Are you trying to figure out where to live at university? We’ll walk you through all the options, from student houses to uni halls to living at home.
Once you have found the right university and degree for you, now it is time to choose where to live.
It can be daunting to choose your university accommodation. What is the big deal about student halls or student houses? Every year, students feel stressed by this question.
We’ll walk you through the various options, and discuss the pros and cons to help you choose the right uni accommodation. There are no wrong or right answers.
Students spend an average of PS148 per week renting. It’s important that you take your time in finding the right place for yourself. You can choose a place that suits your lifestyle and personality best. Don’t feel pressured to live somewhere you don’t like.
Living at university:
Student residences
Student house
Living at home
Private halls
Remember that you will need to pay a deposit if you decide to move to a new place. Here’s how you can get your deposit back at your end of the tenancy.
Accommodation options for university students
It is entirely up to you to decide where you want to live at university. The most popular type of Leicester uni accommodation is the student house, according to our latest Student Accommodation Survey. 40% chose them over other options.
27% of students live at university halls, 13% in private residences, and 13% at home with parents. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.
Halls of Residence at Universities
This is the ‘freshers experience’
Cost: PSPS-PSPSPS.
University halls are housing provided by the university. There are many types of university halls, but they typically have a private room with a shared living area and kitchen. The number of people sharing your flat can vary greatly. We would suggest anywhere from four to 10 people.
There are many factors that will affect the cost of university halls.
You can choose between an en-suite or shared bathroom.
You can choose halls close to or far from the university campus.
You can choose whether you want catered or self catering accommodation.
It’s hard to estimate the cost of university halls. However, our National Student Accommodation Survey indicates that it is around PS147 per week. However, if you opt for an en-suite room in self-catered halls at campus, you will pay a lot more than if the opposite is true.
All first-year students will be guaranteed a spot in university halls by most universities, provided they both apply for the course(s) and the accommodation within the deadlines. However, this is not always true.
If your home is not within a certain radius of the university, or if clearing is used to get you a place in the halls, you might not be guaranteed one. For more information, contact your uni.
Although you will usually be permitted to choose your halls of residence, there is no guarantee that you’ll get it (especially if it’s popular), so don’t be too attached to anything.
It is important to remember that you will be assigned a room randomly and you won’t know who your roommate is until you arrive on the first day. This is both exciting and slightly frightening.
Many universities offer a variety of flat options, including single-sex or mixed flats. You can also choose quiet flats or flats that are based on cultural or religious similarities. This will help you feel more at ease if you so desire.
Many unis have transfer options. This allows you to change flats if your circumstances change. However, they may not always allow this. They will often ask you to stay put for a while first.
Students tend to live in halls for their first year at university before moving into private houses with friends.
Most unis allow you to live in halls for the duration of your degree. Some may even offer rent discount.
Student house
Ideal for: Independent living at a low price
Cost: PSPS.
A student house is the best option if you are looking to move out for university. There are hundreds of student letting agencies that offer houses for students.
There are three options for students looking to buy a house.
Renting a house with a group of friends (e.g. Find a house with four bedrooms for you and three of your friends.
A spare bedroom in a house
You might be interested in a studio/one-bed flat. This would be more costly.
If you choose the second option, you can go to Spareroom to find a room in an existing-occupied house. This will allow you to meet potential flatmates and determine if you are compatible.
Some landlords and letting agents allow students to select a room in a house. However, this option will not allow you to find out the other people living in your home until you move in.
Rent with bills is offered by some landlords. This means that you don’t need to organize and split the bills each month. This is not always cost-effective and can often be more expensive than organizing bills yourself. Check out our guide to student bills for all the details.
One of the biggest problems with student housing is that landlords are sometimes unreliable or difficult to contact and that the accommodation can often be very expensive. Make sure to research the most common student housing issues and avoid ending up in a place as horrible as this one.
If you have the funds, it’s worth living in a student home for at least one academic year. It will prepare you for graduate life.
Living in a house can be quieter than living in halls. You’ll be sharing a room with only a few students, rather than 50+ people, which will make it easier to study at your own pace.
Living at home
Ideal for: Saving money and home comforts
Cost: PS.
It will depend on you and your preferences as to whether living at home is right for you. However, it is worth remembering that you can save quite a bit of money by not having to pay much rent.
Many students find that moving away is not possible due to cost or because they have home responsibilities they cannot leave. You’ll still be able to fully enjoy university life if that’s the case.
Joining many clubs and societies and talking to people on your course will help you make friends. You’ll also be offered lots of sofas to rest on after nights out.
Renting out will save you a lot of money. However, your parents may ask you to contribute monthly. If you live at home, you will only receive a smaller Maintenance loan from Student Finance.
Private halls
Ideal for: Tailor-made student living
Cost: PSPS-PSPSPS.
Private halls can be used in the same way as uni halls but are provided by an independent company.
These are custom-made student housing complexes that can be tailored to your needs. They are becoming increasingly popular. Private halls are often equipped with flat-screen TVs in the bedrooms, onsite gyms, and many other great features. Keep in mind, however, that flats tend to be more expensive if they have more luxurious features.
They are often found in large cities that have many universities. You can expect the same setup as uni halls with flats that include private rooms, communal kitchens, and living spaces.
Private halls can be a great option for some. However, private halls can be expensive and you might want to save some money.
Student Beehive Regent Road
120 Regent Rd, Leicester LE1 7LT
07484 894181
studentbeehive.co.uk
