University Accommodation.

patsy21

Hello everyone.

I am going to uni in either Newcastle or Northumbria in September and havn't sorted this out yet.
I did originally definitely want to have an en-suite but the price is up to £14 more and there are not that many places really. Some have a wash basin and say 2 bathrooms between 6 people, for much cheaper.
Does anyone who's been or is in this predicament have any advice?

Thanks!

QuirkyChemistry

I had a shared bathroom in halls with a wash basin in my room. This was fine for me. Never had any trouble getting a shower and it was cleaned daily. I don't think it's worth the extra money. Also you have to clean it yourself and pay for soap and toilet paper. Think about what else you could do with £14 a week (£560 a year if it's a 40 week contract) and see if it's worth the slight inconvenience of having to share a bathroom, which you would have to do in a house.

melancholly

it's a very recent thing to expect en-suite - i didn't have it at all as an undergrad, but did have a sink in my room. 2 bathrooms between 6 will probably be fine - if you're all doing different courses it's really unlikely that there will be a rush for the bathroom as you'll have different schedules. you will always have to clean up after other people, that's a given, but i can't see that it's worth the extra money.

one note of caution - don't ever leave your towel hanging over the door in a way that other people can reach it! or if you do, hope that the people sharing aren't quite as 'funny' as the ones i lived with (i can laugh now!)

floss2

DS1 had an en-suite at Leeds, DS2 doesn't at London.

DS1 didn't fancy having to potentialy clean the bathroom before he used it, DS2 is more used to sharing (Glasto, Lourdes, camping etc).

All depends on your personal feelings - do you want to have to clean the bath/shower before you take one? Or are you happy to keep yourself in toilet roll & have your own personal bathroom?

MandyLou66

Hi Patsy21My daughter is just finishing her 1st year at Newcastle, she stayed in Maris House. The rooms have a small sink and u share shower and toilet between 3.She longs for a bath when she gets home but on the whole sharing with other girls not too bad.

aylesby

DS started Uni in a mixed hall with 27 rooms per corridor and a shared washrooms at each end. It looked dreadful. By the end of the week evryone became united because of the conditions and he never had so many freinds.
Our choice would have been ensuite but then we are not teenagers.

muddyfox470

Non-ensuite. Although there would be some annoyances with sharing a shower, i think you will find if you have shared facilities you will see more people out and about, people who have ensuites tend to stay couped up. Save your money and stay social!

paul_raynes

Hi

I was a unviersty hall warden for my final year and i randomly got allocated the en-suite halls. If i had to pay full price i think i still would have choosen en-suite. It's nice to be able to leave your stuff in there and you don't have to worry if people are peeing in the shower.

Also have you thought about the other bennifits of living in more expensive accomdation? My hall was set so it was the furthest away from where all the students returning from the night clubs would be. The extra cost also attracted a nicer class of people. I mean i had very little problems to deal with compared to cheaper halls and i'm fairly sure that some of the quieter people in my hall wouldn't have stayed at university if they were put in some of the "ghettos". The uni also took better care of the hall as well. It was the cleanest and best presented hall on campus.We also got toilet paper for our en-suites and the cleaner was sometimes friendly enough to give everything a once over.

Go and have a look as well. The university won't mind. It's not about the shower, it's about which makes you more comfortable. I know that certain halls i would have not liked to live in and you might feel the same once you've looked at them. If you do decide to check it out ask students you bump into which is the best hall.

Good Luck!

ben1234

you dont have to worry about the cleanliness of the showers etc, cleaners clean at least once a week. st Marys has nice accom and 2 showers/2 toilets per flat of 6 and a washbashin in ur room - its a bit far out tho. as you said ensuite is a lot more and unless ur gona be in the bathroom for ever you dont need it!! NEwcastle is amazing - you would love it

Riq

en-suite all the way. I had en-suite and I would pay the extra without hesitation. My sister had shared and it was awful.

Masomnia

I have to admit I really like having en-suite, but on the other hand I wouldn't mind sharing with the people I am currently living with. For me it was the fact I didn't know who I'd be living with, if I'd known before I went I'd definitely save the money and share.

So I suppose it's whether you want to take that risk.