As we get into the throngs of the second university semester, students are coming back to their accommodations, potentially finding forgotten, foul-smelling food in the back of their fridges. Some Universities already have a reputation for poor accommodation, with Student Beans including the University of Manchester, Glasgow, and Robert Gordon University in the top three rankings.

Whether it is from dirty beds or simply dull-looking rooms, students have a lot of opinions on where they’re living for the good part of their degrees. And these types of accommodations can attract a poor reputation for universities too – whether true or not.

Chris Martin, Sales Director at Skip Hire UK, says: “Unfriendly halls can lead to a number of problems, including your students treating them poorly – leaving them dirty and broken. Messy and manic universities can start to gain anti-social behaviour or even a dangerous reputation. If you want to make your uni more appealing to the new graduates-to-be, caring for your accommodations is a must.”

Complications of poor accommodation

Anti-social behaviour

There are more indirect complications when it comes to messy and tired accommodations. One could be a reputation for anti-social behaviour. If your tenants aren’t enjoying their accommodation, they might find other places to spend the majority of their time.

This can cause disruptions in the local community, creating a poor reputation for the university and its students.

Low scoring results

Poor and messy accommodation can also have detrimental effects on student success. Anti-social behaviour, matched with accommodation with poor sound damping, could be keeping your students awake overnight. This can cause your tenants to get a lack of sleep – making it more difficult for them to keep up with their studies.

For a university, this can result in poor performance when it comes to graduation. Whereas private renters might find that their tenants cannot stay on for their multiple-year tenancy as they might leave their university courses altogether.

Fly-tipping

Another complication of dirty accommodation is the reputation for fly-tipping. If accommodations become too overbearing, some students might end up fly-tipping their rubbish in local bins. This can cause issues with the local public and council, as well as potentially cause trip hazards on local streets and university campuses.

How to maintain a better reputation

Keep up with renovations

Investing in your accommodation includes ensuring that it is up-to-date and comfortable. Outdated accommodation can be off-putting for students looking for a bit of home comfort away from home. And for private renters, poor-looking accommodation can have your tenants looking elsewhere.

If you’re providing accommodation for the University of Glasgow students, for example, you can look into skip hire in Glasgow for the end-of-year move-out. This is the perfect time to refresh your rooms, remove old or broken furniture, and ensure your accommodation isn’t being clogged up with abandoned items or waste.

Room inspections

If you’re worried about the state of your accommodation, from uncared-for bedroom furniture to unsanitary kitchen surfaces, implementing stricter inspections might be necessary. Having room inspections once a term or even more frequently for dirtier accommodations can ensure you’re aware of any damage or dangerous cleanliness levels.

Set up initiatives

Poor student behaviour can harm a university's reputation in the local area, causing tension with the community and deterring prospective students.

To help rebalance your reputation, you can start initiatives in your community. For example, you might consider a nightline to help flag anti-social behaviour or support more vulnerable students. Other initiatives can include cleaning up the local environment and environmental awareness courses.

When moving away from home, it is natural that students will have a learning curve in taking care of their environment and space. But when this becomes too much, leading to dirty accommodation and damaged rooms, it can result in the universities gaining a poor reputation. Ensuring you’re putting the right measures in place to care for your accommodations and students is essential for a better university experience.

Sources:

https://www.tiktok.com/@studentbeans/video/7306204573104917793