London student accommodation - eek!

[LittleRedRidingSnood]

Any current London uni parents worrying about September accommodation? And the cost!

You mean for first year students in halls, or year 2+ in private rentals? Both are shockingly high. My son is currently in his second year and pays £900 a month, but many pay a lot more.

For second year. From what I've seen so far, £900 seems like quite a good offer. Where is that? Do you have any tips for areas etc? I'd be so grateful.

What are of London are you looking in? What uni?

He's at Imperial. Currently stays near Paddington, which has been fab for cycling to univ through Hyde Park.

It's NW1, so they were lucky. It was top of their budget though. Their other option was a grimmer flat for £850pcm in Whitechapel, but they would have had commuting costs.

At these prices it seems to be standard to have the lounge converted to a bedroom, which sadly limits the social space.

It's batshit. We are in London, and DS is planning to move back home next year as he is paying over £1000 a month. He was living out so he could get some independence, and doing really well, but it's coming at too high a price. So back to his old room.

@BrassCeiling Where did they find their place that they're living in now? Was it just through somewhere like Spare Room?

We live in Scotland, so no chance of him staying at home. Also, the Scottish Gov don't give any London weighting to the student loan, so it's quite brutal.

I have a spare room at home (Edinburgh) during the academic terms. I should do a student swap with someone in a similar position in London!

They found it online, but I'm not sure where from. It's direct with the landlord rather than through an agency, so that may be why it's less expensive.

DD had a flat on Gloucester Road last year - £700 pcm. The only way to secure it was for all 3 of them to pay 6 months rent upfront (otherwise they stood no chance as they'd be competing with international students who have to pay upfront). FOund it through a local estate agent. One problem though is that Kensington & CHelsea changed their HMO limits to include all shared houses with 3 or more unrelated tenants. This applied to their flat and one of the bedrooms fell foul of the new regulations so the landlord broke the lease (was going to be 2 years) to let it out to just 2 people. I know that quite a few of her friends were in a similar boat and most have had to look further out towards WHite CIty Fulham and Shepherd's Bush. There are a reasonable number of student properties in Queensway area though.

It's worth warning them about the risk of scammers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66846416

Get a look at the thread on children’s savings….some posters brag that their offspring have around 30-40k even before they leave primary school….maybe they can give us all tips on how to achieve a quarter million before A level results fall on the mat!

@BrassCeiling That's quite sobre reading; they checked the landlord register and agency. Really scary.

Thank you @BrassCeiling - ive sent that onto ds. They are being way too laid back about their accommodation for year 2.

Worth a mention that for student studying at one of the UoL institutions (so not Imperial, sorry OP), there's a central service for getting their contract checked over or getting legal advice over housing: https://housing.london.ac.uk/get-advice

I think Imperial offer this too. Worth using.

@LittleRedRidingSnood is your DS enjoying Imperial

The course, friends, social side of things

My DS has an offer and wants to go but I'm a bit hesitant due to what's I've heard about imperial so would rather he goes to his other offers for a better uni experience

@TwoOfMine Imperial is perfect for ds. He’s enjoying the course, which almost isn’t like work for him as it’s his passion. He’s also involved quite a lot in a few societies, has met interesting people and does a couple of regular activities in London, which aren’t College run. All round 5 stars!

@stilldumdedummingLondon is a very different market from elsewhere for student rentals. Vast numbers of young adults are renting in London and anywhere near Imperial is expensive. Many young adults who are working have to go much further out. London has always been the same! There’s not much point looking now for y2 in London as most rental start pretty quickly. So they come to the market later and fairly constantly. Word of mouth and letting agents can help. Most are not scamming! Decent places will cost money. There’s a shortage of property. It’s not cheap in Hammersmith or Shepherds Bush either!

@TizerorFizz thanks that is an interesting perspective. Ds is actually east London Tower Hamlets, Mile End way - so that might be a little better maybe? They have friends all signed up but they are dithering over a reasonably priced student let in the next bloody street as it means friends being split up! But you're right they will be ok!

@stilldumdedumming Mile End is Queen Mary University territory. It’s right there. All their students are looking in that area.

The Acton areas are possibly cheaper and Brixton or Stockwell. My friend’s dc is paying £900 a month for 1 bedroom in a 2 bed place in Brockley. 30 minutes commute to where he works. At least they get a lounge. He had to widen his search considerably. I think it’s very difficult to find places now that are convenient.

I have a flat in the Shepherds Bush area. Those who cannot afford Notting Hill Gate are now moving there. Rents in decent enough flats are high but it’s a convenient location for many places. It has the overground to West Brompton and it’s then easy to get to Imperial. The Uxbridge road and QPR side is cheaper than some other roads in that area.

@TizerorFizz yes he's at QMUL. He actually works all over London, but it would be nice to be near the campus.

I was noting the OP was asking about Imperial. Different area of course.

My son is at UCL and hoping to live in Camden for 2nd year…. He could commute from home if necessary and has already said he’ll do that in 4th year. Suspect that may happen for 2nd year too.

Year 2 DC here.

it is hideous. He pays 900+ a month for 30 min commute to Kensington. He shares with two others. The worst part was securing the flat. Every flat they wanted went for over asking price and most were closed bids. They took the current flat without viewing it. It is fine but the shower does not work and the landlord is non-responsive. We are all bracing for the rent increase and then will decide if it is worth staying put (they want to stay put) or starting again.

DC2 heading to London also. I am learning to enjoy camping holidays and praying to the automotive gods my car will make it to 15 years old.