Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Durham University

599 replies

EwwSprouts · 21/06/2023 22:09

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

June 2023 End of term for all. Hopefully young people are brim full of plans for summer fun and jobs to pay for it!

Link to old thread
]Previous thread (fingers crossed!)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
littlenickyy61 · 24/10/2023 18:27

littlenickyy61 · 24/10/2023 18:22

Yes please x

Show quote history

Sorry you’ve already given it to me upthread lol

MargaretThursday · 24/10/2023 18:42

so would he still need a guarantor? And could I be a guarantor with no current income?

When dd was living in Durham, they asked for either the whole year up front (one of her housemates had to do that as she was from abroad and had no UK contact to be one) or have a guarantor. That may just have been her agents though.
I think normally they want a guarantor to have an income of around £30k or more round here for renters, I don't know if it's similar for students though.

sep135 · 24/10/2023 21:24

Sorry you’ve already given it to me upthread lol

No worries. That was last year's so I've attached this year (apologies it's a bit long so I have to post in two batches)

Durham University
Durham University
Durham University
sep135 · 24/10/2023 21:25

Part 2...

Durham University
Durham University
Durham University
Fruitygal · 24/10/2023 21:52

@sep135 @littlenickyy61 many of those properties have gone already (I know of 3-4 which contracts were signed last week - and those children had been looking at others there which were already signed) . If you pop into Framptons in the morning they will give you notification on what’s left. Like them as agents.

sep135 · 24/10/2023 21:54

Yes, I'm sure it's not up to date, it was only intended as a guide to average rental prices this year

Netcam · 24/10/2023 22:12

MargaretThursday · 24/10/2023 18:42

so would he still need a guarantor? And could I be a guarantor with no current income?

When dd was living in Durham, they asked for either the whole year up front (one of her housemates had to do that as she was from abroad and had no UK contact to be one) or have a guarantor. That may just have been her agents though.
I think normally they want a guarantor to have an income of around £30k or more round here for renters, I don't know if it's similar for students though.

Thanks for the reply. Just been in touch and he has already found a house and signed a contract, 5 of them together from their college. His dad was able to be a guarantor, just needed to be a homeowner.

Fruitygal · 25/10/2023 06:00

@Netcam thats great!! One less thing to worry about

KittyMcKitty · 26/10/2023 13:00

Dd nearly signed last week on a lovely house in Gilesgate but didn’t for various reasons at the last minute (and I think was the right choice) and has now signed for a house in a great location in Viaduct which is less money (although not as plush but still nice) - I think she’s relieved to have somewhere as it was all somewhat stressful and is v happy to be less then 10 mins from town with just another 5 mins to college and lectures. Keeping 🤞🏻all other dc find what they’re looking for.

Original poster
EwwSprouts · 26/10/2023 16:01

Great news Kitty.
DS has also signed this week. Does sound relieved to have got one over the line. Bit of a long walk to the science blocks though!

OP posts:
SpamhappyTootsie · 26/10/2023 16:15

There’s still a steady stream of viewers through the door of DS’s house. I don’t know what’s going on there, it’s dated but not the worst by any means. Anyway, he’s signed and paid for deposit on another one down the road which is lovely - I’d live there Grin so that’s all sorted until he graduates, phew!

Fruitygal · 26/10/2023 16:32

DD signed up for lovely house with a fab private landlord - closer to science site for next year but further from town but she is in prime viaduct this year - landlord unpleasant but they have warned the kids looking round.

Trumporange · 26/10/2023 16:58

Fruitygal · 26/10/2023 16:32

DD signed up for lovely house with a fab private landlord - closer to science site for next year but further from town but she is in prime viaduct this year - landlord unpleasant but they have warned the kids looking round.

Fruitygal can you provide initials or a clue to the company so people on here can avoid them?

KittyMcKitty · 26/10/2023 17:18

@EwwSprouts is your ds in Viaduct too? Dd and her flatmates currently have no lectures at the science site so she’s hoping that continues next year. She says it’s too far to the Billy B from Chads so it’s fortunate Chads has a lot of library / study space. Dd v fortunate with her house - it’s on one of the big student roads which is also a non through road so there shouldn’t be traffic noise.

Great news all the other dc are finding good houses - hope those who haven’t currently got one get sorted soon. They keep saying it shouldn’t be as bad this year as the Covid bulge has gone so let’s hope that’s true. Durham rents though are truly shocking!!!

Original poster
EwwSprouts · 26/10/2023 18:10

@KittyMcKitty No he's signed for Gilesgate, that end of Sherburn Rd. All his lectures are in science buildings. Apparently the important info is there is a cut through to MC so all good!

OP posts:
DeadbeatYoda · 27/10/2023 22:28

This feels a bit like the panic buying of toilet roll all over again, only with house shares.

Trumporange · 27/10/2023 23:02

A lot more expensive than loo roll...

Fruitygal · 04/11/2023 13:15

Hi @Trumporange happy to tell you if you have a private landlord you are dealing with directly before signing and you send me a private message with their initials - but not prepared to give name out anonymously. As they may have friends at uni and they’ve been upsetting the kids and currently we have calm for first time in weeks.

Is everyone else’s kids sorted for next year ?

DeadbeatYoda · 04/11/2023 20:14

My son hasn't even started looking. He is only just settling into Uni life. He is still meeting his tribe and forging bonds as he goes along. How are they supposed to know who they will want to share a house with already. Is this a middle class performance thing? Another self-fulfilling prophecy from the grasping classes.

Trumporange · 05/11/2023 00:06

Definitely not a class thing. It's just the way estate agents have set the system up in the city and kids responding to it.

sep135 · 05/11/2023 07:30

It was sufficiently bad last year that it made the BBC news. One of the main agents did two main releases and some of the students that waited for the second batch (my son included) queued through the night.

He then found prices were higher than the first batch so isn't in a great location. Like many first years, he found it hard picking a group of friends that early and is living with different friends next year. That said, PPs have said houses became available later in the year.

The housing situation in Durham isn't a middle class performance thing. It's a small city and student numbers rose during the pandemic. As a result, rents did too as there's high demand and limited supply. I can't blame the landlords either for cashing in on the situation.

SpamhappyTootsie · 05/11/2023 11:29

You don’t have to be absolute best mates for ever with the people you share a house with either. Just get along enough to not annoy the hell out of each other Grin
DS has had a variety of shares, 2nd yr in College with 3 flatmates from 1st yr plus 2 new people (new people didn’t want to mix much but were friendly and neat enough), 3rd year in private house with 1 existing flatmate and 3 others they didn’t know until they met to see if compatible and next year a combo of flatmates from 1st year and course friends made over the last 2 years in private house.
It’s unrealistic to expect a BFF combo from the October of your First Year (although I’m sure that happens sometimes). Just be friendly, personable and try to find people who share your aims for communal living, whether that’s a Party House set up or something a little more sedate. And what you want for your 2nd year might be different to what you want for your 3rd or 4th year so you shouldn’t feel bound to a house full of party goers if you need a bit more peace and quiet for your finals etc.
I’m sure your DS will find somewhere suitable @DeadbeatYoda , but I disagree it’s to do with competitive middle class parenting. I’d hope the majority of students who have the wherewithal to get into Durham are capable of sharing a house with others without any major issues. It’s an important life skill imo.

Jaxx · 05/11/2023 12:21

Having to look for 2nd year housing so early is something I am concerned about, particularly as my son is autistic. There may be potential for him to stay in halls but he actually likes the idea of a shared house. I am such a worrier he hasn’t even got an offer 😂.

Is it 2025 or 2026 when the impact of the extra covid related students may ease things a bit?

SpamhappyTootsie · 05/11/2023 12:38

I don’t think there is a financial penalty for not taking up a place in Halls if you find a private house you want to rent with friends @Jaxx, so if your DS would have Halls as a back up due to autism he could see what comes up. If a house with a friendship group comes up that would suit him more then he could take that instead?
It’s definitely not too early to start planning, as the accomodation issue is a huge consideration when applying to Durham.

KittyMcKitty · 05/11/2023 12:46

It should ease from next year (once the current 3rd years leave - they were the year of CAG) - the agents are saying that there is less pressure on housing next year although some of the prices are through the roof!

my dd is a 1st year and has signed for a house - it’s a great location in the viaduct so less then 15 mins walk to lectures and less to college and town. It’s small and she is sharing with 2 others but they have a v good price on it.

Sharimg a room in college has taught my dd a lot about what makes for a happy coexistence- you don’t have to be best friends (her and her room mate have little in common) but you need to be respectful of the other. Dd feels the people she is sharing with will be good housemates- they are part of her circle of friends (one will be her college wife 😂) but they also all do things with other people, they all want to make the house nice to live in etc etc. It is a massively stressful thing dd was asked by a few groups if she wanted to share with them which caused much anxiety so I think she is relieved to have it sorted. Many have signed but also many haven’t. Dd has sorted it all out and I trust her to have made the right decision for her.

Whilst the situation in Durham is particularly bad it seems usual to be looking for houses around now - my older child in Manchester is planning to start soon.

I don’t think this is a “middle class performance thing” @DeadbeatYoda but maybe I’ve misunderstood what you mean? I think it’s just anxious young people and some agents who force the situation to be more stressful then it really need be.