Opinion wanted: Londoner families with kids at uni

[JollyBasket]

Hi there, my name is Jack,

I'm posting with regards to my 16-year-old cousin who will hopefully be starting culinary college in Westminster in September 2026. He lives with his mum and dad in Bedfordshire at present.

The commute would be unfeasible for him.

To any London mothers who live <30 minutes away from Westminster by tube:

Would you be interested in having a lodger Mon-Fri, only in term time? Perhaps for £400 or £500 a month? It seems to me like quite a good arrangement for any families with a child at university in order to make money from the extra room whilst retaining the room for the Christmas and summer breaks.

Freddie is a lovely, tidy and polite young man. He is incredibly excited to be studying at college, and, as you would expect, is quite the chef!

If you have read this far and have opinions on this arrangement, regardless of intent to pursue it, please share! I'm trying to figure out if this arrangement is attractive or not for parents of uni students in London.

Freddie should ask the college if they know of hosts who do this for 16 to 18 year olds. As he is under 18 is a specific situation.
Bedford to westminster via fast train to st pancras might be feas8bke depwnding 9n college hours
And you will be looking at a lot more per week as under 18
Eg something like
St Giles Central London Homestay Hosts | St Giles International share.google/eegjfLf6AAYM7aFAa

Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy | Student Homestay https://share.google/oVNT1f7YJCErT2EPF

Thank you very much for your response!

I will definitely do this, thank you. As for commute time, the closest station is a 30 minute drive which is why the commute time, even with the fast train, is unfeasible.

Just be careful in vetting any households thoroughly.

I'm afraid I wouldn't consider doing this. As I wfh through the day and wouldn't feel safe being alone with an adult-sized male in the house (it's a simple fact that I couldn't physically defend myself against one). I think my dds would also not want a teenage male sleeping in their beds while they're away! I might consider a female student, but not a male.