Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

September 2021 finds us packing, unpacking, meeting old friends and new, and all with our fingers firmly crossed for a positive year!

@ Meery, am sure your daughter has made the right decision. My ds left at Christmas last year due to flat issues compounded by covid restrictions. He worked during the year and is now back and loving it, a bit older and more confident. Wishing you both all the best.

Out of interest how much is reasonable to allow for bills per month for students, some rental contracts seem to be bills included and some not.

Rents seem to vary quite a lot , is anyone able to give me an idea of what the general going rate is ? It looks to me like around £130-£150 around the viaduct is that about right ?

Based on a brief discussion I had with DS, that sounds about right.... although some landlords include utility bills and others don't. My understanding is that those are currently around £10-12 per person per week - but could be much higher next year when the price caps disappear.

It all seems like a complete rip off to me. The landlords are taking the students for a ride and making terrific yields off their properties.

I'm half expecting to see an episode of Vera in years to come featuring the murder of a Durham landlord.... the plot always seems to involve the death of some dodgy local guy who's made money by exploiting others!

Thanks @MidLifeCrisis007 he seems to be on the right tracks then. There are some that seem much more expensive but others much cheaper . He doesn’t need to be in the cheapest but equally he doesn’t want to be ripped off or rather as we are paying we don’t want to be pay when we don’t need to !

We just had a lovely - and wet - weekend visiting dd. So nice to see her settled into her college and university life. Ate out at La Spaghettata and Hungry Hippo and visited the Botanical Gardens and cathedral to see the moon exhibit.
Dd was starting to get a bit edgy as we left about finding a house. She has 2 friends she definitely wants to live with and was hoping for a bigger group but everyone she might have asked has already made groups. All feeling a bit frantic even though I am sure she still has plenty of time.

My ds is looking with 2 friends. They seem to have decided to go for a smaller share in a busy area which I can see the logic of. There seem to be quite a few 3 beds.

I think due to the panic of freshers wanting to secure a house for next year, I fear the sharing groups may not be whom they would have chosen to share with at the end of their first year ........... oh well you live and you learn

Isn't everything about supply and demand @MidLifeCrisis007? People can only charge so much for anything because others are willing to pay it. Similar to all the trades being hard to get hold of at the moment. I am sure some of it is hype but a lot seem to be jumping on the bandwagon

Yes @Chopc. I agree . DD’s group - (that she mostly socialises with and is house hunting with ) -seem to be taking it slowly so I’m hoping they’ll have time to evolve as they go. They sound like smashing group though so it would be lovely if they all end up in the same house. They aren’t all currently living in the same place so it’s nice that they’ve come together too.
Nothing signed yet but quite a few viewings by the sounds of it. One house they looked at had older students present who quietly told them not to sign for it as they were looking ! Which was cool

@Peaseblossum22, my DSs rent with bills included last year was about £500 a month. He was in Viaduct. Bills included made it super easy to budget, but no RL budgeting/paying bills skills developed. He’s in a similar set up this year!

He had a friend in a much cheaper set up, also in Viaduct

It is very frustrating that they have to sign up so early - both of mine were fine, but would probably have lived with different people if they could have looked nearer the end of first year.

@LeiatheSchnauzer, we loved La Spaghettata when we went with DS after first lockdown - was so nice being on a buzzy atmosphere and large portions

Gosh it does seem early to be agreeing houses, but I wouldn't worry about friendships developing. I agreed to share with three others from my first term landing and we found our house in the January which was the norm. Our friendships evolved across the first year so but the time we came to live together none were the people I was mainly socialising with, but actually I really liked that and I think it makes things less intense. We got on well and had plenty of laughs, but we all had a separate social life away from the house.

That's interesting @GoTrevs . Another perspective. Thinking about it I think it is a good idea not to share with your nearest and dearest as you may be more likely to keep the friendships going 🙈

So we are in Durham, just been for a walk around again with ds2 and dh. I can’t believe how many bars and clubs and restaurants there are compared to my day even frankly you had to go to Newcastle to find a decent club. Still beautiful though

Ooh - Any restaurent recommendations @Peaseblossum22? We are going next weekend and I want to book somewhere.

Most are good!

The Cellar Door is lovely, as it's the Rabbit Hole. I like Lebaneat too. Capital Curry is lush. Ds1 and me are going to Gusto tomorrow which I've not tried before but looks lovely. They're are several more generic type places but all turn out decent food, Rib n Reef, Cosy Club etc. I took all the dc for lunch the other day and we ended up at The Food Pit, everyone enjoyed their food. Ds1 had a noodle soup from the Thai place in there which was probably the winner.

Essentially I've not been anywhere rubbish. I've not been to places like Spags or Shaheens since I was a student years ago but the fact that they are still there suggests they are doing something right.

Actually we have Shaheens booked for tomorrow night partly because everywhere seems to be booked solid and also boys love curry and it’s opposite Dh’s room in Hatfield so has a lot of memories. Just taken ours to the restaurant at the indigo which was ok, not cheap but they love a steak and it’s ds’s birthday soon. Interestingly although it seemed impossible to book anywhere online in advance the restaurants didn’t look heaving . Also did the obligatory visit to the Dun Cow , Dh’s favourite pub in Durham, probably mine too.

Ds very chuffed, seems very busy and has sorted his house for next year. So lovely to see him happy and gabbling away.

My DD just signed a lease on her house for her third year, I can confirm they are going like hot cakes and very expensive, £140 pw and of course that doesn't include food. Limited stock of housing in Durham. Admittedly cheaper if you are willing to go further out.

Limited stock for locals, too! I do look at the price of student digs and remember paying under £20pw at Newcastle, albeit over 30 years ago! It's an expensive business.

@tinkywinkyhandbag does that £140 include bills?

DS’s 8 bed viaduct house is £580 a month each including all bills. I think the 6 bed central house they’ve bagged for next year is £600 all inc.

Ds' 4 bed house in Viaduct is £145 per week including all bills.

We are (hopefully) visiting next weekend, can't wait to see him! I'll be interested to see his second year house...

Omg nearly £150 a week?'

Yes and you have to pay for the full year, which I didn't realise until recently.

You might be interested in this (albeit rather dated) article Vargas!

Say hello to my boy when you're up there! I think their rooms are v close!

student-cribs.com/blog/student-housing-advice/why-the-viaduct-is-the-best-place-to-live-in-durham/

Most places in UK for student lets are 11 months but some try it on with 12