What bills do I have to pay in student accommodation
What bills do I have to pay in student accommodation
Going to university requires meticulous planning. Not only do you have to figure out what you’d like to study, where you’d like to study but there is the task of figuring out how much it will all costs, and after your course fee the highest cost will be for your accommodation. And with so many options, including student halls, purpose bult student accommodation and renting a flat or house privately, it can get confusing to which option is the most cost effective.
Student Halls
University run accommodation is called “Student Halls”, and most often it is on campus or located near to the university. Almost all do not have their own kitchen facilities, instead you will share with up to a dozen students. And in some older accommodation you will be sharing bathroom facilities, that might be mixed sex or if they are single sex they will be limited.
Both the kitchen and bathroom facilities are cleaned on a weekly or twice weekly basis, but students are expected to maintain the facilities to a good level of hygiene.
The rent in halls includes utility bills (gas, electricity, water, and internet), and contracts are slightly shorter than in the private rental sector, but some student halls will charge you extra for excessive usage of the utilities. Also bear in mind the rent does not include insuring your personal items, such as mobile and laptop, and nor does it include food. Although some halls provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an additional charge.
When you leave you might also incur a cleaning charge if your room and the shared facilities, such as the kitchen and bathroom, are damaged or need a deep clean.
The average rent for student halls varies dramatically from city to city. As an example, in Sheffield the average weekly rent is £102 whereas in London it is £212 per week. And on average living in student halls is more expensive than renting a room in a flat or house, but there are advantages in terms of location, security, living with students at your university and having cleaning facilities and staff to help you.
Snapshot of pros
· You know the exact cost of your accommodation and all the bills which makes budgeting easier.
· You will be on the university grounds or near the university.
· The accommodation will have 24/7 security and staff to help you if you encounter problems.
Snapshot of cons
· You will have to share a kitchen with up to a dozen students, and in older accommodation you might have to share bathroom facilities that might not be single sex.
· You can only live in the student halls during term time and the first ear of your studies.
· The cost of student halls is higher than renting a room in a flat or house.
Purpose built student accommodation
Private student accommodation like the ones on the GoBritanya website are growing in popularity as this kind of accommodation newer and offers more facilities, such as on-site gyms, with larger rooms.
This kind of accommodation is generally located near universities or within the city centre. Another advantage with this option is that it includes all your bills, contents insurance and internet connection, so you know exactly what you will be spending each month. And all rooms include a bathroom, and some accommodation comes with its own kitchen.
Furthermore, some accommodation is designed for dual occupancy so you could share a room with a friend or partner. And purpose build student accommodation is always designed to be accessible for wheelchair users.
The average cost for purpose-built student accommodation is higher than student halls, renting a room in a shared house or flat and can be more expensive than renting a flat or house. For example, the average rent in Brighton is £235, in Sheffield it is £132, Manchester it is £184 and in London it is £400.
Like student halls most providers only allow students to book for an academic year. However, unlike university accommodation you can book to stay over the summer months, which helps if you intend to take up an internship or summer job.
Snapshot of pros
· Wide range of facilities, such as gym, cinema room, study areas, lounges, and laundry rooms, included in the rent along with water, gas, electricity and internet.
· Good location with an easy commute to universities.
· 24/7 security and staff to help residents.
· Social calendar organised by the staff.
Snapshot of cons
· High cost
· Standard contracts for an academic year, with no break clause
· The accommodation can be large with hundreds of students.
Renting a flat or house
If you are starting university with a group of friends or bringing your family with you a good option could be to rent a house or flat near your university, as it gives you more space, freedom, and privacy. And if you are splitting the rent, it can work out cheaper than renting a room with a student accommodation provider.
However, the rent in major cities has been increasing consistently over recent years and rents are at a record high. For example, renting a flat with 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms in Islington, London costs £3,500 per month and the same kind of flat costs £1,950 in central Manchester.
Renting a place does come with more responsibility because you will be expected to look after any repairs that are needed to the property and if there is a garden, you’ll need to maintain it, unless the contract states otherwise.
The rent you pay will most often exclude the bills for gas, electricity, water, and the internet, which you might need to get connected before you move into the property. And if not everyone in the household is a student you might also be liable for Council tax.
Snapshot of pros
· Renting your own house or flat will give you more freedom, privacy, and space.
· If you split the rent, it can work out cheaper than renting a room from a student accommodation provider.
· You might be able to negotiate a break clause in the contract, giving you flexibility to leave without having to pay the outstanding rent.
Snapshot of cons
· You will be fully responsible for maintaining the property, including the garden if it has one. And if something breaks you might have to replace it before you are compensated by the landlord.
· You will have to pay a deposit of up to three months.
· The property might be further away from the university adding travel costs to your outgoings.
Renting a room
Renting a room with other students, a family or with people that have graduated and are working can often be the cheapest option. The average monthly rent for a room in London is £1,200, £1,000 in Edinburgh, £625 in Bradford and £500 in Cardiff.
If you rent with other renters, you will most likely be sharing the cost for gas, electricity, water, and internet that will be shared equally between you all. And if anyone living in the accommodation isn’t a student Council Tax will be payable on the property, so you will need to apply for an exemption.
If you rent with a family, the rent you pay will most likely include all the utility bills, meaning you will pay one amount monthly which will help you budget and make things a lot easier.
Snapshot of pros
· A cheaper option compared to staying in Student Halls and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
· You will be sharing with less people compared to Student Halls and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation.
· You can choose to live with a family, that might include your meals, or with both students and graduates to give you a wider friendship group.
Snapshot of cons
· The rent will most likely not include your utility bills, such as gas, electricity, water, and internet, which will be split equally between the people living in the accommodation. If one person does not pay their share the others become liable for the payment, unless the bills are worked out separately using a bill splitting service such as Huddle or Split the Bills.
· The property might be further away from the university adding travel costs to your outgoings.
· If you end up living with a family, you will have to follow their house-rules, such no friends can come back to the property.
