Which universities have problems with accommodation?

[badgeronthedrums]

We're just starting the journey round open days etc, and it would be really helpful to know which unis currently have accommodation problems or where it is particularly expensive. For example the stories of Bristol students having to commute from Wales. Current shortlist is Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Lancaster but do tell me about anywhere else too!

This is all brilliant, thank you and I hope will help a few other people too.

Bristol issues are often much exaggerated. New halls are now available.

Just get them to speak to older students about when the best time to look for the size of the properties they want. Yes it's fast moving. It just means they need to look at the right times and move quickly when they are available. Half the time there is one housemate wanting to look or not sign without looking (or parent wanting this). They should be prepared to be flexible and let housemates video property for them if they aren't going to make viewings.

Just sorted my Dd's accommodation for Sheffield today and the accommodation office are really helpful.

Bristol has accommodation issues full stop, or rather in the places people want to live. Students are competing with young working adults with deeper pockets. Exeter has had issues, London obviously, Bath has issues, York, Manchester and Birmingham have issues in certain popular areas but not halls. Edinburgh is expensive

What issues do you know of that Birmingham (presume you mean University of) has in 'popular areas'? DD's last rental year in Selly Oak was 22/23 and she had no problem finding accommodation (although admittedly ended up on Exeter Road rather than Bournbrook Road, which was where she and her friends had originally wanted, but a nice house and hardly a disaster location-wise.

Just had a quick look at the website of one of the local letting agents and they have loads of student lets available for this July, including ones at less than £90 pppw for shared bathroom houses (and yes, there are actually houses in Selly Oak converted to all en suite - DS1's partner lived in one in a road very near campus back in 2019/20).

Glasgow is horrendous. DS3 currently paying ridiculous amount for a flat share without bills. London level prices for poor accommodation.

He's currently looking for the next flat for his final year and groups of students queuing around the block just to view.

Bristol and Manchester also difficult.

It's not usually a problem for 1st year as they are prioritised for halls. It's finding house/flat shares for the following years.

Just to add, there may well be places in halls but that's often not where 2nd/3rd year onward students want to live.

Part of the experience is living independently away from home. Also, lots of the (expensive) new-build halls are designed to lure international students that many universities prioritise.

My youngest is in Glasgow and has found accommodation okay this year (as has nephew). Two bed flats easier than bigger flats. She's paying £425 pm plus bills 5 mins from University Avenue.

Glasgow here too - I was worried, but DD's been fine so far. First year / halls accommodation was fine so somehow they've got over the issues they had a couple of years back. DD's managed to sort a flat for second year - it's nice from the pics and close to the University. With bills it should work out as about the same price as the Uni hall she's in now (there she just has a single room, sharing bathroom/ kitchen, so cheaper end). She said it's a bit nerve biting but so long as you're organised and on it, it's fine. She thinks it's possibly a bit easier if you're a mixed group or just girls though.

Probably not on your radar anyway, but massive issues in Dublin. (And I am weeping at the prices quoted here - DS still hasn’t secured anywhere for next year yet but it’s looking likely he will be in private student accommodation with randoms from a mix of Dub universities and likely to be paying €320 per week. We’re just hoping we can get a 40 week tenancy rather than a 51 week one which would cripple you)

Old news.
Glasgow was a nightmare for accommodation for a multitude of reasons in 2022-2023.
Pressure is off this year. University of Glasgow secured additional student accommodation for 2023-24 and it wasn’t all used. Also more private new-build student accommodation is being finished so there will be even more available.

My concern with Bristol is that they don’t guarantee accom for first years if they don’t put it first. That’s tough for a first year to handle

Depending on the course, obviously, UCLan is excellent with lots of purpose built, good quality accommodation close to campus and reasonably priced.

As a Glasgow resident it's surprising for me to read here about the student accommodation difficulties.
To the normal city resident, it seems like you can't move for the student flats being thrown up on every spare bit of land.

My ds is first year at Surrey and hasn't had any problems. He went through clearing and got a halls place. Halls at Surrey seem cheaper than average. Friends from from home who had it as their insurance got halls as well. No issues finding a 2nd year house 127pw plus bills.

OK but not my experience for Y2-4 accommodation! The HMO rules mean unless you want a 2 bed flat it’s hard.

That’s private student halls. Which are fine if you’re minted! Not normal student housing like in most places - so 4-5 bed houses.

Great - I had seen on WIWIKAU people with Surrey as insurance not getting accommodation this year. Sometimes firming and clearing are OK and insuring isn’t….I hear it’s like that at Reading too.

Lancaster is great. All first year students are guaranteed a place on campus.

The accommodation is modern and reasonably priced with different options. Based on a collage system so it's great to meet people but not be overwhelmed.

Different collage accommodation has different vibes/facilities. They also offer a full/part catering package if you don't want to cook (the accommodation all has access to shared kitchens) and you can eat at a variety of canteens on campus.

I believe 3rd years are also a priority if they want to live on campus though most move out year 2 and stay in Lancaster for their final year as they prefer to be near the city centre.

Great bus service (every 10 mins) from the centre of town to campus that runs very late.

Accommodation in the city is again reasonably priced and there is a dedicated student housing company which is reputable and make it easy to find what you are looking for and is very responsive re: any maintenance issues. DS has had a very positive experience there.

@KittyMcKitty didn't think you were touchy, merely giving the view from the ground which is very helpful to get that rather than the media one.

My ds is in his last year at Manchester Met. First year he stayed in halls which were fine but since then he's had a room in a grotty shared private rental house in an absolutely terrible area (we didn't know Manchester) and ended up in hospital with lung problems due to the severe damp. This last year he decided to get the best place he could afford and rented a shared apartment connected to the uni, which is purely for students. The apartment looked great online but in reality the ensuite shower he paid extra for doesn't work and there are other problems, none of them seem to get fixed, no matter how much he complains. He has paid thousands for this place and he is really disappointed. The rents all seem to have gone up massively this year and he was actually lucky to find somewhere as there is such a high demand. Friends of his have moved home and commute as they can't find anywhere to rent. Last year this apartment was being let at around 7k per student (2 sharing) this year it's gone up to around 9k each. It's absolutely appalling.

Absolutely @RefreshingCandour DS3 is sharing with 3 women, one has now dropped out so 3 people for this year, all lovely. They have a break clause on the current flat so should be able to move somewhere now but they are spending inordinate amounts of time looking for, viewing and completing paperwork for accommodation. He went back up early after Easter to view 2 flats and I don't think they got either. He said 20+ groups for one flat. 2 beds would be easier buy they are a group who enjoy living together and get on really well. I'm not getting involved (apart from listening!) but it's been an issue since he started.

Bath is the same. I think a lot are like that tbh.

It was the main driver for us in choosing DDs insurance choice tbh as we didn’t want to be caught out like we were with DS.

There were literally only two unis that were on DDs list of about 10 that guaranteed insurance holders accommodation.

Was it Exeter or Durham that showed kids queuing outside an estate agent through the night to be first in when they opened?

My son's at Durham waited outside from 2am in his first year (for second year accommodation). He's ended up quite a long way out of town for £180 per person a week (the more central places were £200 to £220 last year in the main releases).

It was better this year in fairness: he's paying £200 next year, is more central and the releases were staggered. Durham is a small city and there isn't the volume of houses like Birmingham or Nottingham. There is college accommodation (I lived in college for all three years when I was there) but my son wasn't a big fan of the college food (his fault rather than the college's I suspect..).