How do we compare?

When you’re thinking about where to live next year, we know that you might take a look at some private housing providers to see what they offer. When you’re looking, there are a few things to consider:

How long the contract is for..? A 52 week contract means you’ll probably be paying rent over the summer when you may not be here.

What’s included in your rent..? Does it include internet connection, are there additional charges and booking fees?

What’s not included in your rent..? Are things like utility bills, welfare support, 24 hour security and maintenance response, activities and events, on-site bars and community sport available?

We advertise our rents as an annual cost whilst many private accommodation providers advertise theirs as a weekly cost. This is because their contracts are longer, usually 52 weeks. So although weekly rents may initially seem like good value, you can actually end up paying an additional 10 weeks rent.

Also, in University accommodation ALL your bills are included in your rent. Factor in gas, electricity, water and internet bills, plus rent over the summer that low weekly rent may not actually be such a good deal.

Find out more...

Average cost of bills in a four bedroom private house
Rent - £65 per week x 52 weeks = £3,380 Internet connection - £50 Gas and electricity - £350 Water - £120 Insurance - £50 Total cost: £3,950 Not including an en-suite bathroom or the advantage of 24hr security.

PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION	UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION
Fees charged by some lettings agents and landlords, from £50 per person upwards.	No agents fees.
UK guarantor required by some landlords to secure accommodation, particularly for International students.	No guarantor needed.
Some landlords charge extra to pay in instalments. They often charge rent before you arrive, from as early as July and require one month’s rent as deposit.	You can pay your rent in instalments at no extra cost, with payment dates linked to when you receive your loan. Only £150 deposit.
Low advertised rents may only be available for a small number of rooms and may not include surcharges or bills – these can all add up!	We’re open and honest about rent – the price you see is the price you pay, with no hidden charges.
The average annual cost in a four bedroom house for gas, electricity, water, internet and insurance works out at £570 per person.	All bills are included in your rent so it's much easier to budget and you don't have to worry about splitting bills with your flatmates or who's name goes on the bills.
Some landlords charge approximately 1-2% for paying by credit/debit card and offer limited payment methods.	There's no surcharge if you want to pay by debit or credit card – you can pay in a way that suits you and you won’t be charged for it.
No other landlord has shorter contracts than us and most charge rent for 52 weeks, so you’ll have to start paying rent in July.	42 week contracts as standard, and there's flexibility to suit your course if you'd prefer a longer contract.
No welfare support or organised activities.	We have a dedicated welfare support team and loads of opportunities to meet new people by getting involved in the many activities and events that take place in the residences.
Limited access to University systems via the internet.	With high speed internet connection in every bedroom, we're the ONLY accommodation provider to offer direct access to the University network and systems (with the exception of Opal 2).