When you come to the UK to study, leeds student accommodation is one of the most important details that you should not ignore. If you apply for a dormitory in the first year of your stay, and you are familiar with the environment in the second semester, then you should prepare for renting a house.
Usually, whether we are renting a house at home or abroad, we will consider these points: the location of the house, the price of the house, the quality of the house and the time we move in. It’s important to shop around when choosing a property, it’s not the same as buying groceries in a food market. If you sign a contract and then try to break it, it means you will have to lose some of your money, which is something you should be aware of for an international student from a middle class family who works for a living.
Firstly, the location of the house
It’s best to live close to campus, but you’ll have to pay a lot of money to rent a house in the school district, which is expensive! Some students choose to live close to the school shuttle bus or a bus stop to save money. This makes it very easy to get around and the rent is relatively less.
The second point is the price of rent.
To be honest, most international students from ordinary families stop at choosing a flat because of the rent. The rent of university halls of residence in the UK is definitely less than the rent of a house in a prime school district, but if you want to find a cheaper place, it is basically far away from the school, which increases the transportation cost and sometimes it is hard to go back and forth with several jobs.
The third point is the quality of the house.
The word quality encompasses much more than just the size of the house, its orientation, its amenities and so on. There are also some more important additional elements. For example, the surrounding environment and safety of the house, whether there are any special restrictions on the water and electricity bills, and sometimes even the occupation of the landlord.
Lastly, the length of stay
If you are sure you want to rent a room outside, you can choose to get a partner, ask a teacher or sister for help or consult a local student. Be sure to check in before you check out of school, or move in early.
Homestay vs student accommodation in Leeds – each has its own advantages
When studying in the UK, accommodation should not be overlooked, so whether to choose homestay or on-campus accommodation has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Homestay
★ Duration: Minimum stay of 1 month
★Suitable for: Secondary school students with less than an undergraduate degree and less self-control, parents of the host family supervising the student
★Benefits of choosing a homestay family: it provides you with an opportunity to learn about British culture from the inside out. The more you get to know the British people, the more you will discover the different ways of living in the UK and the deeper and clearer your perception of yourself and the cultural values to which you belong.
It reduces a lot of the hassle and expense of renting a home away from home, especially if you have to spend more time and energy on your schoolwork. In a homestay, you will have your own space and furniture. The rent also covers most of your living expenses such as food, accommodation and utilities.
★Caution: First of all, you should adapt to the culture of your host family and abide by their family rules. Some host families are very strict and have very strict rules about when to lock the door and turn off the lights.
On-campus accommodation (usually flat style)
★Types: There are two types of accommodation: private and self-catering. Most of the postgraduate flats are self-catering. For Chinese students who are not used to Western food culture, self-catering is the most economical, nutritious and socially acceptable way of eating. The private kitchens are less time consuming, but the variety is limited.
★The advantages of choosing on-campus accommodation are: single rooms with beds, desks and wardrobes in each room, with your own or shared bathroom; 6-8 people in a flat, with a communal kitchen and good facilities in the kitchen, usually with a microwave oven, toaster and grill; free water, electricity and internet access; close to classes, saving travel time; more opportunities to meet foreign students, which is beneficial for proficiency in foreign languages and learning foreign cultures. If you leave the university during the summer or winter holidays, you can stop paying rent and keep the room for you.
★Disadvantages: The rent is slightly higher than renting a room off-campus; foreign students are very active, they often get together to drink and play, and every weekend or holiday, there will be a dance party, even if you do not attend, you will be unable to rest.
★Caution: Students should sign an accommodation contract with the school for their accommodation at school. Students should pay attention to the content of the contract and whether they give one month’s notice to withdraw from the accommodation, as the refund of the deposit usually takes a long time, and some students even fail to get the deposit even after they have returned to their home country. Accommodation fees can be paid in instalments, with only the deposit or part of it being paid up front.
