University halls
The majority of first-year students get a room in university-managed accommodation, also known as ‘halls’. This has many benefits.
If you are looking to make friends, it is great to live with other students.
Some university-managed halls may be found in nearby towns or cities, rather than on campus.
Your halls will be located on campus so you won’t need to commute to lectures, group work, or the library. (As well as the fun activities offered by student unions, societies, clubs, and other activities).
Halls can be an excellent way to get started in renting a place to live if you are moving away from your home. The benefits of independence are many, but you don’t have to worry about paying utility bills or managing landlords.
You will also find staff available, usually on-site, should you need them.
Uni halls pros:
Social Scene: This is a great place to meet lots and many students.
It’s called the ‘halfway house’ option. This allows you to ease into living away from your home without feeling totally alone.
Your university can provide extra support if you require it.
Uni halls cons:
Being forced to live with someone you don’t like: Some universities offer the option to pair flatmates, such as through personality questionnaires.
You might not be able to get into your hall of choice, so there are no guarantees.
Living with many students is a good thing. You can learn to accept noise and chaos. This can be a challenge for introverted students, or people from small homes/without siblings.
Private halls
In some areas, you may also consider a room in a specially-built student living facility.
It’s similar to university-managed residence halls. You share a room with others, such as a kitchen and TV room. But it’s private property and not your university.
Many large cities, such as London and Manchester have many universities. Private hall providers are very common.
Although you may find a greater variety of rooms than in university-managed residence halls, such as studio apartments, they are typically more expensive.
Consider private halls if you are considering this option. Make sure to do your homework on what you’ll get for your money.
Private halls can help you expand your social circle as you might meet students from other universities within the same building. They are popular among international students.
When looking for private housing, make sure to check out what communal spaces are available and any events or activities that residents can participate in.
Your university will have an approved list to provide private student accommodation Leicester. If they don’t have sufficient places, they may have a formal partnership.
Private halls pros:
Built for students: The same advantages apply as to students in university halls.
Mod cons: Useful perks like a gym on-site or laundry service.
Locality, location: Private halls are often located in the immediate vicinity. You may feel more at ease in your student city and spend less on taxis to get home from nightclubs.
Cons: Private halls
The cost is often higher than halls managed by universities.
These luxuries are unnecessary: While they might look great, you may never use them.
Similar student pitfalls apply to noise, not picking who you live with and mess, etc.
Self-catering vs. catered accommodation
Even though catered accommodation is less popular than once, it may still be an option for you when you visit different halls.
Catered meals can be a convenient way to make the transition to student life easier, especially if you aren’t very good at cooking. You’ll have to pay more for this privilege, although it may be worth not having to clean up after a long day.
You may be restricted in what you can eat. The self-catered option may be the best choice if you want to have more control over your spending and diet.
Some people find the thought of sitting down for a meal at a set time each day to be restrictive. They prefer to eat when they choose.
Privately-rented house/flat
Students move in with their friends after their first year. The house or flat they rent is from a private landlord. You may prefer to move straight into this option, and not go down the university/private halls route.
Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. For instance, if you’re a mature student who wants your own living space outside the realms of university or you want to just live with other mature students/non-students.
It might seem like a terrible idea to live with a group of 18-year olds when you are in your 20s or 30s.
You might not be able to find a private rental, but you may have no other options.
Many universities cannot guarantee residence in halls of residence for students in their first year.
Privately rented properties can be attractive because it allows you to choose exactly where you want to live and who you share it with.
Although it is difficult to find others in the same situation and organize viewings, if you haven’t started university yet, your housing officer can help you. They can match you up with other students, recommend approved landlords or student-focused agents, and so on.
Pros who can help you rent a private apartment
Independence: You decide where and with who you live.
Local area: Although your university may have halls on campus, you might feel more at home in the nearby community if there is private housing available. This is a great opportunity to be involved in local activities like a religious group.
Flexibility: The private rental market offers many different options for living that suit your lifestyle. You may be charged utilities by some landlords. However, there are many property types that you can choose from. Most student halls feel and look the same.
Private rental cons:
Further, you might need to travel infrequently if you are not on the main campus. This may increase your travel expenses.
Manage your bills: Although some landlords will include utilities in the rent, you will need to budget more for them.
The admin process: This involves dealing directly with a landlord/letting agent. More than 10% of students we surveyed had issues dealing with their landlords, and 13% had issues dealing with their letting agents.
Where can I find housemates?
It’s great to have friends and family you want to live with. This may feel awkward, but asking people if they have any housing plans for next year is a great way to start the conversation.
These are some suggestions for people who are still searching for housemates:
Friends from current halls will already give you a good idea of how they live together
You can join clubs and societies to share your passions
If you’re interested in an intensive subject such as medicine or law, this is a good choice. You can still guarantee peace and quiet for those times when you’re all studying.
University social media channels: Your housing office may share information on housing events so potential housemates can meet and details about vacancies
Landlords and letting agents
A landlord will allow you to have direct communication with the property owner. Agency management, on other hand, is often done on behalf of the landlord.
However, the agency route offers more security. You can verify that they are members of an approved redress scheme for complaints, or a selfregulating body. This means they have agreed and adhere to certain codes.
However, there was a slight increase in students reporting issues with their landlord (11% vs. 13%) and 8% with both*.
Directly contacting a landlord will save you money. Agencies can charge additional fees for credit checks, inventory creation, and other services.