Fighting our way through 1st year uni (starting Sept 17)

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing the previous thread.

Exams, assessments, essays, etc.

Support, or lack of it.

Will they all get accommodation for next year and can they cook a balanced meal yet.

I think it's probably s8imilar here except one had not read the emails (God knows why) about what happens when and they say it's very confusing because of the strikes particularly as to essay deadlines which people keep rushing and then findning no need to rush due to the strike and feel they will get a lower mark as they rushed to stick to an original deadline which lazier others didn't bother with who hoped the strikes might give them a bit more time. Apparently some people leave as soon as exams are over which is why one is planning the hall party before end of exams whic otherwise though seemed a bit unwise - party during exams but the warden thinks if you don't do that no one is left to go to it so we'll see. I think mine intend to stay until the very last minute /end of term which is definitely mid june as our whole family's holiday for 9 people is booked for immediately after their term ends in June.

DS has some weeks more lectures before some exams. He seems supremely unprepared yet still anxious. The first year exams on his course do matter which he is aware of just not what he has to know when.

He's far more concerned about his summer plans. He has 2 friends from separate friendship groups who both want to 'travel' with him. But will the 2 friends get on with each other ? Oh, the social strain...

And the house is too quiet and tidy again.

DS has just 3 weeks this term. There is a lot of practical work to be completed and an essay but no exams.

DD has paid a deposit on her first rental property. I'm now trying to keep her focussed on her exams while she wants to look at furniture etc!

We have loaned her the money for her summer rent, which she will repay later. Not sure how she could have done it otherwise.

Good luck to all the students with exams. Year 1 will soon be over.

DD has 5 1/2 more weeks - last exam at start of school half-term. But she will be staying in Brizzle to party and hopefully get a job!

They have their house sorted for next year, but annoyingly the tenancy starts a week after the halls tenancy ends so she needs to find storage for a week or we will have to do 2 trips in quick succession.

Just back from taking DD. I think she's got 10 weeks now, part of which is exams though it does include 'may week' (in June). Then she'll have a quick turnaround before starting a 12 week placement even further away - no idea about accommodation for that yet, hopefully the company will be of some help with finding that (they have a lot of summer students, they all must be housed somehow so DD is quite relaxed about that).

She was right at the bottom of her college 'room draw' for next year, so will be in a house rather than college - but it's sublet by them so 39 week contract, and one of her best mates swapped to be with her, so all good (and it has a freezer so they're planning a frozen pea feast )

But doesn't that mean she's now top of the draw for third year Errol? Same happened to my current third year who's now in the most beautiful room with the most beautiful view in college (however his idea of interior design and making it cosy leaves something to be desired....).

My first year goes back any day now but isn't home until towards the end of June. Coming home in May must be odd.

It does indeed - she's already decided exactly which type of room she'll have! She's actually quite pleased now that she'll have a year 'living out'.

Mine has to come home for summer as they don't get their new room until the start of term.

One of mine said double beds was a key requirement in their house (as he and I have never slept on such a luxurious thing as a double bed in ouur lives I am not sure where they got that idea from. I think in one house one bed room is smaller and that person pays less which is fair enough, from September.

bigT, we have the same issue although it's a month in one case so they are just going to bring it all home and then take it back in September. (I never seem to empty my house, it just gets fuller and fuller)

DD drew the long straw so has a huge room. Overall rent is low so she will offer to organise and pay for wifi.

My DD's landlord doesn't rent out the smallest room, he has said they have it as a guest bedroom instead - I hope it, and not wanting rent until September, is a sign of a good landlord.

Xenia Tilly, mine moved flat to one with a longer contract. But luckily it now means she has a day overlap between one and the other. I suspect her room will be full of flatmates' stuff, but perhaps there will be others in the same position.

I am a landlord so am telling DD I want to be there to document the condition of the flat when they move in. She knows, having spent a childhood clearing and cleaning properties post tenancy, what she needs to do at the end.

Sounds like you can give her very good advice. one of mine doesn't even has the tenancy contract as their lead friend has arrangved it all. The other one (I have twins) I have managed to wrest the contract from for my records.

Yes. They should ask in advance whether a professional inventory will be done. And a professional clean (with receipt). If not they should announce (by email) that when they collect keys they will document the condition of the property, checking things like lights ovens and heating, and taking photos. They then send a copy of this to the agency.

They are then only responsible for returning it in the same condition. So some advantage if it is received in a filthy state.

By law they should receive a government guide to renting, a cetificate saying where their deposit is held, and a gas safety certificate. Look under the Local Authority website to see if property comes under HMO licensing. If there are problems and the landlord is not licensed (the LA can confirm) the LL is in deep shit which gives them a fair amount of leverage.

Also test firealarms. Should be a heat one in the kitchen and a smoke one on each floor. Plus a carbon monoxide a few feet from the boiler. The latter costs about £30 so buy one if need be.

A further bit of information, as I was tackling some of the guarantor stuff. DDs University town is apparently very sensitive to residents concers, and the letting agency tells me that if the Council receive more than three seperate noise complaints the LL is expected to start eviction proceedings. The University then follows up with sanctions, including, potentially, expulsion.

(Responsibility for tenant behaviour is often a part of HMO licensing so that makes sense.)

Aw, spoilsports. What’s the point of a student house if you have to behave like a considerate grown-up?!

Ds is very pleased with next year’s accommodation because it’s next to McDonald’s...

Agreed. The cynic in me wonders whether it is because the University is in the middle of some very desirable and expensive residential neighbourhoods. I wonder if there would be the same concern if residential neighbours were less affluent or assertive.

Ds gets his house keys in June

7 boys in a shared house !!!!

and rent to be paid by standing order in June/ Sept /Dec / March.

Its a bit tough paying for halls this term and then having to pay rent again in June, luckily he has bank of mum and dad, but tough on those who don't.

DS is packing up ready for the return to uni tomorrow. Only 8 weeks though this term. Still going to miss him......until the beginning of the second week of the summer holidays I suspect

My DD will be taking photos as well, she even took photos when she moved into halls and sent them to the accommodation office
She's done property inspections for a family member who rents out a house and is very assertive.

My DC not yet got accommodation sorted for 2nd year. (London). Likely to be in flat share with three others with a top rent budget of about £170 each per week exc bills, hopefully less. Can someone suggest a ball park of what the deposit is likely to be as I'm trying to forecast my finances and praying there is no double up on accommodation and moves seamlessly from halls to flat share with no fuss.

On deposits - one of mine - they paid I think a month's rent for the deposit (divided by those sharing)

DD had to pay a month deposit.

I had to tell her today her rabbit had to be put down . He was old, but she's very sad.

Forty six, one of the Central London Unis? My understanding is that there is not much of a student market as such. Just go into normal estate agencies. And it all takes place much later than elsewhere. So no need to start looking much before now, and even then that is early.

That said September is hectic with recent grads starting work in London also looking for property, so if you can take on something early and work in London over the summer, you are at an advantage or ask as many third years as you know, about flats they might be giving up.

Watch out that some Landlords want rent paid in six monthly instalments in advance, especially if any of the group are overseas students. Otherwise expect to be guarantors.

The budget sounds fine. DS got a nice ex-Council property for about that, 10 minutes walk from his University. Albeit no living room.