My daughter is going to do an MA at Bath University in September. They do not provide post-grad accommodation and , she will be away in Vietnam for the "house hunting weekend" organised by the uni and she will only have about a month to find somewhere when she gets back. We don't know Bath at all and would appreiate any useful info about the best/worst/student areas and any agents to avoid etc?
Our son lives in Bath, knows it well. He is staying with us at the moment (in France) but is out walking today. I'll ask him when he gets back later today.
I remember so well being in similar situation, when he was trying to sort out accom in France, from the UK. for his final year of engineering, and he was in Canada for the whole of the summer!
I would think the best people to ask are the student union, who should have lists of landlords etc.
Quote from: ACE on July 16, 2011, 11:15:39
I would think the best people to ask are the student union, who should have lists of landlords etc.
Yes, thanks, she's going to contact the uni accommoation office but as she'll be one of the last looking, she may need extra help and tips!
Thanks, Peanuts, that would be great!
Aaargh, Caroline, I forgot to ask him last night! It was all a bit frantic in the end, as they were leaving this morning to cycle to Bordeaux, and then fly back to Bristol. When they got back from their walk they found that both one inner tube and the spare were unusable, so there was a frantic search for any of our French friends who had a spare. One had but the valve was a different size so there was some careful filing out of the whole in the wheel frame . . . and it worked. Then there was a storm for half the night, with a big branch down from our huge ash tree, luckily on the far side of the garden. By the time they were off this morning, still raining, I completely forgot to ask him. I'm so sorry. But I am now making a note to ask him as soon as he is back on Tuesday evening, promise!
Don't worry, I'll probably njust get told off by my daughter for interfering. I know she is capable of sorting it out herself, but she does always leave things until the last minute and it drives me nuts!
Your reply rings so many bells for me!!
Caroline, I've had this reply from our son:
- lots of students live in Oldfield Park. It's not especially near the uni - most get the bus up there (it's a big hill!)
- this website may be useful: http://uk.easyroommate.com/ ... that's the site i used when i was looking for someone to rent a room. that said, most people that came and looked said it was hard going ... that there are more people looking than there are decent rooms. probably depends when you are looking and what your budget is ... if she's doing an MA then perhaps she already has some money behind her and hence isn't in the same position as a pennyless undergraduate.
we'd be happy to meet up with her for a chat, or to talk about where would be good or bad, when she's had a more specific look. i think she'd need to come to Bath ... rather than expecting to sort it out remotely.
I don't know how helpful this will be - but nearer the time, if you want to contact me off the list, I can let you have a contact number for our son. Bath's a nice place, by the way!
I was serving in the R.A.F. at Colerne in the early 70s and I know the Saracens Head and the Green Tree. But I suppose that is yet to come ! ! ! ! Cheers, Tony.
"A Graduate is like a lighthouse in the desert, Brilliant but bleedin' useless"
Thanks, Peanuts. Sadly she's a penniless graduate. She's worked this year and managed to clear her overdraft and save a bit, but as soon as she's found somewhere to live she'll be looking for a job! She's done hotel work in York so hopefully she can get some in Bath. She will be going down there when she gets back from Vietnam (volunteering then a week's holiday) at the end of August. Will pass on the info. Please thank your son.
Sorry I don't know much about student accommodation in Bath, Caroline, but I do know Bath and it is a great place to live, so that's always something? ;) A very beautiful city (almost as pretty as Edinburgh!).
My godmother lived in Bath for many years and visits were always exciting - even when it was me jumping in at the pump room!! (age 7)
Ah I have a story about Bath.
when i was young and stupid, when i passed my driving test, i got a 1963 transit van, put a mattress, a camping stove, a girlfriend and a Black Labrador in the back and we went off camping one summer round Devon and Cornwall, not too long after the Summer of Love. We would pitch up in laybys and sleep in the back of the van.
When we got to Bath one evening, we found this nice road with a shop, and a nice garden. We slept in the van, and next morning the shop sold us a pint of goats milk (which is half cream) and we picked some blackberries from a disused car park, and had blackcurrants and cream for breakfast.
I discovered later we had camped at one end of the Royal Crescent. No wonder we got some snobby down-the-nose looks.
Years later , i applied to go to Bath Uni, and was rejected. i reckon they took note of my name and when i applied someone said "Thats the scruffy sod in the tatty van who camped in the Royal Crescent a few years ago, he can bugger off, we dont want his sort here "...............
dont forget to get down to Twerton Park to support the great Bath City!!!