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Original poster

House near a University

15 replies

tenapenny2018 · 25/10/2018 23:04

Hi, I heard that houses near universities tend to be surrounded by student lets and the neighbourhood can be dirty and noisy, and despite those properties being pricier because of BTL, they are actually not very nice as "homes".

The house I am interested is close to a university, but the neighbourhood seem to be quiet and clean (I have checked during weekday/weekend as well as day and evening) and is a mixture of home owners, families with children and some student lets. It is a residential area without pubs, restaurants, clubs or even shops nearby (because the area is close to a listed park, there are development restrictions).

Anyone has any experience of living as in a family home near a university?

OP posts:
lll77 · 26/10/2018 08:19

I work at a university and lived very near one when my daughter was small.

The main problems we found were litter, noise, lots of cars (3 or 4 to a house sometimes), lots of poorly maintained tented homes in the neighbourhood and pretty high burglary rates. There was a very high turnover of neighbours with student tenants only staying for one academic year which meant we didn't really get to know them, but that did mean that if they were especially noisy we knew they wouldn't be there forever!

It was also weirdly quiet over the summer months and then chaos for a few weeks in Sept/Oct as the students all moved back for the start of term. Local amenities were all very set up for students not families, the corner shop sold tons of different types of beer but no pet food or nappies for example.

If you've checked out the area you like and it doesn't have these problems it is probably an ok place to live. I think there is a general trend towards students, especially first years, living in big flat complexes rather than house shares now and in my city some of the areas that had previously been very studenty are now slowly becoming more family areas again.

You'll probably find lots of nice cafes, bookshops etc around the university itself which are always nice things to have near where you live :)

EduCated · 26/10/2018 08:22

Google student letting for the university and see where they tend to be. Some things places they are very contained within particular areas (e.g. Birmingham, Cardiff), others they are much more spread.

lastqueenofscotland · 26/10/2018 09:00

Which uni? The areas round exeter are lovely, the areas around Manchester are hanging.
Really depends

SlothMama · 26/10/2018 09:36

Really depends on the area, is the SU nearby etc? I'd visit the area at different times of day to get a feel for the area. You may not even notice the students!

hammeringinmyhead · 26/10/2018 11:50

Depends on the university in my experience. I've lived in a studenty area of Bath which was grim and full of poorly maintained Georgian houses, but if you lived near Bristol student union you'd be in Clifton which is beautiful. Huddersfield uni is in the town centre and is also surrounded by blocks of flats and kebab shops.

Schroedingerscatagain · 26/10/2018 11:55

It really does depend on the university. I live in a suburb with a university the students live very much on one side of the campus heading into the city centre

The suburb is largely only inhabited by local people including lecturers, the students try and park on roads but are firmly controlled by parking schemes to prevent nuisance

Original poster
tenapenny2018 · 26/10/2018 17:37

Thanks for the advice! It's UWE in Bristol. Near Stoke Park

I did notice a lot of cars, but strangely there are more cars in the afternoon than night. I think because some locals just come for jogging and dog walking in the park and then leave.

I can also see that bins tend to be full to the brim, but not over spilling.

And every time I went it was quiet. I think because it is actually part of the park estate, so if the student do not stick with the rules, they could be kicked out by the university or something. maybe.

OP posts:
Inferiorbeing · 26/10/2018 19:06

My mil lives near to uni, so close you can see the campus, but no students live in that area so that might be worth considering! I was a student at the same uni and knew all of the students lived the other side of campus as it's an easier walk.

PickAChew · 26/10/2018 19:15

There's an awful lot of rowdiness and partying in the heavily student areas of Durham - even a Sunday afternoon can be a bit noisy. No part of the city is student free, but I live in a less student dense part of the city and don't have the same problems. They all seem to catch the bus rather than drive, too, but that's pretty much the nature of this city.

Friday evenings are probably the time to visit.

Racecardriver · 26/10/2018 19:19

What subjects does the campus/whatever offer? If it’s mostly meducal students/postgrads they will be pretty quiet most of the time.

NearUWE · 26/10/2018 19:27

If it is by the yellow castle you are probably OK. If it's the old HP site you will have HUGE issues with commuter/ student parking.

We live near UWE but the other way. Unfortunately we viewed our house during spring break and didn't realise what a PITA the students would be. Traffic hell starts in October when they all come back and goes on until May. Great fun trying to get anywhere. Student houses tend to have no parking and we end up with 5 tatty little Corsas or similar being dumped just anywhere for weeks on end.

We have a student house over the back and they love to have regular (mid week) get-togethers in their garden that start at 9.30pm and go on into the wee hours.

We don't get so many rubbish issues but the people on the other side of the ring road are plagued with it.

Problem is they are only here for a short time so they don't give a stuff. I think they are so caught up in their new adventure that it just doesn't occur to them that the rest of us have normal lives to get on with, and will still be here long after they've gone and the next lot move in.

Suffice to say if we ever move again I will never entertain living near a university again Sad

ToBeClear · 26/10/2018 20:00

We live in Headingley and LOVE it - the students keep it vibrant and busy and there is always something going on. It's also great as your neighbours change often so you're never stuck with a neighbour from hell lol. There's a hotline for anti social behaviour and the university are quick to enforce it but my friends have lived there longer than us - 5 years - and only had to call once. It all depends what your preference is - our family prefer restaurants and lots to do in walking distance. The thought of quiet never ending streets of semis, where you never see anyone terrifies me!

Original poster
tenapenny2018 · 26/10/2018 22:12

NearUWE Thanks for the advice! Yes, it is close to the yellow castle. I can definitely see the students. I have been told that ex-HP site and Cheswick village tend to be worse with student population.

But I think they deliberately built HMO houses near the yellow castle without gardens, so that the students cannot have parties. LOL

OP posts:
Original poster
tenapenny2018 · 26/10/2018 22:20

PickAChew yes, I checked Friday night before and just checked again tonight. It is dead quiet. Almost spooky!

I think the fact that without pubs, restaurants or clubs nearby, they just cannot party.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 27/10/2018 00:32

Check again at 3am, then! Even a handful rolling in at that time can be hell.

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