EDIN Housing: BE WARNED (Halls Of Residence At The University Of Edinburgh)

Member Name: edinUnihousux

Product:	Halls Of Residence At The University Of Edinburgh
Date:	11/02/05 (1777 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: If you dont have a brain

Disadvantages: overpriced, noisy, dilapidated

ATTENTION UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH NEW STUDENTS!!!
(especially new Postgrad, Mature and INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS)

THINK TWICE DON'T BE RIPPED OFF! TURN BACK BE WARNED
before taking university housing through Accomodation Services!

The myth that Accomodation Services perpetrates to new and potential students is that there
is a lack of affordable housing in Edinburgh. THIS IS A LIE. Then they scare you and rush
you into signing a contract for overpriced, underdeveloped, inefficient housing.

Some facts:

1. The average A.S. rent is about £310 per month, bills inclusive. This is a RIPOFF, especially for what you get. You can easily (as in EASILY) find a share situation in a nice flat, decent neighborhood from £225, then you pay your bills.

2. Accomodation Services tries to scare students: Wordy legalease language about taking private flats... Carefully worded marketing copy that makes any alternative look bad. DON'T BELIEVE IT! A.S. is a PRIVATE COMPANY, which only cares about profit.

3. Accomodation Services is the most nasty, indifferent organization to students ONCE the contract
is signed. Before, they act like friendly, caring little Bambi careworkers.

4. They promise Resnet/Internet and a whole host of other services. They rarely work. Some guy had to have a tribunal last year cause internet was down for over a month. They limit your access to the internet. The phone cards are a ripoff - the rates are more expensive than those you can buy in the shops.

5. The halls are LOUD, NOISY, prisons. The "en suite" bathrooms are tiny little closets you cannot turn around in. NOISE complaints are not handled well, the focus is NOT on studying. Parties and drinking are the first order of business. BE WARNED: NOISE MEANS NOISE AND LOTS OF IT. Doors banging, music, all night yelling.The "wardens" (students paid to serve as wardnes) don't care - they hide behind their email.

6. If you think you'll be getting a mixed, international flavor, think again: they generally group people, racially, into the flats - Chinese, American, Other.

In general, the staff struggles to provide proper services (i.e. the house staff) , but they are as limited by A.S. as the students.



WHAT TO DO:

1. Research and email people from the web. Use the EUSA STUDENTS ASSOCIATION site for links to meet folk for potential flatmates.Societies and clubs are a good way as well. This is NOT New York or Cambodia - folk are generally friendly and decent.

2. Just show up. Take a B&B for a week. Walk up & down Nicolson Street and check Potterrow - NOTICE BOARDS ARE EVERWHERE - FILLED WITH FLAT OFFERS AND SHARES. You will find something, and with the money you save you'll easily cover the B&B and moving.

3. Ask your course convenor for referrals when you get the acceptance letter. USE YOUR ACADEMIC OFFICES!!! They are set up to help students.There is also an INTERNATIONAL OFFICE where applicable. Keep in mind this IS a University - none of these offices communicate - so, dig, dig. dig!

SO consider yourself WARNED! If you do take Uni housing, good luck. I put this wee page up because Accomodation Services are anything BUT accomodating or service oriented. For the money me and my flatmates are paying we could have an ENTIRE HOUSE overlooking the water. THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!

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