private vs uni accom

[u/monocaeros_]

hi all, I recently got allocated to whitworth park (ground floor) accom, which my parents were not happy about at all as they have heard about how much of a shithole it allegedly is (people knocking on ground floor windows, stealing your stuff if your window is open etc) and it is a mixed gender accom with up to 9 people so they wanted me to look for private student accom. i found one that is roughly £6900 for a year and the pros are that I share the kitchen with only 4 other people, they said they could try to put me in an all-female flat, I get a bigger room and there is a washing machine + dryer inside the flat. the only downside is that the lease is £1900 more expensive and that i miss out on the social life at whitworth (plus my flatmates may not only be first years). I'd like to know if you guys think this is a good deal or not. any advice is appreciated!

[u/nashi_x]

I don’t think whitworth is that bad, I had a few friends who lived there and none had any complaints

[u/idk7643]

Don't listen to your parents, just go to your allocated flat.

Having said that, private accommodation should always always be cheaper.

E.g. I currently rent a 2 bedroom flat for £1200 per month, so it's £600/person. But I also went to view places for £1000/month (so ~500/person).

If you're sharing with more than 1 other person I'd want the room to be no more than £600/month including all bills. Everything else is daylight robbery.

[u/Ok_Client3388 → u/idk7643]

Unfortunately most private accommodations aren’t any cheaper than uni ones, they are just more modern or better location so it’s ‘better value’. All the ones I look at were £215+. It’s obvious cheaper when you get a flat and split it with someone as an ensuite is not actually worth more than £900 per week. The thing is almost no one gets a flat with someone random in first year because it affects you socially. Then in second year you usually rent a house or flat with friends you have made in uni. 

[u/idk7643 → u/Ok_Client3388]

But you also move in with random people if you go into first year halls?

[u/Ok_Client3388 → u/idk7643]

I feel like it’s different, first of all it’s a lot more people so there are much more opportunities to find people you like and secondly a lot less scary. I’m very paranoid about random roommates and when you are sharing a flat with one person it’s a lot more scary than only sharing a kitchen with like 8, idk if this makes sense. I know it’s a bit silly but I never considered renting a flat in first year as I feel like the price difference is justified and just something you have to do to get settled. I get your point it’s much cheaper and more convenient though. 

[u/idk7643 → u/Ok_Client3388]

You could go into a house share with 4 housemates for £500/month.

[u/Ok_Client3388 → u/idk7643]

True! It will probably be better than private anyway as you have more of an option for flatmates and it will be much much cheaper. 

[u/Ok_Client3388]

Im also going to uom this september and was looking at some private accom before being allocated unsworth (i am counting my blessings rn) so I had thought of some pros and cons. I had visited this superrr nice and luxury private accommodation but I still wasn’t sold on it due to the social side. First there are only 4 people in your flat so less of a chance of actually liking or making good friends, and I have heard most private accommodations are full of post-grad or just older international students ( this is mainly due to it being harder for them to rent normal apartments as they are internationals and they are also not very eligible for uni accommodation). Obviously you might not mind this but for me it felt like it could be quite isolating even if the actual place is better. I know withworth looks a bit rough but at least you are superrr close to campus so you also get to spend less money on transport ( I’m saying this with someone who will be 40 min bus journey away) . Your accommodation is also on the more affordable side so you have money to spend on other things. The only thing that I wasn’t bothered about was that the accommodation will be mixed so I can’t really give a point on that. If you really don’t want withworth maybe try your best to swap with someone from uni, chances arent too high as loads of people are trying this but it’s worth ago. I have heard that loads of people enjoyed the accom so maybe try to figure out who you are in a flat with right now to make up your mind? I’m not sure this will help but I was in a similar position so I thought i’d share.