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Advice@cardiff.ac.uk Advice@caerdydd.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Private Halls of Residence

There has been an explosion of new developments in Cardiff in recent years and there are now a number of private organisations providing accommodation for students. Private halls operate similarly to University halls of residence, in that each student has an individual contract for an individual room. Rooms are primarily offered in shared flats but studio appartments are also available at extra cost.

Private halls are usually more expensive than University halls but are often of a higher standard in terms of decor and extra amenities. Some important points of caution to consider if choosing private halls are:

Contracts for private halls are legally binding and usually last the entire academic year. The most important difference to note between private halls and University halls is that private halls do not usually allow you to cancel should you decide to leave university, take an interruption of study and/or leave Cardiff.
Some Private halls will ask students to pay for the full year in advance, especially if they cannot provide a UK based guarantor. We always recommend against paying so much in advance if it is at all avoidable because that puts you in a vulnerable position should you have repair issues with the property. Try to negotiate payment by instalment. If you do not have a UK based Guarantor Cardiff University has a Guarantor Scheme that might be able to help you. This scheme is not available to 1st year students or postgraduate students who have not previously completed an undergraduate qualification at Cardiff University.
Websites will often show the nicest rooms in the block, with the best views. The rooms may look a lot bigger than they actually are. If you attend a viewing, ask to view the room that you will receive. If you cannot actually view the room make sure you know the specification for the room you will actually be allocated and where it is in the block. We have seen students agree to rooms based on virtual viewings showing
Be mindful of scams that operate, particularly targeting international students. We always advise against paying any money or agreeing to anything until you have visited the property and seen it for yourself. The most common scams involve rooms advertised that do not exist or do not belong to the person advertising them. You can avoid this risk by viewing the room and also by contacting legitimate accommodation providers directly, using the contact details on their website.
Prices advertised can change depending on demand. Once you have agreed a contract, the accommodation provider cannot legally change the price without your consent.
Many halls are still being built. Before you sign a contract, check if building work has been completed and if it has not, what provision will be made if you are unable to move into your room when your tenancy is due to start. Any agreement should be written into your contract or can be denied later. Guidance on what to expect can be found here.
Some halls are not exclusively occupied by students and will be occupied by students of other universities. If this is important to you, check before you sign.

Accommodation Providers

There are lots of providers in Cardiff, and many struggle to fill the rooms so be sure to shop around to get the best deal. Be wary of companies that act as a third-party broker and advertise on behalf of numerous private hall providers. If you book through a third party, you may end up paying additional charges and be committed to a booking you did not intend to make. It is far better to book your room directly with the provider.

Some examples are listed below;

Unite Students [North Court; Clodien House; Severn Point; Cambrian Point; Blackweir Lodge; Adam Street Gardens; Ty Pont Haearn; the Bakery]

Bridge Street Exchange

Collegiate [Cardiff the Neighbourhood; Eclipse; Crown Place Cardiff]

CRM [Livin; Lumis Student Living Cardiff; Zenith; Glendower House; City Heights]

Hello Student [Summit House; Windsor House; Alwyn Court; Northgate House]

Prestige Student Living

Vita Student

Amber Student

How to choose

When considering the accommodation that would best for you, you will need to think about:

Affordability. Student halls are generally more expensive than private rented accommodation but you will not have to pay or worry about bills. They are also more expensive than Cardiff University Residences but are generally considered to be nicer in terms of decor and extra amenities. If you are new to Cardiff University, halls are also a good way to meet others in the same situation and make new friends. Private halls are available to all students, so you will also meet students from other universities. When working out what is affordable, you will need to consider how much funding you will get and what you will need to budget for.
Amenities. How happy are you to share space and can you afford not to? For some, an en-suite bathroom is an absolute “must-have” but for others, it is just preferable. En-suites are more expensive and studio apartments, which offer more personal space, are more expensive again. As above, private halls often offer more extravagant amenities, such as common rooms and gyms. Can you afford the extra and is it worth it if you can?
Location. How close is the residence to the University and if it is far away is there adequate University or Public transport options?
Anything else you need. Do you need wheelchair access, space for your family, or a quieter room? Is the hall available for an extended period or over the vacation periods if you need it to be?

Before you sign

Once you sign a contract with an accommodation provider, you are normally bound by the terms of it for the duration specified, even if you arrive and find that you do not like your course or your room. To avoid being tied into something you may later regret, we advise the following:

Think about what is important to you and make sure it is written into the contract; will furniture and electrical appliances be included? Do you need a quiet room or extra space for a wheelchair? Is it important for you to be students of the same gender? If it is not written into the contract, or at very least agreed in writing in a separate document, you may struggle to insist on it later.
Check if you can cancel your contract before you move in if your circumstances change or you are unable to take up your offer to study, or an offer has been withdrawn. This is particularly important if you are considering not living in Cardiff should the University continue teaching online next year. If there is no cancellation clause and you are not certain you will be in Cardiff, we advise you to wait until you have a firm offer and are sure that you will need the room.
Check what you need to pay upfront. An accommodation provider can legally charge a holding fee, up to a maximum of one week's rent, but this must be either returned to you or offset it against your first installment. If you are required to pay a security deposit, this must be protected with one of three mandatory schemes.
Check for hidden charges. Residence fees typically include bills such as wifi or utilities, as well as the use of communal areas, but be sure to check the contract carefully for any utilities or service charges.
Get your contract checked by Student Advice. Many accommodation provider websites allow you to download and view a draft contract before you sign it. If not, ask for a copy and contact us for a free contract check. As you will be deemed to have read and accepted all terms once you sign, make sure you have read and understood your contract carefully before you do.
Check if the property is accredited under one of the National Codes and who is responsible for managing it. The National Code of Standards establishes a set of specific standards with particular relevance to larger developments tenanted by students. It aims to ensure good practice and prompt resolution of any problems and is supported by NUS. Adopting the Code is voluntary and is no guarantee of a good experience. It does, however, provide some reassurance that the provider is committed to good practice. You can also raise a complaint if a provider who has adopted the Code fails to implement it.

Contact Student Advice

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410

Neuaddau Preswyl Preifat

Bu ffrwydrad o ddatblygiadau newydd yng Nghaerdydd yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf ac erbyn hyn mae nifer o sefydliadau preifat yn darparu llety i fyfyrwyr. Mae neuaddau preifat yn gweithredu'n debyg i neuaddau preswyl y Brifysgol, sef bod gan bob myfyriwr gontract unigol ar gyfer ystafell unigol. Mae ystafelloedd yn cael eu cynnig yn bennaf mewn fflatiau a rennir ond mae fflatiau stiwdio hefyd ar gael am gost ychwanegol.

Mae neuaddau preifat fel arfer yn ddrytach na neuaddau'r Brifysgol ond yn aml maent o safon uwch o ran addurniadau ac amwynderau ychwanegol. Rhai pwyntiau pwysig i’w hystyried wrth ddewis neuaddau preifat yw:

Mae cytundebau ar gyfer neuaddau preifat yn gyfreithiol-rwym ac fel arfer yn para am y flwyddyn academaidd gyfan. Y gwahaniaeth pwysicaf i’w nodi rhwng neuaddau preifat a neuaddau’r Brifysgol yw nad yw neuaddau preifat fel arfer yn caniatáu i chi ganslo os byddwch yn penderfynu gadael y brifysgol, cymryd toriad i astudio a/neu adael Caerdydd.

Bydd rhai neuaddau preifat yn gofyn i fyfyrwyr dalu am y flwyddyn lawn ymlaen llaw, yn enwedig os na allant ddarparu gwarantwr yn y DU. Rydym bob amser yn argymell peidio â thalu cymaint ymlaen llaw os oes modd ei osgoi o gwbl oherwydd bod hynny'n eich rhoi mewn sefyllfa fregus pe bai gennych broblemau gyda'r llety. Ceisiwch drafod taliad mewn rhandaliadau. Os nad oes gennych Warantwr yn y DU mae gan Brifysgol Caerdydd Gynllun Gwarantwr efallai y gall hynny eich helpu. Nid yw'r cynllun hwn ar gael i fyfyrwyr blwyddyn 1af neu fyfyrwyr ôl-raddedig sydd heb gwblhau cymhwyster israddedig ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

Bydd gwefannau'n aml yn dangos yr ystafelloedd brafiaf yn y bloc, gyda'r golygfeydd gorau. Efallai y bydd yr ystafelloedd yn edrych yn llawer mwy o faint nag ydyn nhw mewn gwirionedd. Os byddwch yn gwneud ymweliad, gofynnwch am gael gweld yr ystafell y byddwch yn ei derbyn. Os na allwch weld yr ystafell gwnewch yn siwr eich bod yn gwybod y fanyleb ar gyfer yr ystafell, a ble mae yn y bloc. Rydym wedi gweld myfyrwyr yn cytuno i ystafelloedd yn seiliedig ar ddangosiadau rhithwir

Byddwch yn ymwybodol o sgamiau, yn enwedig rhai sy'n targedu myfyrwyr rhyngwladol. Rydym yn cynghori yn erbyn talu unrhyw arian neu gytuno i unrhyw beth nes eich bod wedi ymweld â'r llety a'i weld drosoch eich hun. Mae'r sgamiau mwyaf cyffredin yn ymwneud ag ystafelloedd a hysbysebir nad ydynt yn bodoli neu nad ydynt yn perthyn i'r person sy'n eu hysbysebu. Gallwch osgoi’r risg hon drwy edrych ar yr ystafell a hefyd drwy gysylltu â darparwyr llety cyfreithlon yn uniongyrchol, gan ddefnyddio’r manylion cyswllt ar eu gwefan.

Gall prisiau a hysbysebir newid yn dibynnu ar y galw. Unwaith y byddwch wedi cytuno ar gontract, ni all y darparwr llety newid y pris yn gyfreithiol heb eich caniatâd.

Mae llawer o neuaddau yn dal i gael eu hadeiladu. Cyn i chi lofnodi contract, gwiriwch a yw gwaith adeiladu wedi'i gwblhau ac os nad yw, pa ddarpariaeth a wneir os na allwch symud i'ch ystafell pan fydd eich tenantiaeth yn dechrau. Dylai unrhyw gytundeb gael ei gynnwys yn eich contract neu gellir ei wrthod yn ddiweddarach. Gellir dod o hyd i ganllawiau ar yr hyn i'w ddisgwyl yma.

Nid yw rhai neuaddau yn cael eu meddiannu gan fyfyrwyr yn unig a byddant yn cael eu defnyddio gan fyfyrwyr prifysgolion eraill. Os yw hyn yn bwysig i chi, gwiriwch cyn i chi lofnodi.

Darparwyr Llety

Mae yna lawer o ddarparwyr yng Nghaerdydd, ac mae llawer yn cael trafferth llenwi'r ystafelloedd felly gwnewch yn siwr eich bod chi'n siopa o gwmpas i gael y fargen orau. Byddwch yn wyliadwrus o gwmnïau sy'n gweithredu fel brocer trydydd parti a hysbysebu ar ran nifer o ddarparwyr neuaddau preifat. Os byddwch yn archebu trwy drydydd parti, efallai y byddwch yn talu costau ychwanegol yn y pen draw ac wedi ymrwymo i archeb nad oeddech yn bwriadu ei wneud. Mae'n llawer gwell archebu'ch ystafell gyda'r darparwr.

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