Which Type of Accommodation is Best For You?

There are many different types of student accommodation. You have to decide which type you will go for only a few months into your degree. The process can be overwhelming; each has its pros and cons. So how do you decide? We have broken down each type of accommodation to help you decide!

University Halls

Pros

• On-Campus - If you want to roll out of bed in the morning and have a short walk to lectures university halls are hard to beat.
• Uni Bars - University bars and restaurants are usually the cheapest options around a university.
• People - You will have the opportunity to meet far more people than living off-campus.
• Catered Option - If cooking isn’t your thing, halls often have a catering option. Although it comes at a price, many would argue that the ease outweighs the price.
• Cleaners - There are cleaners to look after the communal areas.
• Bill Free - Halls are an ‘all-inclusive’ option! You won’t have to worry about collecting money from housemates or spend time searching for the best deals. Additionally, university WIFI speeds are usually exceptional, which is a bonus.

Cons

• Cost - Halls are often significantly more expensive than their equivalent in the private rented sector.
• Laundry - The cost to use shared washing machines is often high and, in some universities, maintained to a poor standard. Availability can be a problem as well.
• Shared Kitchen - Sharing a kitchen can often be a very messy experience. Most student kitchens are a place you don’t want to spend much time in.
• Shared Bathroom - Like the kitchen, you would be sharing the toilet and bathroom facilities (unless you paid a premium for ensuite facilities!) with other students on your floor.
• Distractions - Living so close to so many people means that if you are in the mood for a little procrastination, it is too easy to come by.
• Theft (food) - Many students are left confused as to why their food left in a communal fridge or cupboard is suddenly fair game for everyone else!

Private Halls

Pros

• Quality - Private Halls are usually built to the highest standards. Providing you with luxuries you probably don't even have at home!
• Extras - They often come with added extras like a gym on-site or a cinema room.
• Bill-Free - Like university halls, private halls come as a bill free package.
• Location - They are usually built in an ideal location. For example, halfway between town and university.

Cons

• Cost - If you want a cheaper option, it is probably best to look elsewhere. If you want the lifestyle try university halls or shared accommodation!
• Similar cons to university halls - Messy kitchens, distractions, theft and shared laundry mean private halls are very similar to university halls and have similar issues. However, they are usually maintained to a higher standard so laundry machines ruining your clothes shouldn't be as much of a problem!

Private Rented Accommodation

Pros

• Variety - Private houses have a wide range of choices that can fit almost every budget!
• Friends - You can choose the people you live with, so you don’t have to worry about living with someone you don’t get on with.
• Freedom - In a privately rented house you don’t have as many restrictions compared to the alternatives. You are pretty much free to do whatever you like, providing you don't breach your contract!
• Experience - Probably the best university lifestyle experience you will get and learn life lessons on how to run a household from sharing bills, cleaning to dealing with the landlord. It will also be cheaper than staying in halls.

Cons

• Responsibility - These houses generally come with more responsibility compared to your other options. For example, you will have to remember which bins to put out or make sure the garden is kept clean.
• A few unfair landlords - University and private halls tend to follow the rules more than some landlords. However, good private landlords may overlook a minor issue whereas, halls may charge a deduction as they owned by and run like a large business. On the whole, most landlords in the private sector are good!

Shared Private Accommodation

Pros

• More personal halls - Similar to private rented accommodation, with the only difference being you are renting just one room in the house and sharing all the other communal areas. Think of shared houses as halls on a smaller scale.
• New people - If you want to meet new people, shared houses can be the perfect way to do so. Many students make lasting friendships with new housemates.
• Jointly and severally liable - You likely won’t be jointly and severally liable for your housemates. Meaning you won’t have to worry about covering a housemate's rent if they drop out.

Cons

• Landlord access - Unlike when you rent the entire private house with your mates, your landlord will have access to communal areas at all times without notice. Generally, this will not be a problem as they will only come around when necessary. However, they could easily abuse this power.
• Mess etc. - Similar issues as those mentioned under halls with respect kitchen and bathroom facilities will apply. However, in a smaller setting, people tend to be more considerate.

Live-In Landlord

Pros

• Value for money - You can often find live-in landlords as a good alternative to living at home whilst on a budget. It is a person's home, so they are better maintained and have higher standards than many other options.
• Focus - You will likely be the only student in the house. This makes it a great option for those who don't want the distractions and want to knuckle down on their studies.
• Can be ideal for an introvert - Live-in landlords tend to run quiet, clean and nicer houses.
• Repairs - Repairs will be faster as your landlord will be incentivised to fix the problem as it is a problem for them too.

Cons

• Hosting - It can be hard to host guests with this type of accommodation. You will likely be limited to one or two guests maximum.
• Availability - There aren't many live-in landlords willing to have a student.
• Rules - There will likely be more rules. Many will not allow sleepovers or weekend guest visits. New rules that weren't in the contract are likely to occur as well.

Stay At Home

Pros

• Societies - You’ll meet fewer people to begin with. If you are an outgoing person you can turn to societies to resolve this. This could be to your advantage as you’ll meet people with similar interests. Societies are also great for your CV so the more you’re in the better!
• Parties - You may be invited to hall parties. These are often messy, and the hosts are usually left to pay any damage that occurs. As you won’t be the host this won’t be a worry for you!
• Fewer Distractions - As you are at home, you will likely be distracted less. Fewer distractions often lead to more productive work and could be the difference between a grade or two.
• Cheap - You’ll likely be living rent-free or if not pay a fraction of the rent you would be paying otherwise. However, you’ll get a smaller loan.
• Family - Family is often the greatest asset for a student. The support your family can provide is unmatched by anyone else you’ll meet. University is a lot of fun but that doesn’t mean there aren’t testing moments. Having them so close can help in any tough moments you may experience.

Cons

• Friends - It may be hard, at first, to make new friends. With everyone finding their feet in the first few months, it can be the late-night conversations or two-minute random chats that start a friendship. Living at home may mean you miss out on those. It may take a conscious effort from you to get started.
• FOMO - Student life can be very spontaneous. Moments and memories often start from a random drink at the uni bar late at night. You’ll likely be at home by this point and may miss out on these, only living them through their stories. FOMO can make you feel down, especially in the early days when you don’t know that many people.
• Independence - For many students, independence is thrust upon them at university. A large part of university, some may even argue it holds more weight than the degree, is growing up. Living at home may not force you to be independent.

The good news is, you can find accommodation to fit every type, preference and budget and you can try different options in different years as you progress. The most important thing is to figure out your preferences beforehand, so you plan accordingly, and we hope the points above help you make a more informed choice.

Can you think of any more benefits or drawbacks? Let us know in the comments below!
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