Bunk beds and foreign students

jules9

Hi,

Some advice please. Got a relatively small second bedroom and looking to take either one or two foreign students.
They will be 16+ so NOT children.

If i get bunk beds (3ft - 6ft long) will these be ok for the two students?

My only alternative due to size of room is to take just one student.
However as a single bed is the same size im not sure what difference it would make. Also my profit will half if i only have one!

Does anyone have or has taken students and used bunk beds?

elsien

If the room's that small and you decide to go for 2 students, I'm not sure what your take-up rate would be. I don't think I'd be very happy in that situation.

vaio

Fitting two 16+ kids in a room so small you have to use bunk beds feels too crowded and I suspect would have to be seriously cheap to get any takers and even then you might struggle.

My gut feel is that you would be better with a single (maybe even a cabin bed) and have just one student with a sensible amount of space rather than trying to cram two in.

jules9

Hi Elsien,

Rooms not THAT small!

Just not big enough for two single beds as well as cupboards, wardrobe etc.

I want them to be comfortable, but really need some advice from someone who has used bunk beds if poss.

Thanks anyway

Mankysteve

Spent most of the last 14year in bunk 23now and at uni so got my own room. You wont get many students interested in sharing a room. are you going to have two desks in there? etc. I wouldn't its a pain when I go home and me and my bro have to share a room again.

phill99

I think everyone is missing the point. The OP is not talking about Uni / college students. All of your comments in that respect are correct - most UK (Long term) students would want a single room.

However, foreign (and I assume language / cultural exchange students) are a bit different.

My sister in York has language students for (it seems) most of the year. Ages are from 14 to 40. She has an average sized room with Bunk Beds in it. The organisers have checked it out and are happy with the arrangements. Most are there for a few days althoogh some are here for a couple of weeks. Sharing has never been a problem.

As long as the room is comfortable and clean and they get fed well, there should be no problems. Check with the organisers.

If I remember rightly, she gets from £13 to £18 per student per night.

mikey72

phill99 wrote: »

I think everyone is missing the point. The OP is not talking about Uni / college students. All of your comments in that respect are correct - most UK (Long term) students would want a single room.

However, foreign (and I assume language / cultural exchange students) are a bit different.

My sister in York has language students for (it seems) most of the year. Ages are from 14 to 40. She has an average sized room with Bunk Beds in it. The organisers have checked it out and are happy with the arrangements. Most are there for a few days althoogh some are here for a couple of weeks. Sharing has never been a problem.

As long as the room is comfortable and clean and they get fed well, there should be no problems. Check with the organisers.

If I remember rightly, she gets from £13 to £18 per student per night.

Not at he same time I hope.

If an adult and a minor are in the same accomodation, do not all the adults in the house need a crb check, not just the homeowners?

phill99

You are right Mikey.

The under 18's are accommodated together at the same time. As would the adults on a different programme.

Not sure about the CRB checks but will find out. I know my sister has been checked but not sure about her adult daughter who also lives with her. I'm quite sure they comply with whatever the rules are.

Owain_Moneysaver

You can't charge 2 x single room rates for a shared room. But your lodgers will be using twice the hot water, taking twice as long in the bathroom, eating twice the meals etc. And with a shared room they may expect to use the family lounge more so you may get less privacy.

Put a VoIP phone (eg Sipgate) in the room, then they can phone home at cheap rates and you get instant online billing so can recoup the cost of calls. They can also get incoming calls without disturbing you if their family is in a very different timezone.

jules9

Thanks, YES to clarify i am NOT looking at long term uni students, i am looking at overseas foreign students for week, 2 week stays.
Hopefully bunk beds should be ok for that.
Think i will give it a try. Seem to recall that most of time they are out anyway.

andrew-b

If they are eastern europeans they might not be that bothered..judging by the number of their compatriates who get into UK crammed into back of lorries to get over here!! Seriously though different cultures accept different living conditions.. us Brits are just fussy?