Accommodation at Uni

tiamaria

Ok, I'll get the truth on here -am I worrying for nothing?

Son has finally sent off his application form and has been accepted on his uni course. He now needs to find accommodation so I told him to register on the uni acc. website, unfortunately he can't do that until they write back to confirm his acceptance and give him a student number.

However he now tells me he's going to view some accommodation tomorrow, he found it via a friend of a friend he met online. It's an "emergency room" in a house and is very small so he won't have to pay any rent! huh! Only money for food and electric. Don't know anything else about it yet.

Personally I'd rather he had university approved accommodation that has been verified by them, this sounds a bit odd to me! Problem is we're running out of time and we can't get registered:rolleyes:

He's annoyed with me cos I'm not thrilled with these arrangements (he likes the no rent bit), does this look above board to you or am I fussing too much?

Rachel_123

That does sound a bit worrying - also would he not rather live in halls for his first year? There may be some private halls accommodation he can go and look at now rather than wait around for the uni (unite, liberty living etc) although this depends on what uni he's going to as to what's available.

Lokolo

1st year private halls.

Meet people there.

'met a person online through a friend of a friend'
and
'wont have to pay any rent'

sounds very suspicious to me!

tiamaria

Thanks for that. No, I don't think he can live in halls because (sorry, should have clarified), he's already done 2 years on a college foundation course and this is his 3rd year which has to be taken at the Uni. In one way yes, it is his 1st year but I don't think he'd be entitled IYSWIM.

Lokolo

tiamaria wrote: »

Thanks for that. No, I don't think he can live in halls because (sorry, should have clarified), he's already done 2 years on a college foundation course and this is his 3rd year which has to be taken at the Uni. In one way yes, it is his 1st year but I don't think he'd be entitled IYSWIM.

Oh right, I assume the uni is nowhere near the college and can't stay at home?

tiamaria

About 60 miles away, 1 1/2 hours each way on the train.

Rachel_123

I wouldn't have thought private halls would care what year he's in - when I lived in them I lived with a 3rd year student, someone on a work placement, and a few 2nd years. But then I imagine it varies from place to place

tiamaria

Says 1st years only, but I think I will check just in case.

top_drawer_2

hi,

UCLan, my uni allow you the first year while you are at uni to stay in their accomodation which would mean you would be eligiable. However, its likely it will be mainly 1st years who are living there and so could be noisy in the evenings for him if he is going to be studying at level 3. He can always go to the library but I personally always work better in my room where I have everything to hand.

Check out sites online such as www.spareroom.co.uk and such like which are searchable on the area which you are looking at. Also there's a number of well known companies which run private halls in uni areas which may be a good idea. Shop around because some can be very heavily priced.

Good luck

Jen

evantej

University accommodation is generally guaranteed for all first years and international students, and then those who live far from home will get preference; 60 miles is not that far in fairness. It depends on the institution - I have lived in halls every year - and they even allocate one of the accommodation buildings for third-year, mature and international students who are less likely to be rowdy, and need the peace and quiet.

I would contact the universities accommodation team and explain his situation. In my first year I travelled down to Manchester on Friday to attempt to get accommodation - I started my course on the Monday. My mother phoned the accommodation office while I was in the public library, and explained how desperate I was, and how a potential landlord had said they had space but rang me while I was on the train down (from Newcastle) the following morning and said it had been taken. Around ten minutes later I received a call from the accommodation team offering me a place in halls; I went and paid my deposit straight away, picked up the accommodation pack and moved in on the Sunday afternoon.

tiamaria

Cheers, yeah I think giving the accommodation people a ring may be in order, though I'm really trying not to do this sort of thing for him so he doesn't get a reputation for being a wuss!