Renting or GradPad or Goodenough College? (overseas postgraduate)

I live in GradPad Wood Lane. It's pretty awesome. Internet is very fast, soundproofing is very good (I didn't know the room beside mine is occupied for MONTHS!), it's generally clean and administration is responsive, etc.

Only downside is the price and the fact that it's a little far from Imperial (takes me about 35 minutes total). And that the rooms are pretty small.

Curious, how didn't you end up at the griffon studios? Was it Wood Lane by choice? Although I've been reading some discouraging stuff about griffon too (sucky internet, bad administration and service) so meh

It was by choice. From what I heard, the Griffon area isn't quite as safe. Though I have never actually visited, so I have no idea if it's actually true.

Having Westfield nearby is also very convenient.

Fair enough. Did you have to pay up front the whole year to gradpad? I read that's the case when you don't have a guarantor in the UK.

Same boat as you, will study at Kensington campus. I'm thinking of starting with gradpad for a month or two (if leaving early is possible) and when I get there I could start looking for some apartment sharing for reasonably less.

Hey,

From the website, early leave is not allowed unless you can find someone (also postgraduate students from 7 uni GradPad is affiliated with) can take over the rest of your contract (51-week normally). I don't know if I get it wrong but it seems like it's hard to find a take-over.

Yeah I soon found out about this after seeing a post about someone looking for another student to take over. It wouldn't matter though in mycase since I'm EU and I'd have to give full deposit up front anyway.

Hi! I am also starting my MSc in October.. I am originally from NYC.. Does anyone know of students who rent apartments? It seems they are the best value for money..
thoughts?

Thanks! I think you're right I would have to come early... However, I've heard it can be difficult to terminate an agreement/contract with gradpad or even get someone to take over if you decide to move. On the plus side, the housing/renting market in London is so dynamic so it allows a lot time for consideration!

There's this website, but not sure how many people use it

hi sorry for reviving a month old thread now, but need to ask how to use this website as it seems we have to login with an Imperial students account. since I'll be a new student, I don't know when I'll get my login details and I'm afraid by that time it'll already be too late to find accommodation....

Wanted to chime in on Goodenough College to give my review.

Short version: Skip it.

I disliked living there so much I actually terminated my lease early and moved out. I'll offer my lengthy Goodenough College review here in hopes it can provide useful information to others searching for it in the future.

Some complaints in detail:

1. The WiFi is painfully slow - like dial-up circa 1995 slow. It makes a Skype video call impossible and downloading large files (like journal articles for school) takes eons. They swore they were 'upgrading' their network numerous times, but as of Jan 2015 it was still slow as molasses. Total deal-breaker for me.

2. The administration (in general) is very disorganised. Their members handbook is so out of date telling you to call numbers that have been blocked or disconnected and listing email addresses for admin contacts that bounce back because the addresses don't exist. Servicemen turned up at my door unannounced multiple times saying they needed access inside my room. As a woman alone, this made me very uncomfortable especially since the college administration swore it would communicate if/when a building staff person would come beforehand. Also, I had important paperwork lost by the administration more than once so I just planned on having to submit any/everything multiple times. Basically it was a bit too much like living in Fawlty Towers.

3. Noise, noise, noise. William Goodenough House is very poorly insulated. If you aren't on the top floor, you'll hear footsteps of the people in the corridor above you all day and all night long. It's an absurd, oppressive amount of noise with thudthudthud overhead. The smoke detectors go off (unnecessarily) at least 5x/week - sometimes at 1.00 and you're woken up in the middle of the night. The bin trucks come at 7.00 to collect recycling and trash. If you ever plan on sleeping in and/or sleeping through the night, good luck in William Goodenough House.

4. The vast majority of the 'clubs' and 'events' require you to pay additional money to participate in them. There's a tremendous amount of pressure to 'contribute to the community', to be part of various societies, and so on. That's all well and good, but it ain't free. Just know your rent does not/will not cover these additional things you're meant to be participating in.

I have other gripes with Goodenough (the unimpressive food at the dining hall, the fact that when I checked in my room was FILTHY, etc) but that should give you the gist.

All of this said, the members I met were by and large really lovely. I just wish the administration could get their act together and run a tighter ship. In the meantime, I'd advise staying away from this place.