The Iglu Guide | Blog
All-inclusive or not inclusive – what’s the best accommodation option for students?
Now that you have your university place all sorted, it’s time to start putting some serious thought into your student accommodation options. There are many different options available that each have their own set of benefits. Within that, every student will have different preferences to take into account. When choosing your new home away from home, you’ll need to consider many things such as location, budget, room furnishings and facilities. But the biggest decision to make is whether you want your student accommodation to be all-inclusive, or not. Let’s break it down.
All-inclusive student accommodation – what does it mean?
All-inclusive student accommodation is a catch-all term for student accommodation that wraps up all of your utility and housing costs in one easy bill. This usually includes gas, electricity, water usage and wi-fi. Check with your provider to see if any TV subscriptions are included, but aside from free-to-air channels this is more likely to be something that is available in a communal setting rather than on an individual basis.
Where can I find all-inclusive student accommodation?
The most common types of all-inclusive student accommodation primarily used to be on-campus university colleges, or halls of residence. A popular choice, these college bubbles have convenience living benefits on tap. They are close to all the campus amenities and the built-in community brings an immediate sense of belonging and connectivity – something which is especially helpful for international students, or those living far away from home for the first time. Any commuting time is limited, which not only saves money on transport costs but allows more time for studying and socialising. As well as providing communal cooking facilities, there are usually meal plans on offer for those that prefer to stay out of the kitchen.
As well as all-inclusive college accommodation on campus, there is the option to choose all-inclusive student accommodation that is independent of your university choice such as Iglu. This type of purpose-built student accommodation is designed for the modern student and comes complete with a like-minded student community just outside your bedroom door. All Iglu buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are located close to university buildings and transport links, with both private and share apartments available. There’s the additional reassurance of 24/7 security and just one easy bill to worry about at the end. Factor in modern, stylish amenities and it’s hard to refuse.
The pros
All-inclusive student accommodation is time saved and budgeting made easy. One simple bill means no chasing up individuals for their share of the load, no time wasted hunting for cheap utility deals and no pressure of managing a joint rental lease. That means more time to focus on the things that are important to you, more time to socialise with your new student cohort and more opportunity to make new friends and connections right where you live. Communal areas such as media rooms and BBQ facilities really help facilitate those first social interactions. That all adds up to a lot less pressure when you’re trying to focus on settling into your new student life.
The cons
All-inclusive student accommodation can be a slightly more expensive option, but finding private accommodation, budgeting and managing multiple bills and rental leases comes with a different set of stresses and strains. Living independently does give you more control over your utility providers and the opportunity to save money where possible, whereas all-inclusive student accommodation providers will have fixed arrangements in place.
Not-inclusive student accommodation – what does it mean?
The complete opposite to all-inclusive student accommodation, not-inclusive student accommodation is about living completely independently. Usually that involves finding a rental property, signing a lease and then sourcing separate utility providers. An individual is usually required to sign a lease for the entire property, and they are then responsible for fulfilling against that – regardless of who is living there.
Where can I find not-inclusive student accommodation?
Most cities have plenty of share houses available to rent and these can be found through websites, newspapers or noticeboards. The costs can vary depending on the location, with the cheaper properties usually located much further away from university buildings. You have the option to either rent a room within a house, or share an entire property with friends – which requires splitting bills fairly, and managing multiple payments. This can result in some conflict, especially if one housemate wants to leave mid-rental and needs replacing. The knock-on effect of not-inclusive student accommodation is that the cost of commuting in and out of university increases significantly – as well as the social impact of not being close to the heart of the action. But as many students will be trying to save money and budget where possible, there are plenty of student-friendly suburbs to be found in every city.
The pros
Not-inclusive student accommodation is true independent living. It gives you the freedom to choose exactly where you want to live (budget permitting), the people you want to live with (or not) and the choice of how you want to live. You get to make up all the rules, and it’s usually quite a bit cheaper as you have the option to compare utility providers. There are also many bill-splitting apps available now that make flat-sharing much easier. Try Splitwise or Acasa for starters.
The cons
Not-inclusive student accommodation tends to be older properties that lack modern facilities and almost certainly will not have private bathrooms. The cheaper rents are usually located some distance from university, which means there are travel costs involved as well as commuting times to take into account. It often results in student accommodation that is much further away than is preferable and so there is also the social aspect to consider. You will spend less time in the university building, which potentially makes it harder to settle in and make friends. Independent rentals also have the added pressure of multiple bills and lease responsibility which can result in emotional conflict and stress.
