Portfolio Story 3: Housing costs in Bangor causing Poverty for students

Money, money, money.

The rising cost of housing has led to Gwynedd County to be dubbed the most expensive part of North Wales to rent a shared house.

As well as rise in tuition fees, students at Bangor University now have more financial struggle to overcome.

Current prices of housing in Bangor, according to new statistics, are a third higher than they were in 2010. This means that now the average cost of living in Bangor for students in shared housing is, on average, £368 per month.

Ffriddoedd Site accommodation has become more expensive to live with the addition of wireless broadband in the halls, but students don’t seem too worried about that.

“It’s a small price to pay, really” local student Adam McDonnell, 19, said. “I much prefer wifi to regular wired internet, it means I can take my laptop with me to the kitchen or I can sit on my bed without having to be careful of the wire.

I have to be pretty careful with money though, I tend to get a bit crazy on a night out and drink too much, but I have a budget planned for next year so I’m feeling positive – as long as the cost doesn’t rise again!”

However, second and third year students are feeling the pinch of housing costs and living expenses.

An international student by the name of Paul has commented on his experiences.

“My friends have been complaining a lot” he says “I’m amazed it costs so much”

Paul also noted that while a city, Bangor is a small university city. The cost to live in Bangor is high for the students, even with the landlords doing everything they can to help.

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Local landlord Johnny Chohan, of Gwynedd Student Accommodation, has let housing to students for ten years, and has tried his best to keep the costs down.

“With the kinds of contract that I offer, students worry about rent yes, but they don’t have to worry about extra bills arriving on their doorstep on top of it, as that’s all covered by the rent they pay each quarter. The rent covers three months of living in the house so it’s the same system as being on Ffriddoedd site really.

I currently own 245 houses in Bangor alone and have never had a complaint from a student regarding the price of rent – they all seem relieved that the only extra cost they need to pay is for internet, which I can help set up for them because I have a great deal with Plusnet and get the cheapest but best quality at a lower price.

Sure, if students haven’t got the money right away, all they need to do is send me a message and we can sort something out. A landlord doesn’t need to be the person they don’t want to talk to.”

Current third year student Neal McAndrew, 21, has found that the cost of living in Bangor isn’t ideal, but it could be worse.

“My landlord understands if we have to wait for our student loan to pay him” he says.

“However, I do see how some students in places like London are surprised how much we pay for accommodation”. 

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