When you are considering the different types and popularity of student accommodation, it is important to understand the available options. While the types of student accommodation that are available to you will change over your studies, it’s worth getting to know as much as you can about them and their pros.
We’ll be taking a look into the most common forms of accommodation for students in Leicester:
Privately rented accommodation
University halls of Residence
Private sector halls in residence
Living at Home
Parent-purchased Properties
Privately-rented Accommodation
Students are most likely to choose private accommodation. This is why many students rent their private apartments in their second year.
While this accommodation is not as convenient as living on campus, it may allow you to be closer to campus and feel part of the local community. It can be hard to find fellow students for both undergraduate and graduate students. However, the accommodation office at your university can help you meet other students and match them up.
You could rent out your home to live in it alone, or share it with friends. Or you could rent out a room in an apartment owned by your landlord. This will allow your landlord to terminate your tenancy quicker because it recognizes landlords as more vulnerable in their own home when the tenant-landlord relationships end.
Pros:
You are totally free and in control.
You have control over who your housemates are and which property type you choose.
You have more freedom in decorating your room and moving furniture around if that’s what you want. However, you should make sure that you stick to your tenancy agreement so that you don’t lose the deposit.
You can choose where you want to live, whether it’s in a town or university.
Cons:
You will typically have to budget and balance rent as distinct entities.
If you’re not close to campus or buildings you might need walk far or take public transport.
You are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the common areas.
Sometimes, the properties that are available might be older. Therefore, it is important to inspect carefully for signs such as dampness or disrepair when you visit the place.
University residence halls
Halls of Residence are managed by the university. They are often the best option for freshers as well as students studying abroad.
They are popular because they are conveniently located near campus facilities (e.g., the library) and therefore highly in demand. A hall can be helpful for first-year students. Second year students will likely have to decide with whom they want to live. Halls provide great socializing opportunities that will help you find next-year’s housemates.
This is because en-suite rooms are usually oversubscribed, so you might not get your preferred room. Most rooms are fairly basic, but most of them are very comfortable.
Pros:
It is a good step towards independence and living at your own home.
Halls accommodations are usually located near campus so you don’t have to travel far for classes, clubs, or social events.
It’s much easier to make friends with new people, and it is also easier to find a group for the first nights out.
Some halls organise or run events such as pub crawls and quizzes. Others have a social network presence that will let you meet your new roommates before you even arrive at uni.
Cons:
Halls are extremely competitive and you might not get your first preference of accommodation.
They are often only available for first-year students.
Some halls have strict rules. These include keeping the fire doors closed at all time or during quiet hours.
If someone starts to toast at six in. the morning, a fire alarm can alert others and force them to evacuate the whole block.
Self-catered or catered?
Your choice of whether you prefer to stay in a student-only or catered accommodation will have an impact on the quality of the kitchen facilities you have access to in halls. Catered accommodation may not be as popular as in the past, but is still an option for some unis. In order to cover the cost for your food, you’ll need to pay additional rent. But, it will save you time and allow you to cook, shop, and wash up.
Shared kitchens can be great spaces to meet new people and make friendships. You will also learn valuable life skills by cooking for yourself.
Private sector halls and residences
Private halls have a similar layout to university halls. You have your private room and some common areas, like a lounge or kitchen. But they are commercially owned.
Although they may offer student accommodation in partnership, some aren’t located on campus. They can instead be found in central London, near shopping, dining, and nightclubs. There is a wider range of rooms than at uni halls. These include studio apartments that have their own kitchens and bathrooms.
Pros:
This home is stylish and purpose-built with more choices of room types.
Many times, these facilities include gyms, gaming areas, and saunas.
Bills for utilities, broadband, contents and general maintenance are all included.
Cons:
You may have to pay more for this option.
You may not be living with other students at your university, as private residences may accommodate students from multiple colleges and universities in the vicinity.
FOMO might be a result of living off-campus.
Living at Home
Many students feel that university life would not be the best if they lived away from home. Some students prefer to live at home, for financial or personal reasons.
Pros:
Usually, this is the cheapest option. Even though you may contribute to your living expenses, it will be far less costly than living in student accommodations.
It is comforting knowing that your home is a peaceful place where you can relax at night.
Your support system will be there to help you feel at ease and you won’t feel homesick.
Cons:
When at uni, you will have to be more open to meeting people.
It is important to consider travel costs and times if you are making long commutes back to your home.
Independence when you answer your parents.
The location of your family may limit your choice.
Parent purchase
Another popular type of student accommodation is where parents buy a flat or house and act as landlords to their child. This may make financial sense, but you should consider the implications.
It is possible for your friendship to be ruined if one your friends is the parent of the landlord’s child. It could even be that your landlord is your parent or guardian.
Parents may choose to outsource property management in such a buy-to–let situation.
Pros:
A private lease from an unknown landlord can be considerably cheaper than private renting.
The chances of you decorating the space are higher if your parents rent it.
The landlords have a vested concern in maintaining the property’s cleanliness as their child lives there.
Cons:
When relationships are in trouble, it can have a knock-on impact on your home and cause you to feel awkward.
Your landlords might come to visit your child, sometimes without notice.
A difficult thing to do is raise concerns about your living conditions.
You have so many options for housing, it’s worth taking some time to assess your needs and choose the student accommodation that will best suit your needs.
The Most Common Types in Student Accommodation
According to HESA data, privately-rented properties were the most common type for students’ accommodation in the last academic years (‘other rented housing ‘)*, that is not purposely built). It is worth noting that this data was collected from 2020-2021. The pandemic affected many students’ living conditions.
Second was living at their home followed closely by their own residence. If we restrict the focus to first-year students only, however, only 24% of them lived in provider maintained properties.
There are many things that you need to consider when choosing student accommodation. Maybe you can’t imagine sharing a restroom with four people, but you love the idea of getting to uni every morning. You are sure to find the perfect student accommodation because there are so many choices.
Student Beehive Regent Road
120 Regent Rd, Leicester LE1 7LT
07484 894181
studentbeehive.co.uk
