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My Student Home: a look at private rented accommodation just outside the city centre

A photo of a shared conservatory in private student accommodation. Two sofas are placed around a coffee table, overlooking the garden.

Welcome to My Student Home, our blog series on renting private accommodation while studying in Norwich, written by students for students.

This blog series aims to highlight the ease and affordability of living in Norwich, which has been rated the tenth most affordable city in the UK for students.

In this blog post, we meet third year student Beth Unsworth. Here, she shows us around her three-storey house, 15 minutes from campus.

A photo of a shared conservatory in private student accommodation. Two sofas are placed around a coffee table, overlooking the garden.

Beth Unsworth

What is your name and what course are you on?

My name is Beth Unsworth and I study BA (Hons) Photography.

Where did you live during your first year at NUA?

I went straight into private accommodation as I couldn’t afford halls at the time. I am happy I did!

It gave me the independence I wanted, without having to share a kitchen with 9 others. I lived in the Unthank area of Norwich, which is full of other students, so it was easy to meet others at the local pubs and cafes and have someone to walk home with.

How much is your rent and what do you get for that cost?

Living in private accommodation costs me £390 a month: £360 rent and the rest on bills.

I think it’s a very reasonable amount as we live in a spacious three storey house with private study rooms, a big garden and conservatory. We decided to go to different providers for our utilities as it was far more cost effective than going to student bundle providers.

Photo of a bath in a shared bathroom in private student accommodation. Bottles of shampoo and bubble bath are placed by the taps

Beth Unsworth

How many people do you live with?

I live with 3 housemates. Two from NUA and one from UEA.

How did you find your housemates?

I met one on my course in first year and we’ve lived together ever since. The others I found through social media on the NUA/UEA Student Housing Facebook page.

Facebook is a great place to find short lettings, housemates, and Wi-Fi deals. We all spoke on FaceTime a few times as well as met up in person to make sure we all got along prior to moving in, which helped to break the ice!

A shared kitchen in private student accommodation. Lots of cream and wood cabinets against a blue and cream wall, with a dark wood dining table

Beth Unsworth

How far away from campus do you live?

I live 15-20 minutes away from campus in a great location near amenities such as The Fat Cat Pub, The Bowling House, and Norwich Paddleboard Hire.

Living a little further out has given me the opportunity to explore the city a little more as I walk to and from uni. It has also given me the chance to find lots of hidden treasures I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

What’s the area like?

I absolutely love the area I live in! There are so many great places to go and things to do, but it’s tucked away enough in a residential area to not be too noisy of an evening.

A wall hanging of musician Elton John in the style of artist Julian Opie; a black outline portrait filled in white with minimal detail. Multicoloured lights are draped on the wall above the hanging.

Beth Unsworth

A study space in shared private student accommodation. A large desk in front of a tall window. To the right, white bookshelves filled with books. Above the desk are a small set of shelves with fake plants trailing down

Beth Unsworth

What’s your favourite spot near your house?

My favourite spot nearby is The Reindeer pub. My housemates and I go down there often to finish the week off with a drink or even go for dinner. They have an amazing pizza oven with vegan options and student deals as well.

How have you made your house homely?

Making our house homely was one of my favourite things to do together with my housemates.

We decorated our shared areas with blankets and pillows and of course fairy lights and lots of plants. We added some rugs well as our famous disco ball that lives in the conservatory. The house feels more like a home than it did when we first moved in!

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Gallery

  • A photo of a shared conservatory in private student accommodation. Two sofas are placed around a coffee table, overlooking the garden.
  • Photo of a bath in a shared bathroom in private student accommodation. Bottles of shampoo and bubble bath are placed by the taps
  • A shared kitchen in private student accommodation. Lots of cream and wood cabinets against a blue and cream wall, with a dark wood dining table
  • A wall hanging of musician Elton John in the style of artist Julian Opie; a black outline portrait filled in white with minimal detail. Multicoloured lights are draped on the wall above the hanging.
  • A study space in shared private student accommodation. A large desk in front of a tall window. To the right, white bookshelves filled with books. Above the desk are a small set of shelves with fake plants trailing down

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