Starting lectures at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

The other thread filled up really quickly, with exciting talk of laundry, mattress toppers and lost property.

Here's where the rest of them settle in, get through freshers and the work gets serious.

Ds has done no washing yet. He told me he is being very "parsimonious" with his clothes .

It's ridiculous having to organise second-year accommodation so early. I know dn in Bristol was "forced" to make a choice (of flat and flatmates) after six weeks, and of course by the end of the year was groaning as she would have preferred to share with different people.

I don't think ds has found any friends yet . Perhaps I'll have to buy him two adjacent houses to live in !

When I win the euro millions, I will buy DD a house and she can invite whoever she likes to share it. Perhaps they'll need a second house for parties?

I have heard people say it's best not to share with friends, because then it doesn't matter if you fall out.

Hats off to your dd Green that's dedication!

At that age, I would have been in the wear yesterday's underwear faction. Or possibly rinsing them out by hand. DD would be in the buy more faction.

DS and DD have both requested an airer when we visit.

That won't be for a couple of weeks though as I am currently sitting under an umbrella on a beach.

There's a really sturdy one for eighteen quid on the John Lewis website. Capable of being ordered on the beach for direct delivery to DC, or even, just possibly, by the DC themselves....

I'll have a look goodbye cheers.

My two don't have credit cards and I'm wary of ordering stuff online with debit card. So I'll do it.

To be honest, I don't mind. It's a pleasure to be able to do little bits and bobs for them when I'm otherwise redundant.

Sun bed airer shopping. Hilarious .

I can vouch for that one Carl - it was one of the things the helpful freshers' rep struggled in with ten days ago :) Everything unpacked incl clothes hung up and bed made up (complete with mattress cover, mattress topper etc) and all rubbish removed in less that 35 mins. I'm getting to be a pro! Anything else, let me know!

A couple of things to note about the second year accommodation.

1. They will have to pay a deposit when they reserve the place. Around £350 - £400. They get this back eventually but DS1 has only just got his back that he paid in January 2015. He moved out in May 2017.
2. They can't always share with the same people in year 3 because some will have a year abroad or in placements.

Uni cities vary with the amount of accommodation. DS1's (Warwick) was sorted by December in his first year, in his second year they left it until January and really struggled to find anywhere.
DS2 in York was assured that there was an abundance of student accommodation and absolutely no hurry. When they started looking in January all the best places had gone. In fact they have enough halls for second and third years if they want to stay on campus but halls are much more expensive than private rent. I paid his deposit of £370 in January and in July I had to pay three months rent in advance - so long before term started and loans arrived.

I spoke to my DD last night and was relieved to see her looking happy and well. She looked flummoxed when I asked her whether she had paid her accommodation fees yet, as she seemed to think that this happened automatically, like the tuition fees.Hopefully I managed to signpost her to the right place, but as she has never set up a direct debit before I told her that we could help, if necessary, when we see her in a couple of weeks.

I am a bit (no, a lot) shocked that they have to start looking for next year's accommodation so soon. In my day we did it in about May! That said, I know that there are 10 times as many students now. How do you deal with things, though, if someone that commits to the share doesn't pass their 1st year - not exactly unheard of - or otherwise drops out? That, in addition to finding suitable people in the first place.

I think it does vary a lot and it's probably easier if there are only two or three of you looking. Properties which have a multiple occupancy licence are probably harder to come by. DD got a nice flat in glasgow one september, but she had the luxury of being able to live at home if absolutely need be. She gave up that flat the following july and got another lovely flat in the august, which saved her seven weeks rent. However, she was happy to share with students from other unis. She advertised herself on spareroom and replied to ads looking for someone to join an existing flatshare.

Sim I sympathise with your concern about paying large bills. I asked DS if he had got his scholarship and he said he didn't know.

It does worry me, having to find housemates so quickly. Fine if you're a highly social person who makes friend at the drop of a hat. DS is quite shy and it takes him longer to make friends; although he is meeting people at the moment and enjoying himself socially in his quiet way, I honestly can't see him finding a group of housemates by December.

simbobs I remember looking in May too when I was at university! It never occurred to anyone to think about it before then!

I actually hope DS follows his brother and my friend's DS and just goes back into halls for Yr2.

A lot less hassle imo.

Ds is going to do that. It's preposterous to have to find "friends" after only a few weeks. A lot of pressure for those souls who are shy/awkward, or just haven't found their tribe yet.

When I went to university I banded together with some people but it was around Easter. Certainly not just after I'd unpacked in September! It makes me come over all panicky, like when he teacher says "Find a partner!" in PE at primary school and your best friend's off sick.

I think going back into halls in second year can be equally risky - they might find themselves in a flat full of rowdy first years.

At Exeter they encourage students to wait until January for accommodation week when the university releases details on line of all the landlords and their properties that have registered with them. Some still start looking in Nov/Dec though. DS2 didn't find his year 3 house until May this year. He's good at holding his nerve though! Lot of pressure on them to find something quickly, which doesn't always work out.

Text from ds to say the gym at uni weighs him in 10kg lighter than the gym here (he last went there about July) he assures me he is eating lots of fish and rice and has cereal or eggs for breakfast. Am hoping that its just down to him doing lots of sport but if I'm honest it does worry me a bit to lose so much so quickly without even trying.

Yes DD (Exeter) found hers in Jan when most people were looking I think. Houses were snapped up quickly though - they lost out on a few as not all flatmates could go and look at the same time and the good flats went to those that got there and could make a commitment first. They wished they'd know that before and would have cleared a couple of days to go and look together early in Jan. DD very quiet but got asked by a group in her 1st year halls to 'make up the numbers' and it worked quite well. Although lots of groups were made up in early Dec/Jan there were also lots of notices around on facebook etc offering single places in group houses where dynamics had changed or one member had dropped out etc so people without a group could pick up something that way. No places in Uni halls for 2nd year, though I think there might have been the possibility if you had DSA allowances etc - that was going to be DD's next step if she didn't find a group share.

eat, my son loses weight very very quickly too. All summer he wanted to gain a stone and I wanted to lose one (he works hard to stay over 9 stone at 5 foot 10!!! Neither of us managed it but at least he lost none. He just does not remember or bother about or be interested in food. ind you his grandfather died about 18 months ago over 90, same weight as at age 90 and fit and healthy and active for 90 years so being thin is not necessarily a problem.

DD is very happy with her flatmates in halls but I hope she doesnt rush to sign up for a house yet as 4 weeks is nothing in terms of knowing people.

Presumably everyone just gets over excited about finding accommodation for the next year. Some people start looking earlier and earlier so, domino effect, everyone does?

Having brought this up on here, I thought I would just casually drop it into conversation with DS yesterday and the concept didn’t seem to stun him. Presumably there’s a lot of gossip.

As an aside, DS’s group of houses has a huge population of rats running about outside. I’m sure in the promo stuff I saw online it was all about the lovely wooded setting and sweet bunnies gambolling around. Let’s hope the rats stay outside.

They paid the rats a fiver each to put on bunny ears for the promo shots.

Soup

Tobee apparently rats make very good pets 🐭

I've just warned DS that he might need to look at accommodation before the end of this term. He thinks its bonkers but thanked me for my wisdom.

Not sure whether to tell DD. She'll panic.

Yes but pet rats are clean and disease free. Not sure these are. They are probably also all high as a kite if they’ve been eating the dog ends lying on the grass if rumour is correct.