Life in Student Housing

Translation: Mark Ioli

As long waiting lists and incessant demands from students for construction of new dormitories demonstrate, accommodations in student housing are much sought after. A reporter for the Student Paper decided to find out firsthand what one might expect from life in student housing, particularly in regard to the facilities and level of service. Several residents shared their impressions.

Stefanía Katrín Finnsdóttir has lived in Skjólgarður at Brautarholt 7 since May of last year.

How has your experience been living in student housing? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

My experience has been very good. I think living in student housing is great, even though it does have its drawbacks. The apartments on Brautarholt aren’t terribly well designed in the sense that it’s quite hard to find furniture that fits right, but once you get past that they are very comfy. The walls of the apartments on Brautarholt are colorfully painted. I was so lucky to get one with a blue wall and not yellow or bright green. The rent has gone up a bit lately which isn’t fun. But it’s a fine apartment in the best location in town so you can’t really complain.

What do you think of the facilities? Is there anything lacking?

Overall, they are fine. There aren’t enough washing machines to meet demand, however. Same with the garbage and recycling bins – they're always full so there's trash all around (in part because residents don’t clean up after themselves well enough). The fire alarm system is also rather lively; it goes off a lot at night, much to the enjoyment of us residents.

Have you received the level of service from student housing that you need?

Yes, definitely, although perhaps I haven’t really needed much.

Gunnar Karl Haraldsson has lived in Oddagarður at Sæmundargata 18 for over two years.

How has your experience been living in student housing?

It’s been very good overall, but there are still some issues I run into, being in a wheelchair, things that could be improved.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

The first advantage I can name is definitely the location, which is fantastic. My apartment is roomy enough, although I’m actually in a larger one because of my disability. I haven’t found many drawbacks to living in student housing. I’ve felt very good here ever since I moved in.

What do you think of the facilities? Is there anything lacking?

While as I said earlier that I’m doing well here in student housing, the situation isn't exactly perfect. I live in an apartment designed for a person in a wheelchair, but the only thing that is really accommodating to wheelchairs is the bathroom (the shower has no threshold and there are handrails by the toilet). All the cupboards, stove, and everything else is at standard height. That means I have a very difficult time making use of the cupboards at home since I can only stand for a short time and quickly lose my balance. Another disadvantage is that building regulations mandate having accessible rooms on every floor. I’m on the second floor, while there are non-disabled people living in accessible rooms on the ground floor. If we had to evacuate the building, I wouldn’t make it out, since you can't use the elevator in an emergency. This is something that should be looked at when disabled people are assigned rooms in student housing. It would be good if FS would take these details into consideration and check whether any kind of arrangements can be made in this regard.

Have you received the level of service from student housing that you need?

I've received excellent service from student housing. I had a meeting with them the other day to see about moving to a room on the ground level and it went very well. I'll be moving downstairs soon which will make a big difference. And any time anything has come up in the apartment that I can't do myself, like changing a lightbulb or the batteries in the smoke detector or other such things, someone always responds right away.

Marínó Örn Ólafsson has lived in Skjólgarður at Brautarholt 7 since November 2016.

How has your experience been living in student housing?

It's been fine in general. I would say the main benefit is the location, that there is always someone who lives here that I know if I need help of any kind. The downsides are mainly related to practical details, like access to washing machines and the garbage cans, things that don’t matter much in reality.

What do you think of the facilities? Is there anything lacking?

They’re really good. I haven’t run into anything I’d say was lacking.

Have you received the level of service from student housing that you need?

I’ve always gotten fast service and solutions to any problems I’ve had (though they’ve all been pretty minor) from the student housing department.