What kind of accommodation is available?
Undergraduate accommodation
Usually, all first year students are resident in College, except for a small number of mature students will family commitments. You do not need to apply for accommodation, as it will automatically be allocated to you for your first year.
First year students are usually housed in a building called, West House. Our current Student Accommodation Handbook provides more detailed information about the rooms and facilities in West House.
All undergraduate offer holders commencing their studies in October will be asked to complete the online Accommodation Application and Preference Survey by late June/early July (please check your email for further information). It is very important for you to complete the survey and provide all the requested information, as this will be taken into account when allocating rooms in College accommodation.
In early September, once all of our places have been confirmed, the room allocations will be done. Before the start of the Michaelmas Term, you will be asked to complete the online Residential Agreement relating to occupation of your room. It is important that you read its conditions carefully. Once you have submitted the Residential Agreement thereby agreeing to the terms, you will be deemed to have entered into the Residential Agreement. You only have to pay rent for the time you are actually living here, which for most undergraduate students is the eight week Cambridge term.
Continuing undergraduates must complete the accommodation survey that is sent in Lent Term each year. More information about the continuers accommodation ballot is at the bottom of this page.
Postgraduate accommodation
Homerton has purpose-built graduate accommodation in quiet surroundings on the main College site. This means that you can enjoy the Gothic surroundings of the older buildings such as the Great Hall while living in modern and well-equipped rooms. We offer rooms to all full-time graduate students whenever possible, but unfortunately are not able to accommodate part-time students. Although we are unable to guarantee accommodation to any incoming student, we aim to allocate rooms to all those who meet all of their entry conditions by 31 July of their year of arrival.
Most resident graduate students will live in Morley House and Harrison House, which offer self-catered, en-suite rooms. Accommodation is arranged in groups of five rooms, sharing a fully-fitted kitchen; there is also a common room (‘MCR’) in Morley House. We may be able to offer a few cheaper rooms to graduates in the other accommodation blocks; however rooms may be smaller, and only offer small ‘gyp-room’ kitchens, for snack preparation.
What are the rooms in Homerton College like?
The rooms in College are fully furnished and come with lots of storage so you can bring everything you need. Some rooms have older and more traditional features, like those located in the Cavendish building. Most rooms however are modern and up to date, like those in West House (the first-year accommodation block). Some of the older rooms have been renovated and now have en-suite bathrooms and new furniture. You will be provided with full bed linen, including a duvet cover and a towel.
Each room is furnished with a:
- desk
- desk chair
- bedside table
- bookshelf
- full set of bedding
Most of Homerton’s accommodation is en-suite, however, there is the option to be housed in accommodation with shared bathrooms, which is priced accordingly. You will also have access to a shared kitchen, where you can make snacks and meals. The kitchen is usually shared with around eight other students and is equipped with:
- lockable kitchen cupboards
- four-ring, electric hob
- kettle
- toaster
- microwave
- fridge
What is included in the rent?
All utilities are included in the rent, including WiFi, water and electricity. Each week your room will be cleaned by one of our cleaning staff. The kitchens are cleaned regularly too. A linen service is included in the rent should you want sheets and towels to be washed each week. Some students choose to have their own bedding and towels to bring a personal touch to their rooms.
Your rent also includes use of a wide range of facilities, including the College gym, sports fields and library. It is possible to stay on during the vacation and there are a number of schemes available that can help with the cost of rent during these periods.
Private accommodation
There is the option to privately rent in Cambridge. The University has its own accommodation service, which you can sign up for and apply to rent some of their listed properties. Undergraduate students tend to be placed near the bottom in terms of priority because of the accommodation offered directly by the colleges. There are also a number of private letting agencies that specialise in helping students find accommodation.
Useful contacts
Accommodation Officer
Anna Maria Ercolani-Brown is the College Accommodation Officer, based in the Tutorial Office.
Anna Maria is responsible for a number of aspects relating to students’ accommodation, including accommodation surveys and room allocation by ballot, sending out residency agreements, booking extra nights and allocating accommodation for summer internships.
You can contact the Accommodation Officer Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 3.15pm at accommodation@homerton.cam.ac.uk or on (01223) 747123.
Estates
To report a fault with accommodation or across the College site, please contact the Estates Secretary, Sarah Culhane at Estates Helpdesk.
Housekeeping
Our Housekeeping team keeps the college running. Students can find rotas for clean linen, towels and kitchen cleaning schedules posted within their accommodation.
Any issues you can contact the Housekeeping supervisor by email: housekeeping@homerton.cam.ac.uk
Facilities
Storage
The HUS organises storage during vacation periods for students belongings, in the Morley House changing rooms. Students should contact the Services and Green Officer or the HUS president with queries and assistance relating to storage in the first instance.
Laundrettes
Students have access to card-operated washing machines and dryers on the ground floor of West House or in Paupers’ Walk.
Cards are initially provided at registration during freshers week, but replacement cards can be purchased from the Porters Lodge. You will then need to visit www.circuit.co.uk for instructions on how to top up your card. There are ironing boards and irons in the launderettes. Please note ironing is not permitted in student bedrooms.
Electrical Items
Sometimes students require personal electrical items in their room, such as a fridge for the storage of medicine. If you require an electrical item in your room, you will need to complete the online Electrical Item Request Form (you will need to submit supporting evidence on the same form).
For Further information about life at Homerton and accommodation, please have a look at the following pages:
- About life at Homerton
- About student policies and procedures, including the current Student Handbook and Student Accommodation Handbook
