Once accepted on to your university course, you will quickly need to decide whether you want to spend your first year living in university halls of residence or in privately rented accommodation. There are significant differences between these options, in terms of the kind of student life you will lead. Where you choose to live will have a major impact on your lifestyle and costs alongside many other factors to consider. For those of you seeking student accommodation near Chester University, this guide will explain what each choice entails.
University halls of residence
Most centres of higher education offer limited places at halls of residence, which are administered and managed by the university authorities, sometimes on campus or distributed across cities or even further afield. With tightly knit corridors and shared bathroom and kitchen facilities, these are where many students come of age, meeting their first friends, sometimes developing close and intense relationships with their immediate neighbours and hygiene habits. Unlike with private accommodation you have no real choice who you will be living with, and the lack of intimacy may not appeal to everyone, especially if sharing bathrooms with strangers doesn’t appeal.
Standard university accommodation will include a bed, a bathroom and cooking facilities, with core utilities such as gas, electric, and water alongside internet access all included in the price. Other perks such as broadband, room cleaning, security, laundry, and insurance are also typically factored in, although in each instance it is worth checking in advance. Ensuite options can sometimes exist too but come at a premium. Some halls also include canteens where meals can be pre-booked for a term. For students living away for the first time, traditional student halls can be a great stepping stone from the family home to adult life, in which you learn how to live with others, acquiring sensitivity, know-how and other life skills.
Private student accommodation
Whilst nearly all students move on to private lets in the second year of their course, a few first year ‘freshers’ choose to live in them too. These often also include older students, overseas undergraduates or people on postgraduate courses who prefer a more ‘mature’ living arrangement from the outset. The type of private accommodation on offer can range from communal halls to individual houses or flats shared by student tenants.
Many students team up during their first year to ensure they can find a decent and affordable house for their second year, ensuring it satisfies all the desired criteria for communal living with a select and trusted group of friends. The culture of a private house is very different to a hall of residence. You are instantly removed from the psychological cocoon of university property and engage instead with private landlords and letting agencies. Some students prefer the more realistic feel of life in a shared house, living on residential streets far removed from the university ‘bubble’ and are immediately made aware of the life-building responsibilities that go with taking ownership of bills and maintaining private properties.
Factors to consider before signing a private tenancy agreement
Before moving to a private let, you will want to consider the local neighbourhood, bus and other transport links, road safety, noise and other potentially influential environmental factors, particularly if cycling or walking alone at night. The amount of rent you pay will in turn be determined by the quality of the house, its location and surrounding environment, its desirability and proximity to campus.
Is private accommodation cheaper than halls?
Renters will also need to consider the terms of their tenancy agreements and in particular the need to arrange their own utility bills and broadband provision. It is important you know in advance whether the overall rent includes or excludes extra costs.
Some students elect to live in private halls instead and these are characterised by a wider choice of amenities and luxuries than standard university accommodation. They might include satellite TV, gyms or pool tables and cosier living areas overall. They are often newer builds, constructed to accommodate bigger student populations, particular from overseas, and whilst there is a social life these environments are not as geared towards parties.
The centre of Chester is filled with private student houses, and these get snapped up quickly in the autumn term. Whether you are browsing available private student accommodation in the garden quarter or the wider city, set up an appointment with our Bed Student Rentals team, local leaders in providing fully managed letting and landlord services in Chester, Hoole and neighbouring areas.
Written by Kate
