International Hall

For student accommodation, the rooms were surprisingly well kept. The toilet had recently been renovated, so I had no complaints. The security staff were friendly and helpful too.

It was a great experience during 2006-2007. I spent that year here with my girlfriend while she was taking her London School of Economics MSc, and I was on a Chevening Programme in Cambridge.

I spent a year here with my wife while doing my master’s. The hall’s location is hard to beat. We could walk to King's Cross, Regent's Park and Canal, Chinatown, the West End and the British Museum. We spent many evenings watching the sunset from Primrose Hill, and lots of mornings jogging to and along River Thames.

The building staff themselves are lovely and helpful, and I know this isn’t their fault. The problem is the University of London’s greed and corporate jargon. I’m extremely disappointed with how the University has treated me like an unwelcome guest, despite the obscene fees it charges. I have a disability and chronic illness, including chronic fatigue that often means I have to stay home. I also have severe food allergies, so I need my own kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. Having my own place near campus was essential: it lets me attend lectures while conserving energy. Instead, living here has been deeply unpleasant, and I’ve felt a constant invasion of privacy. Since moving in during August, I’ve had to make my room accessible to staff and third parties for “routine maintenance” and “inspections” well over a dozen times. I don’t understand why these mundane checks have to happen during term time. The flat was disgusting when I arrived, with clogged, smelly drains and sticky surfaces, so I’d have thought the place would be looked after before new students moved in, given how many checks they do. Several times, staff have woken me by walking in while I was in bed. It makes me exceptionally uncomfortable. I’m only given a rough window, like between 9am and 6pm, and with my illness I can’t predict flareups. I’m left stressed about either getting out of the workers’ way or making sure I’m not asleep or resting when I need to be. These disruptions have affected my studies and meant missing important university experiences while I recover the energy they cost me. It’s miserable having to anticipate repeated room inspections for mundane things that could happen during holidays, or when the building is open for holiday bookings. They’re keen to get students out by 10am on the 20th of June, and don’t let them stay past then. Tenancies for the next academic year don’t begin until the first week of August at the very earliest, so there’s plenty of time for “door checks” and “water risk assessments” while students aren’t there. Before I signed the tenancy agreement, I was told I could extend it through the summer to stay while I did research for my MSc. Later I was told I’d have to move to a completely different hall that isn’t self-catered and costs more. The flat also traps an extreme amount of heat. I’ve only needed to use the heating a handful of days during my whole stay. The window opens just a tiny crack, so barely any air comes in. When it’s over 13 degrees Celsius outside, the flat stays at 24 to 25 degrees Celsius even with the curtains closed. Signing guests in and out makes sense given how central the place is in London, but it gets old feeling monitored 24/7 for where I’m going, who’s with me and what I’m doing. As a postgraduate student, I’m far too old to feel like I’m being babysat. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend living here unless being close to things and having self-catered food matters more to you than anything else. Location is the only real advantage. I’m very disappointed with the University of London and the way it has treated me.