For freedom, students prefer stay in rented homes to hostels

Unlike the hostel that imposed conditions and restrictions, there were a slew of facilities offered by the landlord.

According to Anil Kumar, the biggest advantage of staying at rented flats is the peace that they get to study.That, and their own choiceof food and absence of any restrictions on nightlife.

Due to stringent rules, lack of homely food, and restrictions that rule out nightlife, increasing number of college students who have come here from outside the city are shunning hostels. Instead they prefer to rent accommodation outside – and even paying guest arrangements – citing privacy and self-reliance. This trend is not limited to students from outside Tamil Nadu but even those from other districts.

Though renting an apartment comes with various attendant hassles, including dealing with brokers to negotiating with landlords before finally arriving at an agreement, these youngsters prefer that to being confined by rules and timings imposed by the on-campus hostels. According to S Pandiyan, a real estate broker in Nungambakkam, many students, especially the ones preparing for higher studies, say they prefer flats because of the large number of students at hostels that make it not conducive for intensive studies.

He added that flat owners are more than willing to rent the premises to college students these days, as they do not raise many demands. “But we look for a good reference before renting a house for them,” Pandiyan said.

The expenses work out to more than what one would pay at a hostel. But they have no hesitation in shelling out money, because it is for groceries and other items that would ensure home food, the students say.

S Balvindar, a first year engineering student from Assam, said he had taken a two-bedroom flat in Kodambakkam along with two of his classmates, for which they pay Rs 13,000 as rent. They also share the other expenses. “The total monthly expense per person will be a maximum of around Rs 10,000. If I stay in my college hostel, the total amount per year is about Rs 1.25 lakh – but with many restrictions," said Balvindar.

Here, he added, they are allowed to go on with their life, including what they eat and when they come in – provided they do not create any nuisance to others. Theowners are courteous, and even offer meal during local festivals, Balvindar added.

P Ramakumar, a landlord who has rented out his flat for college students in St Thomas Mount area, said they used lesser water, electricity and other amenities compared to others.

These days, hostels at most of the private engineering colleges come with air-conditioned rooms and much better mess facilities. But even a shared room cost anywhere between Rs 1.5 and Rs 2 lakh a year. In addition, there are expenses like laundry fee, etc. They also have time restriction at around 10-10.30 pm by which time they should return to the premises. According to a warden of a deemed university, it was difficult for them to prepare separate cuisine for students from different States.

Even parents are open to the idea of their wards staying outside. K Ramamurthy from Tirunelveli, whose son is pursuing an engineering course at a college near Chennai, said it was convenient not just for his son but even for him. The main advantage that he finds is the convenience with which he can visit his son and stay with him.