Im desperately seeking a flat/studio as my current housemates have bought a house so we need to move out of our rented house. Im thinking about a UQube - there are some @ £350pcm being advertised at the mo which is about as much as i can spend. So - to all you who have lived there a while...

1) Are the walls made of paper ? Can you hear a pin drop in the next door/above/below flat to yours ?

2) Size - the *virtual tour* on the Artful Lodger site makes the studio look *fairly* spacious (not massively) Is there room to swing a cat ?

3) Is there any storage space, asides from the drawers i can see on the virtual tour ?

4) Broadband connection - i believe the whole building runs off the same BB connection ? Can you hook up immediately ? And what is the cost ?

5) Bills - i assume they wont be massive as youre living in one room. Or is that deceptive ? Do they cost a bomb ??

6) Council Tax - i'd be living there alone. Anyone in a similar positon, and if so, what is the council tax at the mo ?

Thanks in advance for any help :)

Just bumping this up, as I know some people will only be on tinternet at work.

thanks

Also the Studios at West Bar - anyone live there ? Any comments ?

Hiya Pauline

I lived in West One for about nine months this year :) Actually if £350pcm is the extent of your budget I would check availability with West One - as far as I am aware only the 'ground floor' flats are £350pcm [the ground floor is only actually on ground level inside the complex, it's the first floor from the street]. The rent increases with each floor after that.

1) I didn't have too many problems with noise, with the exception of the occasional party down the hall :) I certainly didn't have any problems with noise from my immediate neighbours.

2) The flats are no where near as big as the virtual tour would have you believe - if you haven't done already, definitely arrange to view one. At the very least you can then make an informed decision as to whether or not you will have enough space.

3) There is a small utility cupboard in the hall that houses the boiler etc, and is big enough to house a couple of suitcases etc. The wardrobe is pretty roomy too, and there is storage space under the bed.

4) The cheapest broadband package when I lived there was £12.50pcm. You can sign up straight away.

5) The bills are a bit weird - my electricity bill seemed quite high for a small flat - about £30 a month. The water heater isn't on a timer so you have to put it on overnight to make sure you have hot water for a shower in the morning - I think that contributed to the expense. Water rates were about £10 a month.

6) I'm a student so I didn't have to pay it :P

I hope that helps at least a little :)

Thanks a lot :) Yeah i guessed that the virtual tour was a bit deceptive, as the bed looks double at one point, then single as the camera moves round !! They are being advertised at £350 at the mo.

Will be arranging a viewing if my other viewings for this week amount to nothing :)

I looked at a uQube, but thought it was far too much money for what it was. What annoyed me was that I arranged for a viewing the day before and was told that the rent was £375pcm. When I went there the following day, the woman behind the desk said that it was £475pcm. If they'd have said £475pcm on the day before, I wouldn't have bothered looking at it. :mad: