Student House Hell - Need Advice

Comms69

charlotte1994 wrote: »

Well then why expect others to live in a damp, unsafe house? :whistle:

I don't? But if that's what they chose...


You're really suggesting that they viewed the house in perfect condition, and over the coming weeks all these problems arose?

rudigarude

Interesting thread! I can relate to the OP after living in quite terrible undergrad private housing.

I'm not sure we'd have complained a huge amount when I was a student (2002-2005). This was a time when student numbers were growing, low tuition fees and student loans that actually covered the cost of living. This led to quite a rental bubble around our university and even terrible overpriced houses were difficult to get. So much so that we had to sign up for our 2nd year private accommodation at the end of October of our first year just to get a place (so we'd only known each other for about a month)!

It was a terrible house and the landlord simply didn't care. Despite this we did end up living there for three years and have some great stories about how terrible it was. Our shower died, and like you, our LL send his mate around to "look at it", who then drove off never to be seen again. It was eventually fixed a couple of weeks later after a lot of back and forth.

The shower was probably the only thing we ever got the LL to fix in the end because he didn't care at all we just went ahead and did what we wanted. The lack of inventory and lack of care from the landlord can work in your favour.

The particularly interesting part of this thread is everyone projecting their own view on housing;

The OP expects the housing that costs 50% of his/her student loan to not be terrible and (I'm guessing here but based on the "Desk" comment that I might be correct) that the accommodation was on a university recommended list. I am inclined to agree with them. More students nowadays feel that the university experience it transactional due to the way tuition fees are now charged, so they are less willing to put up with crap courses, crap houses and crap beer.

Comms69, an expert on doors frames, locks, mould management and welsh student grants, appears to have complete disdain for the OP who isn't able to complete said DIY, get a second job to supplement their substantial welsh grants and therefore fund the cheap accommodation and run the dehumidifier. OP, I really hope you are in Wales to get the help Comms69 suggests because I missed that bit in the thread!

Similarly, my own projection, as someone who is still saving to purchase my first house, baulks at the idea that £380 per person is considered "cheap" for a room in a mouldy house, as well as the LL is coming away with ~£1500 for doing very little.

My two pence, if the OP hasn't run away from this forum never to return is this;

private student accommodation is generally terrible, and probably always will be. With rising tuition fees, lower student enrolment, therefore more choice and higher expectations of accommodation, you can just hope that the LL finds it harder to let in the future. Lots of universities where I've worked have had rental bubbles burst over the last 5 years, so lets hope it happens where you are :-)

Things you can do now, ignore the clause in your contract about not fixing stuff. Maybe Comms69 can give you some more DIY tips. Begin finding a new place to move to in September, you've only got a few month of this academic year left! Make sure you tell any new perspective tenants of the issues, and finally, make some memories. You'll be boring your kids and grand-kids in years to come about this crap student house you used to live in.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Skanky shared student houses are part of the experience; we had mushrooms on the carpet, hideous furnishings and a mound of rubble in the back "garden". You're not living there forever so there is an element of sucking up and laughing about it later in life.


However, a safe lock and door are reasonable to pursue with the LL, getting your university housing office involved (at the very least they can take this LL and property off their advertised list for next year). Also, student house shares are marketed with study desks and chairs, so if this was how it was advertised it should be provided.


Remind LL there is no signed inventory, and you have great plans for a massive end of term party....

Comms69

rudigarude wrote: »

Interesting thread! I can relate to the OP after living in quite terrible undergrad private housing.

I'm not sure we'd have complained a huge amount when I was a student (2002-2005). This was a time when student numbers were growing, low tuition fees and student loans that actually covered the cost of living. This led to quite a rental bubble around our university and even terrible overpriced houses were difficult to get. So much so that we had to sign up for our 2nd year private accommodation at the end of October of our first year just to get a place (so we'd only known each other for about a month)!

It was a terrible house and the landlord simply didn't care. Despite this we did end up living there for three years and have some great stories about how terrible it was. Our shower died, and like you, our LL send his mate around to "look at it", who then drove off never to be seen again. It was eventually fixed a couple of weeks later after a lot of back and forth.

The shower was probably the only thing we ever got the LL to fix in the end because he didn't care at all we just went ahead and did what we wanted. The lack of inventory and lack of care from the landlord can work in your favour.

The particularly interesting part of this thread is everyone projecting their own view on housing;

The OP expects the housing that costs 50% of his/her student loan to not be terrible and (I'm guessing here but based on the "Desk" comment that I might be correct) that the accommodation was on a university recommended list. I am inclined to agree with them. More students nowadays feel that the university experience it transactional due to the way tuition fees are now charged, so they are less willing to put up with crap courses, crap houses and crap beer.

Comms69, an expert on doors frames, locks, mould management and welsh student grants, appears to have complete disdain for the OP who isn't able to complete said DIY - You don't need to be an expert to change the locks and air a room; that's simple everyday diy - YouTube has hundreds of videos showing people how to change the locks for example. , get a second job to supplement their substantial welsh grants and therefore fund the cheap accommodation and run the dehumidifier. OP, I really hope you are in Wales to get the help Comms69 suggests because I missed that bit in the thread! - It was an example. My point is that most students work part time to supplement their loans.

Similarly, my own projection, as someone who is still saving to purchase my first house, baulks at the idea that £380 per person is considered "cheap" for a room in a mouldy house, as well as the LL is coming away with ~£1500 for doing very little. - The OP could no doubt rent a flat to themselves for not much more. It was a choice; no-one had a gun to their heads..

My two pence, if the OP hasn't run away from this forum never to return is this;

private student accommodation is generally terrible, and probably always will be. With rising tuition fees, lower student enrolment, therefore more choice and higher expectations of accommodation, you can just hope that the LL finds it harder to let in the future. Lots of universities where I've worked have had rental bubbles burst over the last 5 years, so lets hope it happens where you are :-)

Things you can do now, ignore the clause in your contract about not fixing stuff. Maybe Comms69 can give you some more DIY tips. Begin finding a new place to move to in September, you've only got a few month of this academic year left! Make sure you tell any new perspective tenants of the issues, and finally, make some memories. You'll be boring your kids and grand-kids in years to come about this crap student house you used to live in.

I agree student accommodation is generally on the lower end.

Hillwalker11

Students do not necessarily have earning potential, especially in term time.My son was a medical student, believe me there was no time for getting a term time job.He worked in the holidays when he could.He also had the added aggravation of paying rent for his student lodgings, then being on an eight week placement in a hospital miles away and having to pay for the privilege of hospital accommodation on top of his monthly rent for his student house.

Comms69

Hillwalker11 wrote: »

Students do not necessarily have earning potential, especially in term time.My son was a medical student, believe me there was no time for getting a term time job.He worked in the holidays when he could.He also had the added aggravation of paying rent for his student lodgings, then being on an eight week placement in a hospital miles away and having to pay for the privilege of hospital accommodation on top of his monthly rent for his student house.

It's almost like he'll be compensated later in life with a very decent wage, top pension and fantastic annual leave...

Broadyx

Comms69 wrote: »

It's almost like he'll be compensated later in life with a very decent wage, top pension and fantastic annual leave...

Doesn't help them now though does it.

Comms69

Broadyx wrote: »

Doesn't help them now though does it.

What doesn't?


I'm sorry if someone told you that life was easy, that you would have your hand held throughout and that nothing difficult would ever happen - they lied.


I'll say this again - no-one held a gun to his head and forced him to study medicine, at this particular university etc. Its a choice; which I'm unclear on who you think is responsible for?

Studenthousehell

My SF loan is approx 5k a year. Works out say 1.6k every semester (4 months ish). Rent comes to 1.2k ish which leaves just about £35 a week. Include transport, food, bills and textbooks which are required (once had to pay £65 for a single book). So why should we be paying so much extra to basically improve and maintain the property when we already provide her with enough money?

2nd year student, doing 8-5 most days at Uni and in exam periods a lot. Hard to factor in a decent working job!

She told us over a group message not to touch the door in any shape or form. She had a go at me personally for putting wd40 on it when it was creaking. When we got locked out she said 'dont keep using the handle or it will break'

rudigarude

Comms69 wrote: »

I'll say this again - no-one held a gun to his head and forced him to study medicine, at this particular university etc.

This is the first time you've mentioned your metaphorical gun regarding the medical student that Hillwalker11 mentioned.

Comms69 wrote: »

- It was an example. My point is that most students work part time to supplement their loans.

Hillwalker11 just seems to be highlighting that your above general sweeping statement isn't applicable to everyone.

He/She also doesn't appear to be claiming life is unfair for his/her son, simply giving you a little more information for the discussion.

Can I ask, why are you so riled up by this thread? I initially thought you may have been a LL in a uni town or something given your initial responses you mentioned that you're not.

You mentioned;

Comms69 wrote: »

I'm sorry if someone told you that life was easy, that you would have your hand held throughout and that nothing difficult would ever happen - they lied.

but no one has made this point.

You've made quite a few sweeping statements about how easy it is to just earn some more money or get a grant, or fix something based on youtube videos, or whatever. It sounds to me that you're the one saying life is easy, you've given all these fantastic ways of fixing the OPs question!