Tell me about Durham

[Durhamm]

DD has Durham on her list of potential unis but she has never been, can't make the open day and it's a long way for us to visit.

She is looking at one of the joint hons degrees via nat sci.

As far as I can see, lots of people like it for the college system and the formals, but DD isn't bothered one way or the other about those. So what else is good / bad about Durham? A family member went there and didn't have a great experience but we'd like a second opinion and I know there are many Durhamites here.

She wants self catering accommodation, great teaching, to be challenged academically, a diverse and interesting bunch of people to meet, lots of fun things to do when not studying. She is not particularly into team sports, but likes music, going to gigs, cycling, green spaces. Space generally would be good - she found Bristol a bit crowded and much preferred the vibe of the campuses at Birmingham and Nottingham.

Please tell me everything you know, good or bad! Does Durham have lots of other positives apart from the college system, living in a castle and the formals?

My son says the same. He found a 4 bedroom house he liked in Elvet Crescent (near what was the Court Inn so central) but has decided not to sign up as it was £210 plus bills (and small inside).

I'll post the accommodation list when it comes out if it's helpful.

The challenge is that Durham is a tiny city so there's a limited supply unless you're willing to get the bus in from a neighbouring village.

The bulge year of covid undergraduates has mostly left and the university took fewer freshers this year. As I understand it they have also been trying to work with landlords to release flats a bit later.

I completely agree there is room (no pun intended) for improvement but I feel, like elsewhere, cost lies with the landlords. It would be interesting to know if all flats are going up by a similar percentage or those without bills included are rising less as the utilities usage/rate are the risk of the students.

My DD has just signed to stay in her current house for Y3. Her rent will go up from £166 inc bills to £185 inc bills.

Thanks for the accommodation updates, it sounds like the early bird definitely catches the worm up there!

DD has decided not to apply to Durham (yet at least - still has two slots available though) but hopefully this thread will be useful for others.

Presumably a 52wk contract? @GoldenRuby So £9620 for the year, with food, socialising etc still to be added on top of that.

Agent for DS’s house is showing several groups of students round today to potentially sign up for next year. It’s a crazy, stressful system. If he’s not quick enough he’ll lose this house for next year and have to look for another one. Which he is very laid back about, there’s a big enough group of them doing a 4 year course to find another house, but what a bloody faff. He does like the location of the house, it’s quite far out but he likes the walk to the Science site, so it’s a shame it’s in the first release of rentals. Looks like the promises of a bit more coordination in releasing housing were empty ones .

are these normal tenancy contracts or are there special student ones? I mean the current tenants on a normal contract wouldn't have to let anyone to look around right? I used to let to students (singular, it wasn't an HMO) and it was a normal contract.

Normal ones, @mondaytosunday afaik. DS is aware of the right to quiet enjoyment etc but doesn’t want to piss off the agent and end up on some sort of blacklist. It’s shit, but it is what it is.

@boys3 yes, 52 weeks. This is at the cheaper end of the scale as well. May be some cheaper options if you are prepared to be a bus ride away.

@SpamhappyTootsie sounds like my sons in a similar area to yours. He also doesn’t mind the walk, has a few friends in the area and doesn’t want to upset his landlord. His landlord has given them 48 hours to decide whether they want to sign for next year. His course is full on and he does a lot outside of this. He doesn’t have time for a futile property search so will likely stay where he is. The Uni has done absolutely nothing to help with the Durham housing rental crisis.