Should You Go Private Or Choose A Uni Hall?

If you’re considering where to live next year as a first-year student, you may have noticed the glitzy new buildings being erected and be tempted to opt for private halls of residence. However, it’s important to consider that these options can be costly, with luxuries such as gyms and en-suite rooms driving up the fees charged by providers.

While choosing between private housing blocks and university-run halls of residence, it’s worth keeping the cost in mind. A report from the National Union of Students (NUS) and Unipol found that the average price for en-suite rooms in the 2018/19 academic year was £145 per week at universities and just £3 more at private providers. However, standard stock at universities was significantly cheaper at £117 compared to £126 in the private sector.

Private halls of residence have become increasingly popular among students, especially those from overseas. Developers have built blocks in university towns and cities to cater to the growing demand. Now, most private halls boast en-suite rooms, communal spaces, and gyms, with top-end properties even including luxury features such as spas and rooftop terraces. In contrast, university residences aim to accommodate a wider range of budgets and are often located in older buildings, making such features less common.

Although most students prefer halls of residence in their first year, many choose to share houses with others from the second and third year onwards. These are usually offered by private landlords and are often converted family homes with slightly lower fees. However, students may be subject to additional costs such as bills, whereas halls of residence fees typically include heating and wifi expenses.

Sometimes a house share might be a more economical option for students, although the social experience may differ significantly from living on university property. StuRents has analyzed the average prices charged for private halls of residence versus those in house shares, noting that the highest premium is found in Brighton, where a private residence costs an average £251 per week, compared to £125 for a house-share bedroom. In Leeds, students are asked to pay 86% more for a private purpose-built room, while in Liverpool, the premium is only 30%.

A similar contrast can be seen in Manchester, home to the second-largest student population in the UK after London. Here house shares cost an average of just over £100 a week, while private halls charge just under £175 — a premium of 74%. StuRents’ booking options range from a room in a Manchester house share for £70 to £504 a week in a purpose-built property.

Ultimately, cost remains a leading concern for most students. When searching for rooms by price, students usually tend towards the cost of house shares, rather than taking on the more expensive private halls of residence.