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Original poster

To ask how much 2nd/3rd year uni rent costs?

37 replies

cornwall1900 · 12/03/2017 10:49

Hello all,

Recently went on an open day with my dd. We were shown around one of the accommodation blocks by a 2nd year student. He asked if anyone had any questions about the halls or uni itself.

I asked politely "How much are accommodation costs in 2nd year?"

To which the guy snapped "that is a very personal question!! I don't feel comfortable in answering that"

I was so shocked. Every other time I've asked this at uni days with my various children the student helpers have said something like "I pay XY" or usually "between P-T but obviously it varies", not a problem.

I meekishly replied that I was asking in general about how much an average would be for rent not about his personal costs... to which he spat "that is very rude!! You don't ask such things like that on open days".

It really did put us off and ruin our day. His whole attitude stank of false entitlement.

My dd and I were so confused, the other student helper looked mortified. One parent chipped in that it was a fair question where as a 'wannabe type' told us that it was unfair to ask about 2nd year costs.

I really do not understand why he took such offence to a general question, it's a valid concern.

This was at a top 5 university, very much known for it's rahness but never have I met such a rude, arrogant and condescending student 'helper'.

Do I live under a rock or how is it unreasonable to ask about this?

OP posts:
LIZS · 12/03/2017 10:52

There will be huge variation, regionally, depending on the type of accommodation, location, quality. Ds will be paying £400 pm for a house share plus bills.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 12/03/2017 10:52

Lol. What a tool. Hmm

I'd be inclined to feedback to whoever about how unhelpful and shirty he was.

Don't the universities usually publish a guide to average costs on their sites?

DaphneDeLaFontaine · 12/03/2017 10:53

Really? What a total dick. Wouldn't have put my DC off the uni but I wouldn't have wasted my time talking to him anymore.

DD at Exeter is paying 120 a week next year, lots of her mates are paying between 80-145 at different unis.

Eastpoint · 12/03/2017 10:54

Which uni was it? I'm sure someone here will know how much their child pays.

MarvinKMooney · 12/03/2017 10:57

Oh god. I organise interviews and open days and would be very cross if one of my student ambassadors behaved like this. They should be briefed to answer such questions - yours is asked all the time!

You should find guidance about living costs on the university's website.

In the meantime, a well placed email to the university about your experience would be worthwhile. With my work hat on, I would certainly want to hear about it.

PoppyFleur · 12/03/2017 10:57

Very rude, I would feed it back to the organisers.

Which university?

exexpat · 12/03/2017 11:00

Weird. I presume it wasn't Oxbridge as nearly all students live in college so costs are very easy to predict.

If it was somewhere like London (LSE?) there are some students, often from overseas, living in fantastically luxurious and expensive accommodation in central London, while others are sharing grotty houses in the outer zones, so it is much more variable and he may not have wanted to say where he was on that spectrum - but it is certainly not a rude or unreasonable question to ask.

FWIW, DS has just arranged his second year accommodation at Warwick (they nearly all go into university-owned houses off campus) and will be paying £95 a week, plus some bills, I think. We live in Bristol and I know some students here pay a lot more than that.

jay55 · 12/03/2017 11:03

You can take a look on Rightmove and work out how much a house share will be for 3/4/5 sharing.
But the student was weird getting defensive. Even if they live at home they likely know how much their friends pay.

Original poster
cornwall1900 · 12/03/2017 11:05

My dd who usually wouldn't speak up, asked for his name at the end and reported it both verbally and writing to the university.

OP posts:
EnormousTiger · 12/03/2017 11:07

What a silly answer! They should have just said on average it is XYZ. My sons have done school open days showing parents around ahd God knows what they've answered to some of the questions over the years. I hope people can realise one answer is not necessarily representative of a whole institution.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 12/03/2017 11:11

What an arsehole! I used to do open days and got asked this question a lot, I never had an issue with answering. It's not a personal question any more than asking what halls cost is!

My situation was a little different as I shared a room in a house with then-BF (now DH). Prices have probably risen a little since then (I started uni in 2012 so this house was 2013/2014) but we paid £140pw for the two of us in a room. About £90pw for our friends in the same house who had their own rooms.

We moved into a private rent then as DD was born at the end of 2nd year so we couldn't stay in the student house but our friends carried on in the £90pw house.

A lot of it depends on where they'll be living, some places are much more expensive than others - my brother is looking at going to Brighton, which is eye-wateringly expensive compared to my uni in Wales.

Still, it's definitely not a personal question and he sounds like an arrogant arsehole. Unfortunately they're drawn to these open day helper positions, we had our fair share of them who patronised and condescended to the prospective students and their parents.

When you say "rah-ness" I immediately assume Durham? It was famous on TSR for being full of rahs Grin

disappearingfish · 12/03/2017 11:11

He was a badly trained, poorly equipped student ambassador. Don't let it put you off the university if everything else about it was good.

Well done to your DD for following it up. It can only help him in the long run.

MarvinKMooney · 12/03/2017 11:12

Glad your dd mentioned it. Regarding the student's attitude, I wonder if he hadn't been briefed properly, didn't know the answer and came out with a very unfortunate response. Not making excuses for him, but I can see that happening. Even more reason for the university to brief its student ambassadors properly.

Original poster
cornwall1900 · 12/03/2017 11:14

Think Durham but older yet not Oxbridge Grin

OP posts:
VeryBitchyRestingFace · 12/03/2017 11:15

St Andrews?

user1474371557 · 12/03/2017 11:16

If this was Oxford I would very much like to know. Oxford has worked and is working very very hard to get rid of the Hooray Henry attitude of both it students (or some of them) and staff (now very much in the minority thank heavens) and such an attitude will not be tolerated. Although students can live in College accommodation the rate really does vary between colleges and students can choose to live out.

harderandharder2breathe · 12/03/2017 11:19

Definitely not BU to ask, he sounds like a twat and well done to your DD for reporting it

It's got to be a very common question, as most 2nd years won't live in halls.

ilovesooty · 12/03/2017 11:24

Why all this secrecy about where it was?

Yes it sounds as though he performed his role poorly. But his whole attitude stank of self entitlement? What does that mean?

YodasEars · 12/03/2017 11:24

If it's St Andrews, I can answer that for you - there is a student housing crisis, likely to get worse due to the closing of the cheaper halls for refurbishment. Me and my housemates were paying £450/month each not including bills, but we were on the lower end of the scale and knew people forking out £600+/month.

And yes, what an arse.

chemenger · 12/03/2017 11:40

Agree about St Andrews, you can be lucky and pay £450 - £500 for something out of the centre of town, but many pay £600 plus, and that goes up to £800 and beyond. Most flats are passed on from group to group so getting one is often a case of who you know and luck. I do think it's odd (if it is St Andrews) that the student guide was not willing to talk about it, all the students I know there could write a dissertation on the subject of rent.

CountMagnus · 12/03/2017 12:30

Maybe he was defensive because mum / dad / granny had bought him a flat, and he was on the back foot? Still doesn't mean he couldn't have given a polite answer based on typical rents though.

myusernamewastaken · 12/03/2017 13:05

My son is in his 2nd year in Canterbury and pays £500 a month but has found a cheaper house for next year at £400....

PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus · 12/03/2017 13:16

Have a look on here The Student Room. There are almost always up to date threads discussing accommodation costs at the specific university in question, as they all have their own subforum.

And yes, even if he felt unable to answer he should have had a politer way of putting it or directed you to the Accommodation dept.

SasBel · 12/03/2017 13:21

Now DH and I paid £650 a month for a flat in St Andrews 10 years ago. Halls varied, but around £100 pw. Now with the immense pressure on housing in the area I am not sure what you would pay Confused

CountMagnus · 12/03/2017 13:30

This will give you an idea (St Andrews uni on-line accommodation checker):

www.standrewsstudentpad.co.uk/SearchResults/1

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