Which kind of Student Accommodation should I choose?
There's a wide range of Student Accommodation in the UK, from a University, College or School’s own Halls of Residence to private single room apartments with shared kitchen and bathroom, to executive houses. But here we will focus on accommodation that could be afforded by the majority of international students. It's important to do your own research, but don't worry too much as every University, College and School will have a Housing department or an experienced Housing Officer who will be able to offer you helpful advice and contacts. Halls of ResidenceMost Colleges and Universities offer their own Student Accommodation called Halls of Residence.Often situated on-Campus, they usually represent the best value for money for Students, being built to a good basic standard at a reasonable cost. For International Students in particular, this may well be the best choice as they bring together lots of students in one building with security, help and guidance close at hand. Costs vary by location, from about £70 per week upwards. Once you have a favourite College or University check out their website for a more precise quotation. You can find links to all UK Colleges and University websites via the UCAS website.
Private AccommodationIt's a fact that most universities and colleges don't have sufficient on-site accommodation to house all their students.Consequently , they usually have relationships with private landlords who offer rooms , apartments or houses for let or rent to students. Often consisting of a house converted into a number of private bedrooms with shared bathroom (sometimes en-suite) and kitchen, they can provide accommodation at a reasonable cost. Costs will vary depending on location. For example, accommodation is much more expensive in the London area than it is in say, Preston. Expect to pay £100 per week and upwards. In order to be listed by universities and colleges, private landlords have to comply with basic standards of safety and facilities and be approved by the university. However, you will have to sign a contract with the landlord and check the conditions of the contract and the property yourself. You may be able to get someone from the University (for example, the Housing Officer), a local solicitor or Estate Agent to help you with this. You will usually have less security and protection in this type of Student Accommodation than if you stay in the University’s own Halls of Residence, though sharing with other students will give you more confidence and security than living on your own. Remember to check with your landlord about what is included in the rent – for example, does it include energy costs for heat and light, council tax (see paragraph below), and building insurance. If not, you will need to build these into your budget. There are a number of websites that specialise in finding Student Accommodation, including the following:
And here's another... Sharing Private AccommodationMany students share accommodation. For example, a group of friends will rent a house between them, taking a bedroom each and sharing other facilities such as bathrooms & kitchen. The rent and charges for gas, electricity, telephone etc are then shared between the students.This type of arrangement works best if you know the students with whom you share the accommodation extremely well. To be happy with type of Student Accommodation, you will need to know their habits, that they are honest and considerate towards other people and that they can afford to pay their share of the cost. For this reason, this type of arrangement is only usually arranged by second, third or fourth year students. Once again, remember to check with your landlord about what is included in the rent – for example, does it include energy costs for heat and light, council tax (see 'Council Tax' paragraph below), and building insurance. If not, you will need to build these into your budget. HotelsHotels are a much more expensive form of Student Accommodation, though they are often useful for a short while when students first arrive in the UK.There are many National Hotel chains as well as local hotels, so check out the area around your University using an online search engine (see link below) and use the search term 'hotels'.
Bed and BreakfastBed & Breakfast - often called “B&B” or “guest house” - is another popular short term option.In this type of Student Accommodation, the guest room is in the home of the owner - where both the owners and their guests live under the same roof and your room is cleaned and breakfast is prepared by the hosts. Prices are more reasonable than hotels , usually between £25 and £55 per room per night.
Council TaxCouncil tax is a local tax payable on every home, and is used to fund local libraries , sport centres , the emergency services and other local resources.Council tax will NOT apply to you if you live in Halls of Residence or other Student Accommodation owned or managed by your university or college. However , if you live in a private rental property , council tax may apply. It is best to ask your landlord if council tax is included in the rent and if not make enquiries with your local council authority about the amount you will have to pay. It could amount to several hundred pounds a year. There is good news for Students however. If you live in a private rental property occupied entirely by full time students, council tax will NOT apply.
Choosing your locationWherever you decide to stay, whether it be Halls of Residence, a Hotel, B&B or in private rented accommodation , you will have a wide range of locations from which to choose.You may wish to consider the following factors when making your decision: - Transport facilities to & from your university or college - Do you prefer to live in the town centre or in the quieter rural areas? Tto help you make your decision, there's lots of local information to be found at the website link below. Look at the block (in black) at the bottom of the home page to see the kind of information you can find at this site.
STOP PRESS - Room to Let !! (Bolton)Room to let for professional person or sensible, reliable student (male or female) in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Postcode BL5 2QW. Excellent student accommodation - large room with double bed, TV, fridge, wardrobes, shelves, in roomy 4 bedroom detached house. Large bathroom with bath and shower, off-road parking, garden, patio. Friendly but private owner occupier lives in - middle aged, professional male. Ideal for student - convenient for Universities of Bolton, Salford and Manchester. 5 minutes drive from M61 J5, 5 minutes walk from railway station with connections to Bolton (15 minutes) Manchester city centre (30 mins), Salford (25 mins). Rent £320/month (plus £320 deposit)including rent, Council tax, water, electricity & gas, TV, fridge and wifi. Minimum rental 1 month, maximum 5 months with possible extension for good tenant. Apply using our "Ask us a Question" page (see link in left hand links bar). We look forward to welcoming you to our home!
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