Accommodation
Please note that Aberdeen College does not have student accommodation.
Main Types of Accommodation for Students at Aberdeen College
There are a number of types of accommodation you should consider for your stay in Aberdeen. Your choice will depend on whether you are coming to the UK as a single student or bringing your family with you, and also on how much you are able to spend on rent. Housing in Aberdeen is generally very costly and will probably be your largest monthly expense.
Bed and Breakfast
This type of accommodation is usually found in small hotels and guest houses, but can be rather expensive as a long term option. It is most useful for a few nights when you first arrive in Aberdeen as it provides a base while looking for more permanent accommodation.
Bedsit
This is a single room with cooking and washing facilities available. You will also have to share a bathroom with others living in the same house.
Living in a Flat
This is the most sought after type of accommodation. Most students cannot afford to live in a flat on their own and so will share the rent with friends. Most flats will have two or three students in them, with a bedroom each, and sharing the kitchen, bathroom and the lounge. Some flats will be single sex, others may be mixed accommodation. You should ask about this before agreeing to share. You should also ask about how much rent you will be expected to pay and how the bills (i.e. gas, electric, phone, food) are to be divided. If you are sharing with people who are not full time students, you may be liable to pay Council Tax on the flat.
Halls of Residence
There are a number of privately owned self catering halls of residence in Aberdeen. These are usually large buildings accommodating many students. Each flat within the halls contains 6 – 8 bedrooms and the students within the individual flats share a kitchen/living area and washing and toilet facilities. Electricity is usually included in the cost of the rent. Few halls of residence have facilities to cater for families.
Costs
If you stay in halls of residence you are likely to have to pay your rent termly, as opposed to paying monthly for a flat or bedsit. Halls can cost from £55 per week for self catering and you can expect to pay around £240 per month for a room in a flat, or from £250 – £350 per month for a one bedroom flat.
Remember
Before agreeing to take on any accommodation:
- View the property to make sure you know it is well maintained, secure and doesn't suffer from damp or draughts.
- Make sure the location of the property is a 'safe' neighbourhood.
- Get a rent agreement or tenancy agreement that sets out the terms of the lease, including what is covered in the rent, the amount of deposit required (most private accommodation will ask for a month's rent as deposit which is returnable at the end of the lease minus any costs for breakages), the length of the lease and who is responsible for any repairs needing done while you are living in the property.
- Get an inventory of all materials in the accommodation (i.e. tables, chairs cutlery, plates etc.) and check that it is correct. Report any missing items to the landlord immediately and any that are already damaged when you move in. Keep your inventory in a safe place and check it carefully before you move out.
- Get a rent book or some form of receipt for all monies paid to the landlord.
- Establish what bills you will be responsible for and try to get an estimate of the monthly cost.
Where Can I Look for Private Accommodation?
Newspapers – local papers (The Press and Journal and The Evening Express) often carry advertisements for rented accommodation.
Notice Boards – Check out the Students' Association notice boards in the College for students looking for others to share a flat with.
'Word of Mouth' – A lot of student housing changes hands on an informal grapevine and it is worth asking other students in your class if any of them know of property to lease.
Estate Agents and Solicitors – Most of them can help in finding rented accommodation for students. However, be aware that you may find when you go to view a property through an estate agent or solicitor, that there are others viewing it at the same time. Sometimes, these properties will be let to whoever offers the most rent and often a bank reference is required, which can be difficult for international students if you have just arrived in the UK (there is usually a cost involved too – even if you do not succeed in leasing the property!).
International Students and Council Tax
The Council Tax is a property based tax levied on residential property with a personal element relating to the number and status of the people resident in a property.
If you are living in halls of residence you do not have to pay Council Tax. If you are living in a property where all the adults are full time students you will not need to pay Council Tax. If you are a full time student and you live with your spouse and/or dependants who are not students, you will not need to pay Council Tax if your spouse/dependants are not British citizens and they are not allowed to take paid employment or claim welfare benefits.
Council Tax legislation is complicated. Please refer to UKCISA website or speak to the International Guidance Tutor