Beatty Lodge

For a short stay, especially alone or with one other person, it does the job as somewhere to sleep. Staying longer can really wear on you. The room feels like a prison cell, and I found myself wanting to be out all day and dreading coming back. Some residents made the experience worse too. One person complained constantly and never even said hello or asked how my day was. Glad I’m out of there. Good riddance!

My first semester went from high distinction to deferred exams after what I experienced at Beatty lodge during semester two at UWA. I told UWA guild, the medical centre and the caps counselling service about it. The PhD student who moved in from the UK moved straight back out, which makes me wonder why. I’m a serious science student, and the noise and conditions badly affected my studies. It stinks, dishes are left dirty, and people are noisy at night. There was a very loud, rude and domineering Indonesian student group from phenix who left noodle wrappers and rubbish on the tables, then screamed, shouted and laughed until 2-3am for months. The noise carried throughout the place. Management didn’t take it seriously for months. A toilet with a stuck button kept flushing all night for months, and a man who drank a whole bottle of red wine would shout outside my bedroom at night for months. They did nothing. I told them I had to defer my exams because of the noise, but they didn’t apologise. The manager is awful, and the rules are just for show. When the Indian guy group brought all their friends into the kitchen dining room one night, nobody did anything. Those guys also shouted in the carpark at 1am when they came back. The night managers were often asleep and did nothing. Tenants told me they were unhappy and stuck there because of their contracts. I also didn’t get all my bond back because I took a basket to reception instead of leaving it in my room. My first roommate told me they kept one guy’s full bond when he was kicked out, and people on the housing page on Facebook told me other horror stories. If you’re an international school student, be warned: the rooms and carpets stink, everyone eats and drinks in their rooms, and some people don’t shower. The cleaning lady from Australia made fun of my clothes when I dressed nicely one day, mocked me and scowled at me in the kitchen. As for phoenix school, they were so useless I had to tutor one student at the hostel in English because the teachers wouldn’t. I found meat that had been on the floor for two days, bones in the kitchen drain, rubbish everywhere and soy sauce spilled all through the kitchen. With all the filth, I found a mouse in my room. They don’t steam clean the carpets or replace anything, and there must be years of dropped food. It needs a new manager with people skills who cares about the place, does their job competently and doesn’t complain about everything they have to do. The rent isn’t worth it. I know they’ll reply and defend themselves, but nothing changes how I was treated or how they ignored me while I had to defend myself against the horrible Indonesian group from Phoenix. Thankfully, they left just before I did, and I had a few peaceful nights of sleep before moving out. The manageress acts like she cares, but then does nothing. She wants you to discuss things in person and won’t talk over the phone, so you waste your study time on something she won’t resolve and doesn’t care about anyway. Don’t bother complaining, and don’t risk your studies and future by moving your suitcases in.

Beatty Lodge is a budget-friendly, comfortable place for students who want to focus on their studies. The rooms are clean and cosy, with what you need for a good night's sleep and study sessions. Having a fully equipped kitchen is a big plus too, since you can make your own meals and save on eating out. The hostel is in a peaceful, secure area near the city. Staff are friendly, helpful and available when you need something, and the manager keeps things running with care and attention to detail. They make you feel at home and help make your stay comfortable and productive, whether you need local advice, study spot suggestions or just a chat. With the affordable rates and good facilities, it’s a reliable choice for students.

As an international student, this was my first time staying abroad, and I felt comfortable here. The hostel manager was warm, friendly and accommodating. I also liked that staff were around to help if any issues came up. Choosing this as my first place to stay in Perth was a good decision.