Stay in campus accommodation or move out?

sapphireeye

This is sort of money saving and sort of not! Basically I started university in September, I'm 23 and I'm living in campus accommodation. Within the first week I was unsure about whether I'd made the right decision but I wanted to stick it out because a week isn't enough time to make a proper judgement and it was freshers week which isn't really an accurate representation of uni life. It has calmed down a bit but I think it's more me and my personality/way of living that's the problem! Back at home I had a full-time job and I was self-sufficient and very independent and I'm the sort of person that likes to socialise to a point but then I like to be able to get away from it and have some time to myself when I need it. I just can't get this on campus, even if I try and explain it to my flatmates they don't seem to get it (they're all 18 and doing the drinking/clubbing which I got out of my system a few years ago) and because I can't have my car here I don't have the flexibility to get away from it all. It feels so full-on all the time and after about 3/4 weeks I feel like I need to go back home to escape!

In addition to this, the halls are extremely expensive and though I had worked out a budget it's not quite working out the way I had planned because of the payment dates. I'm on an NHS funded course so I'm using the maintenance loan and my own savings to cover accommodation costs (over £4000 for 36 weeks) and living off the money I get from the NHS bursary. However I have financial commitments such as car insurance, phone etc which is essentially leaving me with not much to live on each week so I can't even really enjoy university because I can't afford to get involved! The private rent in the area is considerably cheaper so I would have more breathing space financially.

I contacted the accommodation office to see what the process is for moving out of halls and I would need to find a replacement. Someone got in contact with me and if the university accepts then I could have a replacement to take my room so I could go and rent privately, preferably in a house with professionals/mature students, I've done my research and there seems to be a lot available.

I can see a lot of positives to this - more space, more freedom, I can have my car so I can get home to see my family more often, more disposable income, less pressure to partake in the 'university experience', quieter, more chance of meeting people my own age etc. But I'm wondering if I'm being stupid and being really one sided about this and not seeing the negatives? I know it would be hassle and I could risk being in a worse situation than now.

Can someone offer me their own view on the situation?

matj16

I have to admit that the lack of 'private time' is the exact reason that i am not in halls. I actually rent from a private company idependant from the university and find it quite a nice experience (victoria halls). However it does have it's down sides.

For example; your Tv license may currently be covered by halls, but that isn't always the case when you rent privately (its worth checking... at almost £150. Although if you only watch catch up then you dont need it anyway, and if you study as hard as i do, there is never time)

In addition your internet may be currently covered by the university wi-fi (if they have one) or free internet at your current place.
I have had to pay for the internet were i am, which has set me back £190 for a year, which has caused me a few problems to begin with. The most annoying thing is they may ask for a lump sum (like mine did) and also have a clause in their terms which clearly states that you cannot get any form of refund what so ever (always read contracts carefully, each clause is there for a reason).

As far as renting privately goes yes it may be a cheaper option (i currently pay £3500 a year, but thats still quite high) but the cons may outweigh the pro's. Things to really consider is whether the electricity gas etc is included in your rental price and if it is at what point you will be charged extra. It's also worth talking to someone at your university; my uni operates a recommendation scheme in which they recommend reliable landlords so that you know you will have someone which will not be a royal pain in the backside.

All in all the best advice possible is just to be really careful. I have opted for paying that little bit extra to minimise the amount of hassle i will have to deal with; the staff here are friendly and i know i can rely on the overnight security staff to help should i need anything... you don't get that sort of service when your renting privately. You also have the possibility of problems with neighbours, landlords or local idiots (every place has them unfortunately...). It may seem cheaper to begin but just make sure that it's cheaper in the long run too.

sapphireeye

matj16 wrote: »

I have to admit that the lack of 'private time' is the exact reason that i am not in halls. I actually rent from a private company idependant from the university and find it quite a nice experience (victoria halls). However it does have it's down sides.

For example; your Tv license may currently be covered by halls, but that isn't always the case when you rent privately (its worth checking... at almost £150. Although if you only watch catch up then you dont need it anyway, and if you study as hard as i do, there is never time)

In addition your internet may be currently covered by the university wi-fi (if they have one) or free internet at your current place.
I have had to pay for the internet were i am, which has set me back £190 for a year, which has caused me a few problems to begin with. The most annoying thing is they may ask for a lump sum (like mine did) and also have a clause in their terms which clearly states that you cannot get any form of refund what so ever (always read contracts carefully, each clause is there for a reason).

As far as renting privately goes yes it may be a cheaper option (i currently pay £3500 a year, but thats still quite high) but the cons may outweigh the pro's. Things to really consider is whether the electricity gas etc is included in your rental price and if it is at what point you will be charged extra. It's also worth talking to someone at your university; my uni operates a recommendation scheme in which they recommend reliable landlords so that you know you will have someone which will not be a royal pain in the backside.

All in all the best advice possible is just to be really careful. I have opted for paying that little bit extra to minimise the amount of hassle i will have to deal with; the staff here are friendly and i know i can rely on the overnight security staff to help should i need anything... you don't get that sort of service when your renting privately. You also have the possibility of problems with neighbours, landlords or local idiots (every place has them unfortunately...). It may seem cheaper to begin but just make sure that it's cheaper in the long run too.

Hi Matt, thanks for your input. We don't have tv licences in halls so I won't be missing out on that one as I don't watch TV other than catch up. I've been looking at places where people are looking for lodgers/sharers and it seems that quite often the bills are included but internet would have to be a cost that I keep in mind!! As for security, it's a good point and security have had to be called far too often to my current flat due to one of the girls bringing back strange, weird men all the time including violent ex-boyfriends and drunk army men!

I think I will definitely thing carefully about it and discuss with friends and family. The university haven't got back to me yet about whether they'll let this other person take my room so I could be thinking ahead for no reason!

Mankysteve

While I enjoyed halls. I much prefer living in a proper house with a proper kitchen and living room is my biggest requirement i don't work well where i sleep(not that I work well anyway too easily distracted). Plus its much cheaper most of the time.

But there disadvantages, dodgy landlords ect.

matj16

sapphireeye wrote: »

Hi Matt, thanks for your input. We don't have tv licences in halls so I won't be missing out on that one as I don't watch TV other than catch up. I've been looking at places where people are looking for lodgers/sharers and it seems that quite often the bills are included but internet would have to be a cost that I keep in mind!! As for security, it's a good point and security have had to be called far too often to my current flat due to one of the girls bringing back strange, weird men all the time including violent ex-boyfriends and drunk army men!

I think I will definitely thing carefully about it and discuss with friends and family. The university haven't got back to me yet about whether they'll let this other person take my room so I could be thinking ahead for no reason!

As long as you consider every aspect then at the end of the day you should do whichever you feel will benefit you most. I personally like the fact that security will sort any problems with other flat mates etc for me, which is a very big benefit (if the girl next door plays the music too loud and i can't sleep then fine... i have the caretakers mobile number... everyone does) and i have to admit that its the strongest reason why i have remained where i am.

If your uni does do a landlord scheme then i would highly recommend using it too. It's better to rent from someone that has been assessed by the university than a complete stranger. And of course, that is if they decide to allow you to move.

I do wish you the best of luck in whichever path you decide to pursue though and hope that your decisions pay off in the long run

abby1234519

I despised my halls in Leeds.. I was bullied by a nasty little twerp 3 years younger than me which caused severe depression. There was also the fact that in the flat next door (but strangely was in another tower as in accessed by a different lift yet the wall was ajoining mine, lived a mephedrone dealer who stayed up till 6am playing loud music on some nights. So I hated every minute of it. I hated the endless noise coming from people leaving to go out and people coming in at god knows what hour. I hated the lift breaking down because people liked to force the doors open so I had to walk up the stairs. I hated the fact that people couldnt be arsed to take their bin bags outside so would leave them in stairwells making a lovely rotten stench.

All in all. I thoroughlywish I had lived in a house straight away. I get on with my current housemates but I spend most of my time in my secluded basement room. Its peaceful and quiet. I'm honestly a hermit

charlie792

I can totally understand how you feel, I lived in private halls (not on campus) when I first started uni, I lasted until January and then moved out I hated it, too noisy and the locks on the flat doors didn't work so drunk people would come into our flat in the middle of the night and start kicking my door, the guy next door only slept during the day so kept me up all night - I moved into a shared student house with people I didn't know and that turned out to be a living hell (actually lived like animals - never cleaned, it was indescribable) after 3 months I 'moved out' still paying rent but I never ate there and stayed on my bf's sofa most nights. Overall I had an awful first year and kind of wish I had stayed in halls as a lack of sleep was better than the filth I had to put up with. Im only saying this because if you are planning on moving in with strangers I would make sure they are the kind of people you could live with first, but maybe if you live with professionals etc then you hopefully shouldn't have the same problems I did. In contrast my second year I moved in with a guy and a girl who I didn't really know and I had a fantastic year with them.

rev_henry

I think you'll do as well to move out. I'm in 1st year now, decided not to go into halls so I could live with my gf. Everyone especially my parents said 'oh you'll miss out on meeting people etc by not going into halls', but I have met plenty of people through my course, friends of friends etc. When I've been round to visit mates in halls I always think how much nicer my flat is to their place! Many are 10 people to a flat with 2 showers & 2 toilets, and when this is an all boys flat...
For many people halls are great I think, but some people won't enjoy it, such as yourself. As long as you find yourself an ok place then I'd say move out, especially as its cheaper.