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Novel Student Review
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Novel Student Review

Written by Sam | August 13, 2021

In this blog, what I want to do is review Novel Student. I don’t want to review each one of their locations because they might add or take some away, however, they will all be a reflection of their brand and company that sits behind the student accommodation.

If there is something you want to know and I haven’t included it, please let me know and then I can add it into this review and future ones!

The Company: Novel Student

Novel Student is a very recent company which has been created in the UK. It is backed by CA Ventures which is an American company that provides student accommodation over there. From what I believe it also is building or creating some student accommodation in Europe as well which will be exciting.

The brand started in 2020 and has launched in 3 locations which are Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh with several more in the pipeline.

There are a few reasons why I like Novel and one of the big reasons is that you get washing machines in your room. This is such a simple, yet game-changing move. If you have never stayed in halls or PBSA before, then usually you need to pay extra for laundry and it is all done downstairs in the basement of a dingy room.

They have a big focus on lifestyle and sustainability, many are starting this but I think they are ahead of the curve a little bit. Like most other accommodations they also focus on lifestyle and this is why they keep it simple with en-suite rooms and studios and then create really beautiful social spaces to enjoy life.

As a company, they have some strong values around lifestyle, well-being and I think they are challenging some traditions in the current market and this is good to see and I want to see them grow.

You can read all about Novel Student in these pages: 

Novel Student Accommodation Locations

Currently, they have accommodations in:

  • Sheffield
  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow
  • Leicester – Pending
  • Belfast – Pending

As a relatively fresh brand and company this is a fast growth, don’t be fooled, just because they don’t have 20,000 beds they aren’t reliable to deliver a good service.

Accommodation Review

I don’t want to review everyone of their accommodations because they are all based on the same foundations.

In which case I am going to choose the accommodation in Edinburgh and tell you all about it.

In Edinburgh, they have one which is up and running and another in the pipeline. The one which is up and running is Silk Mill and it is an incredible space. As it is pretty much brand new the designs are very modern, well thought out and aren’t boring.

They keep rooms simple and split them between en-suites and studios and this will be across all their buildings. It also means they can cater for people who like their own space and those who want to be in a group.

In their accommodations, you get 24/7 grab and go breakfast and coffee on the weekdays and as part of their sustainable drive you can hire bikes or store your own at the accommodation.

This isn’t to mention like a lot of other companies, the rent includes your bills.

Their rooms are very nice! You get a smart TV in your room with a big floor space and lots of storage which is essential. From the pictures I can see, it looks like each room is thought out in terms of practical use and design.

This is important because it makes life so much easier as you use it, it’s not hard to move around, use the kitchen, get to the bathroom and so much more. It’s seamless. Finally, they aren’t boring rooms. A massive bugbear of mine is ‘vanilla’ rooms. They have a good colour scheme, added lots of cool extras like pegboards and wardrobes and mirrors with lights behind which you don’t see too much of.

They offer a good space mixed with a good service and I can see Novel doing well with students if they follow through with this model.

Below see what you get included in the accommodation in Edinburgh:

Novel Student Features
Novel Student Features

Processes and Systems

This is probably the less exciting part of the review, however, it is one that should hold a big weight in your decision.

Cancellation – If the cancellation is genuine, then the policy is really quite flexible, especially if you give enough time to re-book the room. For example, if you didn’t get the grades, a visa or had to drop out for an extenuating circumstance then they are really helpful. For a genuine cancellation it could cost you nothing, however, if you have decided not to attend or switch to another provider then you would be held to your signed contract. If they can fill your room or you have someone else to move in, it could mean a full take over of the contract and no money lost. However, unless it’s for a genuine reason I think that is completely fair.

Please make sure that you read the cancellation policy before you book!

Booking – We work with Novel Student and you can book on their website which is simple, you just need to choose room, floor, tenancy length and away you go. You will need your guarantor details and university documents as well.

Communications with students – This is good, they have their own social media groups like other places, they have accommodation managers and notice boards. You won’t miss an event. You can also look at their socials.

Events – They host a lot of events across their accommodations, make sure you get involved. You will find a lot on their Instagram!

Summary

Novel student are a fresh brand that I am excited about. They show traits of what already good brands are doing and have put their spin on it. My favourite part is students having their own washing machines, it honestly makes such a difference.

They have good strong core values and they have got their plans to get in to other cities as well. From a student perspective you know they are good quality because they are backed by CA Ventures which is there American arm and that shows that they aren’t going anywhere.

Their rooms are good quality, designed well, they have wellbeing in mind and they aren’t boring. They have functional spaces with a really simple set of room types, studio or en-suite.

Communal spaces are a big talking point, they focus on the quality of the space but also offer lots of different spaces for people to get involved in such as breakfast bars, cinemas, gyms, communal kitchens, events rooms and that’s not forgetting the study rooms.

Discover. Trust. Review.

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