Any thoughts on finding accommodation?

[Katyaadlerscoat]

DS is going back to Bristol in September, having done a year of a different course 2 years ago. So he's not eligible for another year of uni accommodation. It's a nightmare trying to find somewhere. There seem to be a lot of places available but when you eliminate the scams, the dodgy and the "no first year students" there's huge competition for what's left. We're wondering if he's going to end up having to see if he can go somewhere else. Any thoughts or advice?

I'd contact the university, they usually have a list of landlords.

The no first years is probably they don’t want unruly 18 year olds which your ds won’t be, so probably worth contacting them and saying he’s an older student returning to start a new course. Bristol is renowned for not having enough accommodation for their first years. I think they were in the papers for housing some of their first years in Wales and Bath. Is there any private halls in Bristol like Unite etc? It might be quite late for getting somewhere now. I would have thought an odd room in a student house would be available. There’s probably a Facebook too.

What about the private Halls? There are quite a few in Bristol.

I would second trying private halls like IQ. Unite or student Roost if they have any of these, or others, in Bristol.
They don't mind what year students are in

Have you tried the university accommodation office?
They should provide a list of reputable agencies, shared houses with spaces available, private providers etc.

Bristol stufentz look for private rooms very early. Elsewhere won’t necessarily have a place for his course now will they? He needs to follow the advice above and get active in contacting as many organisations/people as possible. He’s older then first year, so he should say that to landlords.

Just a quick Google has come up with properties. Most are nearer UWE and some z pricy but that’s why they are left over. You might have to bite this particular bullet this year.,

We are all being very proactive and meeting with the issues I outlined in the OP. Thanks to all posters for the input.

The SU may have a social media group for those still looking for sharers. There are probably also private halls which offer rooms in flats or self contained studios.

He will be ringing the private halls today, though websites indicate they might all be full. I didn't know about those until I made this thread. Hadn't thought of SU so will look into that, thanks. He and DH are going down tomorrow to look at some places but competition is fierce.

There is recent advice on this thread
www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4548828-2017-seems-so-long-ago-now?page=3

Bristol is a nightmare. Lots of private landlords have given up as restrictions are getting too tough. We drove past DDs second year student house, which was the last student house in a street which in Tizer's DDs day would have been all student housing, and lo and behold scaffolding is up. The landlord would have either had to pay huge bills to meet the up coming EPC requirements, selective HMO requirements etc, or sell.

DD is a medical student who spent 18 months at home due to lockdown and intercalation. She had hoped that a room would come up in one of her friends houses but because of lockdown's etc, noone moved, and nothing did. Fourth year is the really busy year with finals at the end, and she did not want to share with strangers, so we bit the bullet and paid more (£925) for a one bedroom flat, albeit in a perfect location on a quiet street 10 minutes walk from the library. It will balance up as she is on an out of Bristol placement next year and wont need accommodation.

Once she realised how hard it was going to be, she let me take over. I was on the phone first thing, singing her praises and giving spiel about how mature students were perfect tenants as they are at lectures all day then studying in the evening. Once I had secured two viewings we both headed straight for Bristol to see the properties. . The other was a studio in the next street which was about £200 cheaper, but they had an afternoon of viewings, so we would have had to pay over asking to secure it. (And a dodgy agency so I might also have tried offering a cash tip to the lettings negotiator.) As it was the first letting agent had been convinced that DD would be a good tenant so did not bother showing it to anyone else. We agreed the asking price on the spot and were able to transfer the deposit immediately. It was June, and we knew that if things were that bad then it would only get worse and at some point the rent might start looking reasonable.

I rent property in central London and honestly Bristol is not much cheaper. (And I am busy divesting as I have no idea how I can find the workmen I need to bring Victorian properties up to the required EPC standards.)

DS1 was at Bristol for his master's and buddies up with someone through the Spareroom.co.uk website. The other person was an older first year.

Thanks. DS is checking on Spareroom. We're dividing up the work.

Good luck!

It is a nightmare and can only get worse. We started early last year partly because at the time I had rental property in a university town outside London and was aware of rents shooting up and and queues of potential renters waiting for viewings. We were also able to buy our way out, not true of those students who are part funding their way via jobs. (Though here Bristol Medical School is not too bad as they will prioritise more impecunious final year students, who are no longer eligible for grants, for placements with accommodation.)

The risks and costs of being a landlord are rising fast. Even if you can keep up with the rules and regulations, and landlords have been forced to become increasingly professional, the risks are becoming too great. The vast majority of tenants are fine but the exception makes it too stressful. Regulations designed to protect tenants may instead have the effect of driving good landlords who follow rules, out of the sector.

That includes me too. Far too difficult. Unintended consequences of legislation. Who would have thought it!

I did just have a thought @Katyaadlerscoat . When DD went to Bristol she was not immediately offered accommodation. The accommodations office was holding a day for students without accommodation. Have you contacted them to see if they have others looking and if they are doing anything to help? Apologies if you have done this already. Student rents in Bristol usually start on 1 July. If a student has pulled out, then there might be students looking for another person via the accommodations office.

DD was a student in Bristol a few years ago. She went there as her insurance so didn't have accommodation & UWE held an accommodation day at the end of August. Most people ended up in Unite accomodation.

Some more helpful suggestions. Thank you. DS and DH on their way back from Bristol now (a great day for tramping the streets) and may have found something. I have to do all my anti-fraud checks tomorrow but 🤞

@Katyaadlerscoat , did you see the post on FB WIWIKAU about an hour ago advertising a room in Bristol?

@Needmoresleep Ive sent you a pm about a question I have please

And I have replied….not after reeling at the cost of the plush new private halls they have just built opposite us.

Thanks!

How can they charge so much? It's crazy!

There's lots of private halls eg Unite Students, iq students etc

If anyone reading this has a child in year 12 researching universities, do check out the costs especially of private accommodation in years 2&3 it varies so much. My dd is paying £80 a week this coming year plus £15 for all bills - in many cities you can more than double that

A large number of students have been chucked out this year. More will be after resits. Sit tight and there will be lots of flats and houses looking for another occupant.

@Calcite how come large numbers are being chucked out of Bristol? Is it just this year and if so is it due to inflated A level grades?