Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

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

January 2022 finds our DC packing their big coats, checking the forecast for snow and wondering when Michaelmas actally is...?

Assemble!
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Sorry not had time to read the full thread but have a DV there in second year so could possibly be of some use!

Really? Seems strange that there isn't a week to clean it after the last tenants leave!

DD (at Exeter) has just put a deposit on a house with a 46 week contract as the land lady is planning some improvements over the summer. That's a huge saving compared to a 52 week contract. I gather that 48 week contracts are the norm in Exeter - students typically don't pay for August. Durham landlords are greedier!!! (DS, in Hawthorne Terrace this year, has a 51 week contract).

Some questions from a fresher mum.

DS is very laidback and was going to share with two lads for definite (plus a combination of others yet to be decided that the three of them were happy with). Anyway because these lads assured him they were sharing for certain DS wasn’t in a hurry and wanted to stay with them. Anyway one of the lads has now ditched them both and gone off with another group. DS is now unsure what to do. We have asked him to approach his current housemates which he seems to get on very well with but they are a very large group of 12 (but unsure whether he has knocked them back already) or whats going on, or maybe they are already sorted in two smaller groups.

What is the best easiest group size to look for a house in Durham?

Do they all need to be present to sign? Do they pay when they sign? Is better to jump now or hang back for a few weeks (or are prices likely to get even crazier).

Also any agents or houses to avoid please?

Thanks

Yes having seen the house I’m not sure how much cleaning went on! Even though they were charged for it by keeping back some of their deposit.
I find the whole finding a house and housemates an awful side to uni life so early on in year 1. DD shared with 3 others both years. She was lucky that her friend had taken a gap year and had older siblings that had been through it so was ahead of the game.

Most year 2s live in the viaduct streets.

Another one with a laid back DS. I agree though it's too early. They don't know each other well enough. I'd rather he has a great year 2 with a great bunch of mates than a rubbish year in a great house. I know these words may come back to bite me on the bum!

It’s a difficult one - I’ve done town in other towns with 2 other kids - we’ve had a amazing property I would happily live in with period features new bathrooms and a kitchen with a stunning extension with dishwasher and a garden with bbq 😂…., at the other end we’ve had subletting end of term hell with drug dealing, the police and nightmare agent who kept the deposit.

Sorry houses in other towns …

I agree with you - in the best of all possible worlds. But housing is in short supply in Durham because of the number of students the Uni has accepted. There is talk of them having to live in Newcastle - although how that works against the demands of Newcastle students I don't quite get. I know that this housing issue gets earlier and earlier (was week 5 in DD's 1st year I think and week 4 last year) but the landlords have the power. Demand is greater than supply

@ScoobyDoobyDoowhere don't forget private halls. My son is in a private en-suite shared flat paying £145 pwk this year for a 51 week contract all bills in and super fast internet. It is their cheapest room but completely lovely with all new mattresses this year. There is a manned reception too. I know that they will be releasing the rooms in the next week or two but those in there get first dibs. He is in his second year and staying in the same room for his third year. No idea on cost yet. I think they get some sort of discount if 4 people book together. Flats are 4s, 5s, 6s or 8s I think but you can just book your own room, you don't need to book out a flat etc.

Ds wanted to be close to campus as he will be there every day as opposed to town.

Could I ask the name of the private halls?

@red4321 there are several but my son is at Houghall Court which is opposite the university multi-sports training ground, great for access to there. It is a Unite property, they also own Rushford Court. There is Don Holm House and studio properties, I have no idea what people's budgets are but there is Elvet Studios and Prestige Living. I think at the time we were looking I just googled en-suite student accommodation Durham. Most of them list as sold out but you can contact them to get a rough idea of cost and find out when they will release rooms.

Depending on how early you get in you can get some with shorter tenancies. Last year my son was "late" (end of October or beginning of November) getting a room so has a 51 week tenancy but for 23/24 it will be a 46 week I think. Considering the eye watering prices some students are paying for shared houses it is worth looking at private halls.

Thanks so much, that's very helpful

@Rubyuesaini Thanks.

Ds wanted to avoid what happened to Scooby's Ds where people change plans or fall out, plus we are only the guarantor for Ds's room, no one else's which was a bonus. The only issue with the private hall is they front load the payments so the first two payments are higher rather than 3 equal payments and the payment date was 3rd October meaning Ds's loan hadn't hit his account so we had to pay for it in its entirety.

One of Ds's friends failed their first year after resits and that means a house he was going to share for second year is now one person down. Luckily the place was filled by someone who was meant to be in college accommodation but somehow they double booked the room meaning the fresher got there first! A whole mess but sorted fortunately. The whole housing thing is a mess. Too many students and not enough housing.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts, dd is adamant that loads more is going to be released on monday and has a housemate om standby to sort. Mainly because she unexpectedly turned up here for a surprise for my birthday tomorrow.

My dd called in tears tonight, the two girls she was looking to share with have kicked her out of the group. Part of me is relieved that they did this now, rather than once committed, but then also I'm thinking what the hell does she do next when apparently 'everyone else' has found somewhere. I've told her to reach out to everyone she knows and hopefully something will come up. Not easy though when you are shy and anxious.

@HighlandCowbag Bet that put a smile on your face!!

@Meery Definitely better now. Hard to be rejected like that though

Hope she finds somewhere @meery, that same happened to me at the end of my first year and I couldn’t get past it, I quit uni and have always regretted it. I never told my parents at the time, so at least she’s talking to you about it. It felt like the end of my world at the time.

@HighlandCowbag That put a smile on my face - bet your's is bigger!

@Meery I am so sorry for your DD - I hate to sound unsisterly but girls can be really nasty. In addition to reaching out to other friends could she look for spare rooms? I gather there are quite a few groups signing up for houses slightly too big for them who will be looking for someone to take the last room. Or would budgets stretch to the private halls PP have mentioned? Either of these would give her a chance to meet and make new and better friends.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts, dd is adamant that loads more is going to be released on monday and has a housemate om standby to sort.

My son tells me he's getting up at 5am on Monday to stand in line. If that's the case, he's got a lot better at getting up than he's ever managed at home...

Hope her housemate gets it all sorted.

Sorry to hear about your daughter Meery, that's upsetting for her.

Those price rises are horrific - last year, DS’s viaduct house was £135 a week INCLUDING bills!

DD said booked to see a house £170 including bills when they got there guy decided £180 not including bills - they walked as one of the rooms didn’t even have a desk and was super
small

Sorry for your DD Meery.

No idea what is going on with DS now either hopefully they will both be ok. I thought he might have phoned today or tonight to discuss this and see what we thought but he’s probably too busy out having a good time going round the College bars.

@Meery there are loads of kids who haven’t got anywhere yet - my DD has bookings to look around on Monday and they are going for an 8 or 2 4s. Tell her to chat to others often they will find a 5 when looking for a four and then need to find an extra person. Sending a hug x