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Unexpected costs at Langton Close?
Hi, all.
I'm an international student and will be staying at Langton Close next year. In the US, student accommodation is "all-inclusive," meaning that internet, food, etc. is included in the price quoted. I have a feeling that things don't work the same in the UK, however, and so I was wondering if people could clue me in to the costs I'm probably not thinking about.
I've been given the cost per week of a single room; what other costs should I be adding to that number to get a total living expense amount? Cost of internet? Cost to use any other facilities?
Also, are guests allowed in the rooms? If I have a friend stay with me, do I have to register him? Will he have to pay -- even if he sleeps on my floor?
I'm an international student and will be staying at Langton Close next year. In the US, student accommodation is "all-inclusive," meaning that internet, food, etc. is included in the price quoted. I have a feeling that things don't work the same in the UK, however, and so I was wondering if people could clue me in to the costs I'm probably not thinking about.
I've been given the cost per week of a single room; what other costs should I be adding to that number to get a total living expense amount? Cost of internet? Cost to use any other facilities?
Also, are guests allowed in the rooms? If I have a friend stay with me, do I have to register him? Will he have to pay -- even if he sleeps on my floor?
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
Hey! Nice to find someone else who'll be in Langton 
The internet is 70 pounds for the year. We have to buy a "voucher" with a code to activate it.
You can definitely have guests. In their terms and conditions, it does say about signing them in and getting permission in advance if they're staying a certain period of time - and that they can only stay for 3 nights max otherwise they have to pay etc. But, I'd be surprised if they were that strict in the implementation of these rules. I guess we will find out when we get there on that one. I suppose it will depend on how friendly or jobsworth-like Langton's staff are. The UK isn't strict as some American universities are on having people of the opposite sex over and all that kind of thing - I think the main reason UCL has the kind of regulations it does have is security because of the London location. Students have lots of electronics - nice targets for burglars. We do get some kind of contents insurance included in the rent though.
Food is not included. It's self-catering. Food is much cheaper in the US, so budget more for food shopping here in the UK. Food prices have gone up a lot in the last year too.
What are you going to be studying?
The internet is 70 pounds for the year. We have to buy a "voucher" with a code to activate it.
You can definitely have guests. In their terms and conditions, it does say about signing them in and getting permission in advance if they're staying a certain period of time - and that they can only stay for 3 nights max otherwise they have to pay etc. But, I'd be surprised if they were that strict in the implementation of these rules. I guess we will find out when we get there on that one. I suppose it will depend on how friendly or jobsworth-like Langton's staff are. The UK isn't strict as some American universities are on having people of the opposite sex over and all that kind of thing - I think the main reason UCL has the kind of regulations it does have is security because of the London location. Students have lots of electronics - nice targets for burglars. We do get some kind of contents insurance included in the rent though.
Food is not included. It's self-catering. Food is much cheaper in the US, so budget more for food shopping here in the UK. Food prices have gone up a lot in the last year too.
What are you going to be studying?
Reply 2
Mumintroll
What are you going to be studying?
What are you going to be studying?
I'm doing a master's degree in international relations
Reply 3
Nice. I will be doing History and Scandinavian Studies.
Sorry I can't be much more helpful on the idea of a figure for food costs. It really depends on where you shop and what you eat. You can do it fairly cheaply if you stick to making your own food, buy cheaper supermarket-value brands etc and eat out rarely. It all depends. I'd budget, at the very, very least, £20 a week for food - but that's if you're relatively skilful at doing things on the cheap. I'd say you probably need more like double that, if not more. Then you've got to factor in how much you go out (drinking, clubbing etc) and where you go when you do (if you spend all of your time at the student union's bars, it's going to be considerably cheaper than if you find yourself drinking in the West End every week). It's not at all hard to find places where a pint (beer) costs 3 quid or more. I'd imagine that in the student union, it's around the 1.80 mark depending on what you drink.
Sorry I can't be much more helpful on the idea of a figure for food costs. It really depends on where you shop and what you eat. You can do it fairly cheaply if you stick to making your own food, buy cheaper supermarket-value brands etc and eat out rarely. It all depends. I'd budget, at the very, very least, £20 a week for food - but that's if you're relatively skilful at doing things on the cheap. I'd say you probably need more like double that, if not more. Then you've got to factor in how much you go out (drinking, clubbing etc) and where you go when you do (if you spend all of your time at the student union's bars, it's going to be considerably cheaper than if you find yourself drinking in the West End every week). It's not at all hard to find places where a pint (beer) costs 3 quid or more. I'd imagine that in the student union, it's around the 1.80 mark depending on what you drink.
Reply 4
Mumintroll
Food is not included. It's self-catering. Food is much cheaper in the US, so budget more for food shopping here in the UK. Food prices have gone up a lot in the last year too.
Food is not included. It's self-catering. Food is much cheaper in the US, so budget more for food shopping here in the UK. Food prices have gone up a lot in the last year too.
Where I'm from, DC, food is very expensive- if you buy food which you prepare yourself, as opposed to eating out, London supermarkets are cheaper than in DC.
Reply 6
Ryands
Langton close is not at all strict about people staying over; same goes for Frances Gardner. You won't have to sign them in or anything.
That´s good to know. Glad the more OTT T&Cs in the booklet are not practised.
Reply 7
That's the beauty with self-catered accommodation, you have more control over your costs. It is definitely possible to spend less than £20 on food, and of course entertainment can vary quite drastically depending on what you have and what you are into. I'm looking forward to finding cheap or even free ways to stay entertained there, one of the reasons I picked London!
And nice to see a little Langton Close group developing on here!
And nice to see a little Langton Close group developing on here!
Reply 8
Caspar David Friedrich
And nice to see a little Langton Close group developing on here!
And nice to see a little Langton Close group developing on here!
Definitely. When is everyone moving in? I'm coming to London the 17th...hope it'll be possible to move in then.
Reply 9
For us UK students, the move-in days are the weekend before Freshers' Week (20th and 21st). I'll almost certainly move in on the 20th. It would be nice to be able to get there a couple of days before that, but I doubt they'll let me given my location. I may try and see if I can move in on the Wednesday or Thursday before to have a couple of extra days to settle in.
And yes, definitely good to see a group of us building up. Someone has set up a group on Facebook too; only 4 people there so far - but might be good to join that too. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16304088303
And yes, definitely good to see a group of us building up. Someone has set up a group on Facebook too; only 4 people there so far - but might be good to join that too. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16304088303
Reply 10
I get in early on the 21st. Also, from my email mentioned previously:
It didn't mention that it was just for international students, so worth checking out Mumintroll.
If you wish to move in early, you will have to state on the form the date and time you wish to enter UCL accommodation. Once you have completed the form, you will have to fax the sheet to the halls of residence that you have been given. The week starting from 15th September is normally ok.
It didn't mention that it was just for international students, so worth checking out Mumintroll.
Reply 11
nice to find people joining in at Langton!..I'll be there 
shall we organize a langton close pre party ?
shall we organize a langton close pre party ? Reply 12
Caspar David Friedrich
It didn't mention that it was just for international students, so worth checking out Mumintroll.
It didn't mention that it was just for international students, so worth checking out Mumintroll.
Thanks for that, I guess you're right. In fact, now that you mention it, I seem to remember seeing a form for requesting an early arrival together with the rest of the accommodation offer paperwork. I will dig it out this week and send it off, can't do any harm in trying.
Reply 13
Mumintroll
Thanks for that, I guess you're right. In fact, now that you mention it, I seem to remember seeing a form for requesting an early arrival together with the rest of the accommodation offer paperwork. I will dig it out this week and send it off, can't do any harm in trying.
I filled that up , as im moving to halls 1st september
they'll just charge you for the extra weeks
Reply 15
how many bathrooms does each apartment in Langton Close have? I'd expect maybe 1 bathroom per 2-3 people? So for an 8-bed apartment, 2-3 bathrooms? Or is this way off?
Reply 16
Rokit
3 weeks on your own 
Check for ghosts and other heebie jeebies before you go to sleep 
Check for ghosts and other heebie jeebies before you go to sleep mmmm.....
rokit hey!!! .. I need to sleep ..and from look of it Langton Close used to be an old Infirmery!! ...well as long as they enjoy drinking wine ( and buy their own) ghosts are welcome!!!Reply 17
adriantrevisan
mmmm..... rokit hey!!! .. I need to sleep ..and from look of it Langton Close used to be an old Infirmery!! ...well as long as they enjoy drinking wine ( and buy their own) ghosts are welcome!!!
rokit hey!!! .. I need to sleep ..and from look of it Langton Close used to be an old Infirmery!! ...well as long as they enjoy drinking wine ( and buy their own) ghosts are welcome!!!haha i really don't think you'd welcome them even if they have their own wine..
Reply 19
~Ally~
What if they came bearing offerings of Wine?
got to be Gavi or Barolo (vintage) hehee ... sorry Im just into wine :P wouldn't allow anyone with some crappy Tesco WIne...not even the Head of the Ghost Community :|Related discussions
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