It won’t be long before autumn and the next academic year is upon us. New students have many decisions to make, not least of all which of your UCAS offers to take. One decision you should not leave until the last minute is your accommodation. While you can’t really make this decision until you know which university you’re going to attend, you should at least think about which type of accommodation.

What Are HMOs?

“House of Multiple Occupancy” is how most students live. These are typically a house divided into 4 or 5 separate rooms which act as private space for each resident. There is also communal space such as garden, kitchen, and lounge etc.

Benefits:

•          You can pick and choose the people with whom you share living space and avoid people who might be disruptive
•          Shared bills and responsibilities mean cheaper to live in HMOs than in halls
•          Freedom to set your own budget

Drawbacks:

•          Often farther away from campus meaning researching transport links
•          You would have to check each property to see if bills are inclusive. Do not take it as a given
•          Division of labour on responsibilities is a major cause of friction in HMOs when it’s perceived that certain housemates don’t pull their weight
•          If somebody leaves, the others must either find a new housemate or cover the cost

What Are Halls of Residence?

Halls of residence are custom built properties designed specifically for students to live together in large communities. Each person has a separate room and en suite bathroom facilities. Communal space is large.

Benefits:

•          Very close to campus, often on site or within a short walking distance
•          Bills are often inclusive including food and amenities, no need to worry about extra costs
•          Secure with the all mod cons, sometimes with key or swipe card access meaning lower chance of crime

Drawbacks:

•          You can’t pick the people that you live with. If you don’t get on with somebody or they’re a nuisance who makes a lot of noise, you’re stuck – potentially for the whole year
•          Modern apartment blocks are borderline luxurious, meaning more expensive than HMOs
•          Community and social elements are important which can be problematic for people who value their alone time

Which Do You Prefer?

Clearly, there are pros and cons to each type of accommodation. Introverts may prefer living in an HMO with a small group of friends. People who don’t like to explore may prefer halls of residence. Whichever you are leaning towards, why not look through the Pads for Students HMO and communal halls listings to find the ideal place for you? We have a wealth of choice catering to all types of student.