Is it cheaper to live on campus or off

I'm really not sure weather I want to live on or off campus, apparently its cheaper to live off campus but I'm not really sure how, but if I lived on campus then I'd be around everyone else and wouldn't necessarily be on my own

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 1

Short Story Long

9

Its common that people live on campus for the first year ,so that they make friends and don have to be alone, and then live off campus after that with friends they have made. It may mean a much better social life if you live on campus for at least the first year.

And yes usually it is cheaper to share a house with people than live in uni accommodation.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2

patrix555

depends which uni and what city. im gonna go to Brighton and their accommodation is totally overpriced (£120 per week) so im not even applying for halls. Ive seen rooms for rent in Brighton for £75-95 per week.. so thats what im planning to do.

Reply 3

Origami Bullets

19

I wrote this for the Manchester forum, but a similar story will play out in many places across the country

All privately rented shared houses are self-catered, and almost all are shared bathroom, so I'll compare it against Oak House, which is self-catered, shared bathroom, using 2011-12 prices.

Oak House £82 for 40 weeks = £3280 (includes all bills)
No deposit - there is a £400 pre-payment, but this is automatically offset against your final accommodation payment.
If you are receiving a bursary, and opt for the accommodation discount, then the total bill will actually come to £2000 less. The accommodation discount is not applicable to privately rented shared houses.

Shared House - a conservative estimate (i.e. it may very well cost more than this)
Typical student houses will cost £70-80pw, on a 52 week contract, with a half rent concession over eight weeks of summer, so £70 for 44 weeks + £35 for 8 weeks = £3360
Bills - typically £10-15pppw, so £10 for 52 weeks = £520
Deposit - typically £300-400, and you may or may not get it back.
Total: £3880 + deposit

In addition, in private houses you tend to have problems with landlords that are either incompetent or maliciously bad (repairs not being done, laws not being followed, and deposits not being handed back etc.) along with the hassle of dealing with utility providers, getting a council tax exemption, maintaining the garden and doing all your own cleaning should be enough to put you off renting in the private sector until you have to. Reading the RenterGirl blog should open your eyes to the fast ones that many landlords and their agents try to pull.

Reply 4

jelly1000

21

Original post by itskshhx

I'm really not sure weather I want to live on or off campus, apparently its cheaper to live off campus but I'm not really sure how, but if I lived on campus then I'd be around everyone else and wouldn't necessarily be on my own

Posted from TSR Mobile

that really depends on how much the halls cost and how much renting privately is and whether you'll have to pay full rent for 12 months in a private house. I'm having to pay more than I was in halls because although my rent per week is cheaper I have to pay for 12 months.

Reply 5

thefunktopus69

Original post by patrix555

depends which uni and what city. im gonna go to Brighton and their accommodation is totally overpriced (£120 per week) so im not even applying for halls. Ive seen rooms for rent in Brighton for £75-95 per week.. so thats what im planning to do.

I have just finished my first year at Sussex (in Brighton) and halls were very expensive -£125 pw! The private house I'm going to next year is one of the cheaper ones -£80 pppw +bills so I reckon it won't ever cost more than £100 pw.

For me halls weren't that great at all -no one seemed to socialise and it was restrictive (you can't do this, can't do that, have to wait for the porter to be there to get the post etc...) however it would be odd to live in town the first year as commuting in adds a lot of time (and cost) which most other people on your course won't really understand.

Reply 6

jelly1000

21

Original post by thefunktopus69

I have just finished my first year at Sussex (in Brighton) and halls were very expensive -£125 pw! The private house I'm going to next year is one of the cheaper ones -£80 pppw +bills so I reckon it won't ever cost more than £100 pw.

For me halls weren't that great at all -no one seemed to socialise and it was restrictive (you can't do this, can't do that, have to wait for the porter to be there to get the post etc...) however it would be odd to live in town the first year as commuting in adds a lot of time (and cost) which most other people on your course won't really understand.

I should point out though that your case is an exception. I've heard in Sussex Lewes Court II can be a bit quiet if thats where you were but in most halls people socialise together, and if not they find people from other halls to socialise. I've never heard of having to wait for the porter to be there to get the post- most halls either have a reception you go to to collect it or a post box you can open yourself. There were a few rules in my hall yes, but they were for practical reasons like no fairy lights because they are a fire hazard and no mini fridge because they use up a lot of electricity but otherwise we were free to do as we liked.

And there are still rules in private rented houses e.g. no blue tac on walls and no pets