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

I lived in the same flat during my first year!!

Do they ask you to give them bank details straight away? When I had to sort my accommodation out I remember stating somewhere that I intend to pay by direct debit from a UK bank account once I actually set one up for myself. It wasn't a problem at all. Obviously this isn't of much help because I don't know what the form you have to fill in is like when you're accepting your offer, but it won't be a problem so no reason to be worried about it. As long as you're able to pay the deposit now you'll be able to sort everything else out once you get to Edinburgh.

Hey! Thank you very much for the help! Yes, the problem is that they ask me to give them the bank details..which I don't have now.. and I can't proceed the application and I can't pay my deposit I hope they will respond me soon..
Btw do you have any pictures of the flat? In which room were you?

xxx

Are you not old though?

What the... This is absurd! I just got a look at the offer I was given today and I too (like Violettes) was offered a Twin room in Warrender Park Crescent! It seems to me that they are filling in the twin-bunk rooms first so that they have them out of the way! It's so infuriating that I just can't put it into words...

Well, I wont be venting all my anger here as I know I'm not the only one in this position but it seems that simply because we chose a building that HAS twin-bunk rooms we were given those rooms to have those filled in first. It just seems utter unfairness. After all, so far, most of the people here have gotten at least their third choice..

Now I have to decide whether I accept this offer and hope it's bearable to share a room (after living on my own, in my own flat, for 4 years and having my own room more than 10 years before that) or decline and go for private.. The first alternative would be easier and as someone said it might be possible to change a few weeks into the term, but it seems risky to hope for transfer and I'm not at all appealed by the idea of sharing a room... The second alternative while at first glance far more desirable I still scowl a bit to the fact that I have to arrange everything on my own, with so little time left and a lot of things can go wrong.

How long do I have to reply to Accom Services? It doesn't say anywhere, only that AFTER accepting I have 7 days to withdraw that acceptance if I want to.

All help on deciding appreciated... What made you decide, Violettes, on taking the offer?

Damn accommodation services....

What the... This is absurd! I just got a look at the offer I was given today and I too (like Violettes) was offered a Twin room in Warrender Park Crescent! It seems to me that they are filling in the twin-bunk rooms first so that they have them out of the way! It's so infuriating that I just can't put it into words...

Sorry, this is probably a really stupid question but how do you know it is a twin room? I've been offered a room in WPC too, but I can't see anything that says either twin or single!

Hi Nelien, sorry to hear about your acc offer. You've every right to be miffed at the acc services. I know I was (actually, still am). I feel slightly exploited, since I happened to choose an acc with twin rooms.

I appealed a week ago, but the original decision was upheld. They gave me an offer to be put on the waiting list for a single room, which I took up, on the off chance that one would become available nearby (although they did say that I shouldn't expect anything before November, ie well into the term). My official reasoning for the appeal was admittedly very thin. I just mentioned privacy issues. But I'm sure if you write to them, as Oxymoronic pointed out, about your situation, they would reconsider. At the very least, it would barter you more time (>7 days, since right now that's all the time you have to reply) to find a private flat of your liking.

As for what made me take up the offer... I'm 19, an international, have never been to Edinburgh, will be coming here alone and have lived in my parents' house since forever. Uni acc. gives me cleaning services, security, a student community, no landlord issues. If I were to go private, I'd have to come here early. I'd hate sharing a room since I have a certain work ethic which may not be suitable to my roommate. Even so, I can shift into another once it becomes available, an option that I won't have once I go private.

Oh and I'm in Flat 28, room 3. How about you?

Also I don't think anyone has actually been offered a small room as these are cheaper? I may be wrong there.

i think all the issues are just edinburgh uni wanting to make as much money as possible. They gave me my most expensive choice and looks to me as if they're hastily making single rooms into twin and making an extra £1000 in the process.. Also I don't think anyone has actually been offered a small room as these are cheaper? I may be wrong there.

Well, it sais so clearly, "Room Type: Twin room in a 5 person flat". So you've apparently been offered a single room if it doesn't say otherwise. Also if you check the tenancy it should be around £3000 for a single room while it's only £2100 for a twin room.




Hey Violettes, thanks for the concern. I'm in Flat 4 Room 4 but I doubt I'll be accepting the offer anyway .

I will send them an e-mail and hope for the best but I doubt my reasons will make much difference to them and I don't think I can wait for them to reply if it takes more than one week or the offer will expire anyway.

Actually, I'm an International too and I can't go to Edinburgh much earlier than term start so if I'm going for private I'll have to arrange everything from distance or just a few days before term start..

I hope you get a good room mate or manages to transfer soon enough .

Hmm, seems my "appeal" was successful, this is what I got as a reply today:

"It seems there was an error in your allocation. This has been amended and
your offer should now be for a single room. I'm sorry for the mix-up, and
cheers for letting us know."

And now my offer stands as a Large Single room in Warrender Park Crescent.. Geez.. I don't know what to think of them.. It's a large room instead of a small as I applied for but it is in my first choice building.. Still £96 a week is awfully expensive, now that I've looked at private that costs £75 a week in basically the same location.

Well, it's nice to have the option anyway but I'm still highly hesitant on giving University Accommodation that much money..