included?
• Whether there is a service charge or any extras payable, e.g. for laundry
• Maintenance arrangements for repairs and refurbishment
• Emergency contact name
• Rules regarding visitors and pets
• How much notice you or the Landlord has to give before the property is vacated

Council Tax – students are normally exempt from paying Council Tax – you should ask the university for a Student Status letter if you have to prove that you are not liable.  However, it is important to remember that if there is one person in the house that is not a student then the full Council Tax amount may be payable.  You may need to check out in detail who and what is liable with the Students’ Union or Citizens Advice Bureau. 

DON’T sign up on the spot, take the Tenancy Agreement away with you and take it to the Students’ Union Advice and Welfare Centre for someone to check out the agreement. They will be happy to help and prefer to do so before any problems arise!  

Once all parties are satisfied then the Agreement is signed by the landlord and the tenant/s and   copies kept by each signatory. Before you move in you should ask to see The Gas Safety Certificate and an Energy Performance Certificate. 

www.adviceguide.org.uk Citizens Advice Bureau
www.directgov.uk Government website with detailed information

Tenancy Deposit Schemes – since 2007 there are legal requirements for landlords to register deposits with a Tenancy Deposit Scheme which protects the tenants’ deposits and in the case of any dispute a third party will decide the outcome of the case.

Halifax did a survey in 2009 which stated that the average undergraduate student’s cost for utility bills each week is £14.60.
www.studentcalculator.org.uk/international/ is a great way to calculate your living costs so that you can budget accordingly and manage your finances before committing to your rent and utility bills.

If you get into difficulties or need further clarification there are plenty of websites and resources from which to get advice. Consult the Students’ Union and the Accommodation Office of your chosen institution for all the information you need.

Geraldine Raison, Director of www.GraduateStudyOptions.com is grateful to Matthew Scott, Manager, Warwick Accommodation, University of Warwick and to Ken Harris, Welfare Advisor, University of Warwick Students’ Union for their help and advice in writing this article.


www.GraduateStudyOptions.com is an on-line education consultancy offering advice and guidance to overseas undergraduate students wishing to study in the UK.