Really poor quality halls accommodation

[SadformystudentDC]

I have just dropped my DS at university. I am no stranger to student accommodation both halls and private as DS is the youngest of three, but the halls accommodation at uni was rank and I feel so depressed for him.

The accommodation is in a sort of half basement. There are six rooms, two showers, a loo and a kitchen on the same windowless corridor. Even with the lights on the corridor was so dark we had to use the torches on our phones to see the room numbers. There was a permanent beep from the smoke alarm. None of the bathrooms, loo or kitchen have any windows at all. The kitchen is tiny and consists of a sink, an under the counter fridge, a kettle and a microwave. Not even a toaster. Way too small for a table. Absolutely nowhere for students to socialise.

The bedroom is worn and tired looking with painted brick walls but would be passable if the rest were not so dreary. This was meant to be a fresh start after he had a shitty time at another uni in what turned out to be a terrible environment not helped by Covid.

if it were me I would be straight onto accommodation to ask for a change of rooms but he doesn't like causing trouble so I know he will resist this, but I could tell he found the accommodation incredibly depressing as anyone would. Now I know about it and put the right search terms into Google I have found complaints from other students about it. Honestly I could cry.

I was just reading on TSR about awful halls at Kent. Darwin I think.

As for grim second year places. This is the view that DS3 has from his second year accommodation. Not quite matched by the internal shots.

I'm starting to think that a couple of the recent WIWIKAU threads are fake. There is one in particular that seems to be an advertising film for a specific residence complete with glamorous model showing us round

Now is definitely the time to move if it's that bad. Kids are so keen not to make a fuss!

Dd3's accommodation at Liverpool is lovely (very pleasantly surprised) but so so hot!

This was my son's experience at Cardiff. He stayed one night before I moved him out and asked for my money to be refunded. It's all very well saying that student accommodation is supposed to be a bit grim - not at the prices they are being charged for it though!
I would overrule DS snd get him moved asap - now is the time you do it!

The accommodation is grim

Ds was in an ex army barracks type and it was freezing and badly insulated

Definitely get him to request transfer first thing, not ok. Hope he gets something much nicer 🤞

Sounds like it’s one of the oldest / original blocks at Kent- Eliot or Rutherford. The small kitchen May reflect the fact that these are catered halls? The problem might be is that the shiny new halls at Canterbury are fantastically expensive (speaks from experience!!) so a request to move may not be realistic for you. Did he get the place through clearing? If it was a choice there would have been an opportunity to apply for your chosen accommodation after offers are made (Kent quite good on that score).

if it helps, they will all get used to where they are and before you can blink he will be looking for off campus accommodation for next year anyway

I just moved my DC into Kent too. The flat has 2 empty (so far) rooms. En-suites with with large shared kitchen. Definitely worth asking as there may well still be spaces. Although as PP says, will be more expensive.