How grotty is student accommodation?

[fairywoods]

Slightly concerned about my DDs second year house share. It's a lovely big house, but the floors are filthy, the taps in the kitchen sink have no handles, the mattresses are on their last springs and the place obviously hasn't been 'professionally cleaned' at the end of the previous tenancy. It's expensive but in a desirable high demand student area. Last year she lived in brand new halls which were really clean and modern, so maybe I'm expecting too much for a house share? I think the estate agents take advantage of naive students and show them places that young professionals just wouldn't accept. I'm concerned they'll get stung for deposits at the end of the year, for things that weren't right at the start of their tenancy. My DD looked at plenty of places and said this was the best (some of the other places had showers that leaked through ceilings into kitchens ).

"I'm concerned they'll get stung for deposits at the end of the year, for things that weren't right at the start of their tenancy."

I can't comment on current student accommodation, but as in any other rental, I would say your DD and her housemates should photograph and document anything wrong / dirty / broken etc now and have it agreed with the agent/ LL before they move in. Could someone handy put some cheap tap handles on for them - they don't need to be fancy. Other than that I suppose it will up to them how much they want to clean it when they move in.

I look back at a houseshare I did 30 years ago at university and at the time it didn't seem to matter it was a bit grotty. I wouldn't want to live there now

I have the same worry fairy. DS's tenancy starts in September. Several of the house mates including him will be away so one is nominated to collect keys for them all. It's all very well me advising him about checking inventories and taking photos but all he can do is hope that person does it on their behalf.
His GF recently moved into her house and it was filthy. They were all too polite /naive/ timid to insist the landlord sorted it.

DD1s house share last year was awful when they moved in. I was furious when I saw it. Not as furious as I was this year when she told me how much the agent wanted to deduct for cleaning - it was cleaner when they moved out this year than it was when they moved in. I've told her to complain.
Agree with taking photographs and put in writing everything that is wrong with it.

I look back at a houseshare I did 30 years ago at university and at the time it didn't seem to matter it was a bit grotty. I wouldn't want to live there now grin

Same here! I was in halls for two years - lovely. Then a bungalow which had no form of heating other than a coal fire and fan heaters (this was in Scotland), mould on the bathroom walls and an attic (my room, which I entered via a pull down ladder) stuffed full of the owner's junk. Ice on the inside of the windows in the winter. I can't remember being bothered about any of it but I'd be horrified if my ds had to put up with something like that!

But it is a shame that landlords are exploiting young people like that. How do you use taps with no handles? I think I'd be buying a new mattress Fairy!

DD's house in Year 2 was pretty grim. They had loads of fights with the Landlady (when they could get hold of her!). In the end they got the Council involved and the house was eventually stripped of its HMO licence.
I was so proud of DD. She learned loads of transferable skills that a naice property would never give her.

At uni I worked one summer "turning over" student properties. Some of them were in a right state when we got there. They were very much at the cheaper end of the market but they all got a coat of paint where needed (trade magnolia - but still done), new curtains where needed or old ones rehung properly, everything cleaned including minging fridges and ovens and any little repairs done. Beds and furniture was checked over, not thoroughly but anything broken would have been chucked out and new brought in.

It wasn't 5* and some things were bodged or done the quickest way - but they were done. Taps would have been fixed for example, probably replaced with the cheapest ones available.

Daughter in Aberystwyth. Second year wasn't very good. Needed a thorough clean before moving in. Third year accomadation was much better. Other daughter in Newcastle accommodation seems to be better than in Aberystwyth. Think all to do with supply and demand . how much the landlords get away with.

DS has always lived in decent places, mainly flats in private halls. I don't think it has worked out much more expensive than a grotty house by the time you factor in utilities and WiFi.

He's found a really good cheap one this year in a newly converted pub.

Having had two through uni I have to agree it is pretty usual unfortunately. There is often such high demand that landlords get away with not maintaining properties and charging very high prices. Dpn't expect to get a full deposit back ever - they always find something.
I was shocked when I saw the first place, but by the time the youngest is in third year you are almost used to it and learn that it only irritates DC to comment so just wince and keep your mouth shut! I did comment when things were extreme and encouraged DD to chase up letting agents/landlords and fight her battle.
What irritated me was the 5 page list DD showed me in her second year. The landlord had outlined cleaning to be done including 'dust each blind slat from left to right, wipe with a wet cloth'. You get charged for every tiny blue tac mark and scratch so be warned!

Thanks very much everyone...at least grotty is normal. It's disgraceful really, especially as they are charging so much. She's taken photos and sent them to the agent as some 'ammunition' for when the desposit rows start next summer! Ho hum, you live and learn

at least grotty is normal.

It certainly is. In fact, I thought that it was one of those "rite of passage" things. It will be the source of many fond reminiscences in years to come.

ha, ha, thanks senua that's a positive, fun way of thinking about it

When i was a student 15 years ago- grotty was normal-was a right of passage... One student housr we had three separate ceilings collapse, whilst we were in the rooms... At one point i could only access my room using a hard hat..

Oh yes and two party guests were almost killed with football sized lumps of brick falling 3 falls off the fancy brickwork...

Luxury i tell you!!

Have seen some private halls... Wow!!

Many student houses are disgusting. My bf (now dh) moved into one which I helped clean. When the freezer was defrosting a bag of smiley faces appeared as the ice was melting. There was also a sponge hung up in the shower of with a pubic hair on. Granted, a lot of students don't keep their accommodation spotless but when the places are so dirty and broken when they move in you can see why they don't bother - and they know they will get stung for cleaning and repairs when they leave. The landlord of the same house took £25 off each tenant (5 of them) for a broken loo seat. A loo seat which was broken when they moved in and I bought a new new one to replace it which by the time they move out was slightly loose.

But it is only for a short period of their lives and so many of us have to do it!

A tip though: don't ever look at the matresses. Just buy your dc a matress topper and don't think of it anymore!

Yes, grotty student houses are definitely the norm! I was quite lucky in that we found a flat share that was only 2 years old and very modern for my last two years at uni. I was always amazed at how disgusting and worn down my friends houses could be.

Definitely agree with taking photographs at the beginning and mentioning anything that is broken or needs replacing. Even my landlord wasn't that great, and we had quite a few problems over the years despite the nice flat! From my experience, hardly anyone I knew in uni had a really great landlord. Student houses just don't seem to get the same attention than a normal rented house would.