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Thread for accommodation questions for 09/10 entry - READ & POST HERE FIRST :o)

We will begin updating this for 10/11 entry - please be patient! Until then, all of the answers to most of your questions can be found in this thread already - please read it. Then add to this post if you've got any other questions and we'll do our best to help.

***FINDING PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION IN EDINBURGH***

It seems that the university is claiming that they will only be able to offer bunk bed twin rooms to large numbers of students for the new year. Obviously, sharing a room isn't the nicest of prospects to look forward to however nice your prospective roommate might be, so I thought I'd put together a little section on finding private accommodation for those who decide not to accept their offers. Remember, you do not have to accept the accommodation offer if you don't want to do so and there are plenty of alternatives - Edinburgh has a lot of very good flats on offer to students.

I want to join an existing flat

Look on the university student union forum here (the link brings you to the accommodation forum). This is generally the first port of call for people to advertise spare rooms, or you can place an advert saying you're looking for a room. Most people advertising on here will be Edinburgh University students.

Or alternatively, try the Edinburgh Gumtree page here.

You can also go into the Potterrow student union in Bristo Square during the festival, and at the back inbetween the SU office and SU shop, there is an accommodation notice board.

I want to find my own flat and some flatmates

This is really easy to do, and if you've got a spare few days in which to head to Edinburgh even better. There are loads of student flats in Edinburgh with 2, 3 or 4 people being the norm so you don't need to have many people. There are loads of people on TSR discussing getting private accommodation so it might be worth PMing them to see if they want to join up with you.

If you are looking to share with 2 or more people you are NOT related to, you need to make sure that your landlord has a HMO licsence on the property which is a legal requirement for rentals to unrelated groups of 3 or more adults.

Landlords and Property Management Companies

You want a landlord who is accredited by the Edinburgh City Council landlord accreditation scheme, which means the landlord and the property has to adhere to certain rules and regulations. Not all landlords are part of this scheme and I'd advise avoiding ones which aren't, esspecially as you're new to the area. Check with the council if in doubt. Private landlords (ie: not large rental/property management companies) are generally better as you can always get hold of them incase of problems and they usually only own one or a few flats, meaning the upkeep is generally better. There are lots of property management companies in Edinburgh, some with better reviews than others. Grant Management is considered to be a company to avoid by most of the student population, and the majority of students know someone who has been messed around/fobbed off/generally had a bad time with GM. I personally would never live in a flat managed by them regardless of how cheap the rent had been made. Other popular management companies are Edinburgh Letting Service, Crichton Stuart, Dove Davies and Edinburgh Property Management, although obviously there are more. I have friends who have rented with all of these companies and they are considered to be better than GM, although I am not saying that all of these are wonderful. As I said you are better off with a private landlord if at all possible.

Finding a flat

You can use the websites I gave above, or alternatively there are loads of search engines where private landlords and property management companies advertise. The most used ones are city lets, s1 rental, letting web, ESPC, letting in Scotland, Student Pad. Again, this list as with the property management isn't exhaustive. Each of the PM companies I listed above also have their own websites.

There is plenty of property available in Edinburgh, so you should be able to find something. Some of my friends came up this summer for 1 week and found a flat easily.

Where shall I live?

The main student areas of Edinburgh are known as Marchmont, Newington, Tollcross, Bruntsfield, New Town and Old Town. Basically, if you have a map of Edinburgh, this is the area which is encircled by Queen Street in the north, then to the east, as far as Holyrood Park and Dalkeith Road, to the south it would be north of Strathern Road level, then to the west, Lothian Road which then becomes Bruntsfield Place. All of these areas are within a 20-25 minute walk of the George Square area of the university, and within walking distance of most popular clubs, pubs and also supermarkets.

(Obviously people live outwith this area, but I am speaking in general terms)

How much will it cost?

Housing here is more expensive than a lot of the UK, and I cringe when I hear how little friends at university in different parts of the country are paying. The thing to remember is that Edinburgh is a capital city, and you want to live in the centre of it, so compared to London and many other capitals, Edinburgh is pretty reasonable on the pricing front.

In general, rental rates start at around £300 per person per month excluding bills and go up to in excess of £400. However, you should be able to get a decent room for less than £320. Bills are generally around £20-25 each a month in my own experience. As a student you will not have to pay council tax and as a result you don't have to pay for water either. Therefore, try not to live with someone who is working unless you can come to an agreement on council tax payment. It is usual that there will be a stair cleaner to clean the communal staircase and each flat pays their share each month - the others in your building will be quick to let you know the procedure when you move in.

Leases are usually always for 12 months, with little room for negotiation. You will be expected to pay rent every single month regardless of whether you are living in the property or not. This is standard procedure, unlike in some other university towns and cities. Many students chose to sublet their room in the summer months to people who are living in Edinburgh for the festival, or stay in the flat themselves working in the city.

Deposits are usually one month rent, which can sometimes be used in lieu of a 12th month payment. All breakages and repair costs are generally paid for by the landlord, not the tenants (unless of course you break it by being stupid/drunk!).

What are the properties like?

All properties here are old tenement style flats, with a shared staircase and 2-4 properties on each floor, usually with 3 or 4 floors. There is usually a shared garden for which you will have access. I've never known anyone to live in a house. They all have very high ceilings and usually contain huge rooms with large windows. A lot of the windows are only single glazed so if you find one with double glazing you've got a good deal, meaning the flats can get very cold in winter. Get used to sleeping in layers and using sleeping bags if you want to live here and save on bills! Some flats have lounges and others don't (it is normally around £320 for a seperate lounge) but most have a large kitchen with sofas here. There is generally only one bathroom. A lot of properties have lots of cupboards for storage and many have lovely, tiled fireplaces which although are no longer in use make brilliant decorative pieces in your bedroom!

---- I hope this is of some use to people... and good luck flat searching! It is easier than you think!

-----------------------------------

Hi,

As accommodation questions seem to be surfacing I thought it'd be nice to keep everything on one thread and pool the resources that we already have into one thread. There have been loads threads over the last few years where people have asked the same questions again and again (as obviously everyone always wants to know the same thing) so to try and stop the repetitive questions, I thought I'd make a proper thread using information current students have given in the past. I'll add to this when I've got more time, at the moment I've gone back as far as this time next year looking for useful threads.

University of Edinburgh wiki - contains photos.

The wiki is a very good point of reference for any questions and has been created by several of the current students who are the 'main' posters in the Edinburgh forum. This means our opinion is already reflected here, so we don't need to write it again. Please read the wiki.

APPLY ONLINE NOW - if you have accepted Edinburgh as your firm OR insurance place. It is NOT first come, first served. It does not matter when you apply as long as you meet the deadline, which is in the summer.

Applications are now being accepted.
Again, it does NOT matter when you apply.
Accommodation isn't issued by order of application.

*New*

Ensure you apply for accommodation using an email address which you will still have access to in September. Offers are sent out via email and you have to accept the offer by clicking on the link and paying your deposit over the internet. This means you should NOT use an email address from school, college, work or anywhere else where you might not be able to access it come the end of august. Many schools and colleges delete students from their user areas after exams in June meaning you can't access your email which is fundamental for after results day. This also applies to the general UCAS form, ensure you're using something you'll be contactable on until you arrive at university.

(Otherwise you end up in a mess like I did where come results day you realise you can't recieve any accommodation emails and then end up having to completely reapply just to change your email address)

**NEW**

Room Sizes:

There are a lot of questions about the room sizing and whether one should apply for a small, medium or large room. The general concenus from current students is that you should always apply for the SMALL room size where ever possible - particularly if you are concerned about money - because the size difference between the rooms is marginal.

This "choice" only came into opperation about 2 years ago (I didn't get a choice) and is simply being used as another way for the university accommodation services to get more money out of students. Paying an extra £10 a week for a "big" room will gain you a room which is say, 30cm wider than that of your flatmate with the "small" room.... you may as well donate £10 a week to Uni AS people as you're getting very little for the extra money.

08/09 (last yr) entry accommodation application discussion

Why did you apply for your accommodation/where did you apply 08/09

Where is the best place to live in Edinburgh?

Price of accommodation, artorscience's post in particular

UNITE at Edinburgh

Where to live/prices for after first year

Edinburgh is my insurance choice, do I still apply?

Self catered accommodation = single sex (in general)

Detailed stuff:

Pollock meal times

Mini fridge? What to and what not to bring!

Should I bring a TV?

Should I bring my bike?

Can I bring my dog to Edinburgh?

From the Edinburgh University website:

Will I be guarenteed accommodation?

Prices and Accommodation types, plus details about Internet

----

Obviously questions do always arise and we all certainly had loads before we came to Edinburgh. We don't mind answering questions at all, as obviously, we'd like to help prospective students as much as we can. I know the university accommodation website isn't very detailed, whereas the TSR site is pretty good at answering questions. However, we do also have lives to lead and get on with our degrees too. So many generic questions can be answered by using the links above and by using the search function. But as I said fire away with questions.... but it'd be easier if they're all in one place.

Thank you!

I hope you end up loving Edinburgh as much as I do :love:

Scroll to see replies

Reply 20

Komiyan

oxymoronic

I personally wouldn't choose to live on Cowgate. One of my friends lived in Kincades (about 50m walk from Robertsons Close) in first year and hated it because she said it was always really noisy. She used ear plugs the entire year. RC is on top of the nightclub/bar Rush, which yeah it has cheap drinks, but I wouldn't choose to live on top of it if I had the option not to do so. Cowgate is basically the main clubbing area of Edinburgh and is therefore like any other city where university students get drunk and go clubbing. The very close proximity to George Square doesn't balance out the location of it otherwise, in my opinion.

Again, friends lived there in first year, only went once. Was very nice, similar to Darroch and any of the other residences on the inside - it is literally across the Pleasance court yard from Darroch, so location wise you're in the exact same spot. I'd say maybe even better because it is set back from the road, whereas if you get a room on the road side of Darroch you're next to a fairly busy road. Lovely views of Arthurs Seat.

I lived here in first year and loved it. There are 2 Warrenders - the crescent and the road. They share a resident assistant and we always went to their parties and vice versa. I certainly didn't feel at a disadvantage due to where I lived, if anything it was a bonus because if you join societies loads of people live in Marchmont in the later years so all of the society parties are generally in Marchmont as the private flats here are huge. When I arrived in first year I thought I was at a disadvantage and hated my flat as it wasn't close to Pollock, this lasted all of 2 days in freshers week, then after around October I seldom went to Pollock anyway. And it's only 20 mins walk if you do need to go there, but it will be more that Pollock people come to you. It sorta works that people meet up around George Square with friends rather than at their flats anyway, and then you have your friends in your building when you go home.... it is definitely not a ghostland, if anything, Marchmont is studentland.

Thanks for your answer :biggrin:

Warrender Park Crescent and Road look really lovely, I was just worried it was a little isolated. I guess I can see your point about Cowgate - my main reason in considering it was really it's proximity, both to the main uni site and other flats. But I can imagine that also means that, for the large number of friends you might make, there'd be just a large number of people hollering in the streets at 1am or throwing up outside your front door >.<

Reply 21

laurie344

I'm thinking of putting Imperial as my firm and Edinburgh as my insurance, will this give me second choice accommodation at Edinburgh?

I'm only really worrying about this because I would really like to go to Edinburgh and in the back of my mind I don't think I will make the grades to get into Imperial.

Thanks

Reply 22

oxymoronic

laurie344

Accommodation isn't given out until you have an unconditional offer, which if you did end up coming here, would be at results day along with everyone who had edinburgh as their firm. The only people who get given a room before the English and Scottish results days are people who already hold an unconditional offer for various reasons. Everyone else waits until the end of August.

You would need to apply along with all of the firm applicants for your accommodation as normal and then if it came to it, you'd be allocated accommodation after results day along with everyone else.

When I applied, I recieved the details of where I was living a week before I moved to Edinburgh. It was my firm.

Reply 23

AllAboutMe

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, that you only get to chose accomodation at your 1st choice. If you don't get in I think you just get stuck with what's left at your 2nd.

Reply 24

nearlyheadlessian

AllAboutMe

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, that you only get to chose accomodation at your 1st choice. If you don't get in I think you just get stuck with what's left at your 2nd.

You're wrong. Oxymoronic is right :smile:

Reply 25

artorscience?

AllAboutMe

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, that you only get to chose accomodation at your 1st choice. If you don't get in I think you just get stuck with what's left at your 2nd.

Just to add to what Oxymoronic and nearlyheadlessian have said...

... If you don't apply for accommodation, you won't be allocated any. Whether you are putting Edinburgh as an insurance or firm choice, you need to apply for accommodation to get any, otherwise you will be left having to find private accommodation, or just wothout anywhere to live, etc. (So apply for the accommodation as soon as you've picked Edinburgh just so that you don't forget about it.)

Reply 26

ooze

oxymoronic

When I applied, I recieved the details of where I was living a week before I moved to Edinburgh. It was my firm.

Same

Reply 27

johnnytwobands

They have good parties =) and I do my laundry there! Haha.

Reply 28

nellied

I was wondering how isolated i would be if i chose private accomodation - either get a flat to myself or a 2 bed and advertise the spare room for another flatmate

Alhtough would be new to ed in 09, i'm 22 and entering as a grad on second degree.

We also start on 10th of Aug so will have to be temp in Pollock for 5 weeks before being booted out to our self catered accom if we choose uni accom which i don't really want to do, i'm also not sure that sharing with 5 people in a flat is really sutible for me, BUT i don't want to be cut off.... i was told by some that i would be ok as i will meet people on my course and also if i join socities etc.

Any thoughts? Thanks

ETA: i would be looking for a flat in the marchmont area as want to be close-ish to summerhall

Reply 29

artorscience?

nellied

ETA: i would be looking for a flat in the marchmont area as want to be close-ish to summerhall

Newington and Southside are closer to Summerhall (ie Summerhall is in Newington). But both Marchmont and Newington are the main (UoE) student areas of the city, so once you've met people you won't be far away from where the majority of them stay/smaller society socials at second year+ flats and where a fair amount of the University's own accommodation is. Not to mention, in Newington/Southside, rent prices are a little lower.

If you are comfortable moving into your own flat then, as you say, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people, after all, you could move into University accommodation and spend your whole time ignoring people. Besides, if you have the 5 weeks before normal freshers arrive then you'll already have made some friends and acquaintances and have a head start on your fellow freshers so you don't need the institution of flatmates to get you started in finding friends. I didn't pass my flatmates much after the first month or so, once everyone had got themselves sorted with courses and societies, flatmates were really just that - people that I lived with.

Reply 30

oxymoronic

Most of my friends are from societies or my course. I still live with 2 of my flatmates from 1st year (we're 3rd years now and will stay together in 4th yr) and the other 3 also still live together, but I think we are a rare case that we get on so well. A lot of people don't see their flatmates after they move out. But on the whole the majority of my friends are from societies. I'd advise you to get involved with society stuff and go to all of the social events and then you'll be fine. As you're a grad you'll have done the whole university thing before so you know how it all works!

The only thing I would say is that living on your own might be hard at the start when you'll only have your course to keep you occupied as societies won't start up until the university is back into the semester in september. Perhaps living with one other person might be good as otherwise it might feel quite isolated if you don't really know anyone in the city other than the ones on your course as the university will be deathly quite over the holidays too. There are always plenty of post grads/mature students/4th years who are looking to share with just one other person who you could share your flat with. Just make sure who ever you get to share with is a student as otherwise you'll end up paying council tax (well, they will, but you know what I mean) you don't pay water rates in Edinburgh if you don't pay council tax as the cost of the water is taken out of that.

Reply 31

nellied

Thank you oxymoronic & artorscience that is very helpful.

If i found a flat and advertised the spare rooms am i likely to be able to find someone if i advertised in august time or will everyone have got their accomodation sorted by then?

The way my course works is the new grads enter for 5 weeks and then we mostly join up with the 2nd years so i wouldn't really know much of the 1st yr people anyway so being aimed more in a second year area would be better i think...

Also i didn't know about the water rates - thanks

Reply 32

watermelon sugar

is it usual for someone doing a subject in the kings buildings(maths) to stop in accom by george square/new college? i'm not sure how the application for it works but would they try and get me to stop nearer the kings buildings? i don't really want to be with people on the same course as me because i'd like to meet a lot of different people and i'd meet them anyway, and i'd like to be closer to the center and unions.

Reply 33

artorscience?

watermelon sugar

The University doesn't own accommodation that is particularly close to KB, you are likely to have a lot of your lectures in the central area during first year. And for when you need to get up to KB, there is a bus free to students. When you apply for accommodation, pick whatever locations you want, but be warned, you have very little control over where you end up and who your flatmates will be - it is best to be as unconcerned as possible and open to sharing with anyone.

Reply 34

watermelon sugar

artorscience?

little control? is it unlikely i'll end up anywhere i've picked?
i'm open to anyone/anything, it's just kinda what i think i'd prefer. i've read everythinggg on the website about accom like a complete loser :o:

dankee

Reply 35

artorscience?

watermelon sugar

If you've read everything on this site about accommodation, you'll be aware that a significant number of students do not get their first choice (and in many cases, any of their chosen) accommodation - this isn't something to worry about as all the accommodations are very similar on the inside and their locations are all within a 15-minute-walk radius of George Square... so as a first year you can't go wrong location-wise. If you're open to anything, you'll be fine - you'll be given a decent room in a decent flat, your flatmates may or may not be from similar subject areas (some people end up with people from the same subject area whilst others end up with a spread - could be chance, could be something more contrived by accommodation services). But whatever your flatmates are like you'll be able to find people as similar or different from you as you like within your block.

Reply 36

oxymoronic

watermelon sugar

dankee

Just consider it to be that yes, you get to write down 3 s/c accommodation where you would like to be, but this is not a given and you might not get a room in any of your choices. Sort of like with UCAS!

Also, don't bother/get stressed about the whole big/medium/small room thing which the university now seem to opperate in the application process. It is just their way of making more money. Any room you get will be adequate, have the same furniture in and be big enough. They are all pretty much identical - The flat I was in for first year had 4 identical bedroom, and 1 which had literally 20cm more width as it was on the otherside of the flat. The person with the 20cm bigger room now has to pay like £10 more a week or something for that priviledge - that is how minimal the differences are.

I noticed on another thread that you've got friends who are hoping for offers - try not to apply for the same accomodation as chances are that will be more of a hinderance in the early weeks as you won't be as motivated to meet your new flatmates/neighbours if you've got a ready made set of friends from home downstairs. If you don't meet your neighbours in freshers week you never will.

Reply 37

nearlyheadlessian

oxymoronic

If you don't meet your neighbours in freshers week you never will.

Most of my neighbours were crap...

Reply 38

oxymoronic

nearlyheadlessian

Most of my neighbours were crap...

I never met them so I don't know!

I remember my flatmates and I met some 2nd years in freshers week who'd lived in our building the year before and they were like "if you don't meet your neighbours in freshers, you never will for the rest of the year" and we laughed it off and said don't be so stupid. Yet it ended up being so true - we never met the people in the flat nextdoor. The same thing has happened in my halls on exchange at the moment, I didn't meet my neighbours in the first week and now I don't know if they're alive or not!

You're a second year, yeah?

Reply 39

watermelon sugar

oxymoronic

I noticed on another thread that you've got friends who are hoping for offers - try not to apply for the same accomodation as chances are that will be more of a hinderance in the early weeks as you won't be as motivated to meet your new flatmates/neighbours if you've got a ready made set of friends from home downstairs. If you don't meet your neighbours in freshers week you never will.

ooh i wasn't going to. i'd like being in the same city as them but i don't want to be in same accommodation or spending loads of time with them- it'd be the fist time i've ever moved to a new city/school/college actually knowing someone, but i much prefer going it alone!

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