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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

We've survived the first half term - go us! (starting uni 2017)

928 replies

flyingpigsinclover · 26/10/2017 17:29

New thread....we've got to the first half term!

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Auntpetunia2015 · 26/11/2017 11:12

This dropped off my “I’m on” list and I couldn’t remember where we where!! Anyway all good here DS has sorted House for next year, very swish 4 of them sharing I’ve signed the paperwork and he’s paid the £120 deposit himself. The house works out 50p per week more than his halls and it’s got 4 double bedrooms and a huge living area , currently he’s got a single and only a kitchen so much better.
In his Flat they have an American girl who’s at a university in USA but it’s a 4 year course with one spent at a uk uni, she’s doing park management and wants to be a ranger. Preston happens to have the best outdoor activity course in the uk so she’s here. And they all did her thanksgiving last weekend, had DS on phone asking how you cook a turkey?! While flat mucked in and everyone contributed and made food then all sat together all evening eating and chatting as she was quite homesick. I was touched by how thoughtful that was for a gang on teenagers.

HSMMaCM · 26/11/2017 12:05

Aunt P that's really sweet. DD would have probably asked how to cook a turkey about half an hour before they were due to eat Grin.

They had assorted tubs of cake on their kitchen table when I visited at the weekend, which have apparently been sent by parents. I was informed that parents don't send cake, but now I know different.

Auntpetunia2015 · 26/11/2017 12:41

Ha hsmm. DS has become something of a cook. I bought him the jamie Oliver 5 ingredients book and he’s made pretty much everything out of it except the veggie stuff.

simbobs · 26/11/2017 13:29

That sounds like an excellent idea, Aunt P , now all I have to do is find a vegan one. And not just for DD (she manages pretty well tbh); I have no idea what I am going to feed her for xmas dinner and beyond. Any vegans on here with helpful suggestions? Oh, and must not include mushrooms, or fake cheese.

BehindTheBlueDoor · 26/11/2017 17:30

Dejected DS this weekend, the house hunting is getting him down. They were advised to wait until after the housing fair but by then a lot of the houses they wanted were gone. Learning curve I guess but hopefully they'll find somewhere. Just want to give him a hug now. Confused

bigTillyMint · 26/11/2017 19:28

AuntP that sounds fab.

Behind, sorry to hear your DS is worrying, Im sure it'll all come right and he'll find something.

latedecember1963 · 26/11/2017 20:21

Simbobs, the BBC Good Food Vegetarian Christmas magazine (winter2017 edition) has some nice sounding vegan recipes in it this year.

simbobs · 26/11/2017 22:28

I'll try that, thanks. I have just got a few books from the library to get some ideas. She feeds herself ok at uni, having got soup and dahl recipes from me and having a lot of smoothies, but I would like to find a few things that she might not have thought of yet

GreenPolishToGo · 27/11/2017 20:47

DD and her friends are looking (and rather lackadaisically) for a house for nine of them> Or two houses side by side, one for the girls and one for the boys. I've been thinking: "Good luck with that," but I've been assured it's do-able. The thread's now prompting me to give her a nudge to get a move on, so thank you.

SoupDragon · 28/11/2017 08:37

I nudged DS1 about year 2 accommodation way back when it was first brought up on this thread and I could feel his eyes roll even via text. Yesterday he asked for our landline number so he could secure his house for next year with a group of mates from his building. Clearly he listened and I (or rather MN!) was right :)

SoupDragon · 28/11/2017 08:38

His chocolate advent calendar arrived safely with him yesterday so all is well :)

simbobs · 28/11/2017 09:06

I extravagantly sent mine one of the cosmetic/toiletries ones. It arrived yesterday but no thanks were received.

SoupDragon · 28/11/2017 10:53

DS has to be nice to me as I have my old iPhone to pass on to him. It's always useful to have some kind of hold over one's children... 😂

bigTillyMint · 29/11/2017 07:11

DDs house-hunting is back on. Apparently one of the boys went in with their deposits and to sign, but asked about gas/electric certificates, etc at which point he was shut down by the EAs who told him that they didnt think that the house was for them and that they would offer it to the next group of students Shock That sounds dodgy, doesnt it?

SoupDragon · 29/11/2017 07:13

Very dodgy!

HSMMaCM · 29/11/2017 07:32

It sounds like it's a good job he asked !

bigTillyMint · 29/11/2017 07:40

Yes, that's what I said to DD. But now of course they have to spend more time looking...

Meanwhile in their flat, DD and her mate spent 2 hours cleaning the kitchen on Sunday, and dumped 5 bin bags of dishes, cutlery, pans, etc outside the doors of 2 of her flatmates who she is planning to share with next year! Apparently they are still there Grin
DD was a SLOB at homeShockGrin

simbobs · 29/11/2017 07:57

I hadn't even thought to mention safety certificates to mine and haven't heard the outcome of their house viewing last weekend as I forgot to ask.

Needmoresleep · 29/11/2017 08:32

Not necessarily. If the house is for more than 5 (or various other conditions), it legally needs to be registered by the Council as a HMO, and any decent agent will make sure of that. Obtaining the HMO license involves a huge amount of work including all the relevant checks. The Council would be able to confirm quickly that the property is properly licensed.

Beyond that, as a landlord, when letting a property I try to steer clear of tenants I think may be demanding, and I suspect I am not alone. Often there is only so much you can do, say with getting a heating engineer out in an emergency and if you are doing your best, the last thing you want is an earful. Yet increasingly that is what happens. Long gone are the cheerful tenants who suggest they will shower at the local leisure centre for a couple of days, and make do with a storage heater.

My advice when looking around is to take good notes/photos so you can review later, ask reasonable questions, but not to be too "clever". Instead impress the agent with your domesticity, and the likelihood that you will look after the house. Then check the HMO status independently. The inventory should record a tested smoke/heat alarm on each floor (normally heat in the kitchen, smoke in the hallway), a current gas safety certificate and a carbon monoxide alarm. If not insist that they are provided. Electrical certs are not normally legal requirements for non HMOs.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 29/11/2017 10:01

Thanks for the info NeedMoreSleep, that could all be useful

LineysRunner · 29/11/2017 19:30

Hello again everyone, this has all been very interesting reading, so thank you Smile

DS, having had his head in the clouds, and - fortunately - in books, and having got over the shock of the cost of shared housing (nearly as much as private halls!), is adopting the strategy of joining an existing group who have already found a house and need an extra person to fill one room.

I've said the key things are:
Do you like the people?
What's the location like?
Cost / bills?

Also is it usual to have a 12 month rental, or a 9 month, does anyone know?

Horsemad · 29/11/2017 20:42

Hi Liney's, how are you?

I think most student houses run on a 12mth lease.

LineysRunner · 29/11/2017 21:00

Hi Horsemad, thanks for that info. I thought things were still typically a 12 month lease, too - but the students who stay next door to me are on a 9 month one. No idea why. It just sits empty all summer and means the landlord's liable for council tax.

I'm on a waiting list for an exciting hysterectomy, maybe Santa will bring me one for Christmas.

Meanwhile I'm determined to visit DD next week at her university whether I'm in pain and bleeding (sorry tmi) or not - she has a final year special show and I'M BLOODY WELL GOING.

DS home for Christmas on the 9th. Yay.

Horsemad · 29/11/2017 21:03

Mine's home for Xmas on 16/12 but is home this weekend as well Smile

LineysRunner · 29/11/2017 21:11

DD isn't here for Christmas (had a better offer!) but I'm glad she's spreading her wings tbh.