What Is an Ensuite Student Room?
An ensuite student room is a bedroom with its own private bathroom attached – typically a shower, toilet and sink behind a door within your room. You share kitchen and living areas with housemates, but your bathroom is completely private.
Who Are Ensuite Rooms Best For?
Ensuite rooms suit students who want the social benefits of shared living but value bathroom privacy. They're popular with:
- Students who dislike sharing bathrooms with housemates
- Those with early lectures or irregular schedules (no bathroom queues)
- International students used to private bathroom facilities
- Anyone prioritising hygiene and personal space
Ensuite vs Standard Rooms: What's the Difference?
In a standard room, you share one or more bathrooms with housemates – sometimes 4-6 people share one bathroom. In an ensuite room, your bathroom is private and attached to your bedroom.
Ensuite rooms typically cost £10-20 more per week than standard rooms in the same property. The premium pays for convenience (no queues), privacy, and cleanliness control.
Types of Ensuite Accommodation in Exeter
Ensuite rooms appear in several formats:
- Purpose-built student blocks – modern buildings where every room is ensuite by default
- Converted houses – older properties upgraded with ensuite bathrooms
- Mixed houses – some rooms ensuite, others sharing a main bathroom
Most purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is ensuite by default, but these are typically managed by national operators. Through local agents, ensuite rooms are less common and often found in recently renovated properties.
Why Are Ensuite Rooms Less Common with Local Agents?
Exeter's traditional Victorian housing stock wasn't designed with private bathrooms. Adding ensuites requires significant renovation – plumbing, space reconfiguration, and building regulations compliance. Landlords who invest in ensuite conversions typically charge premium rents to recover costs.
What to Expect from an Ensuite Room
A typical ensuite room includes:
- Private bedroom (typically 10-15 sqm)
- Attached bathroom with shower, toilet, and sink
- Shared kitchen and living areas with housemates
- Bills-included option available
- Furnished with bed, desk, wardrobe, and storage
Alternatives If Ensuite Rooms Aren't Available
If you can't find an ensuite room, consider:
- Houses with good bathroom ratios – 2+ bathrooms for 5-6 people reduces queues significantly
- Studios – complete independence including private bathroom and kitchen
- 1-bed flats – private bathroom plus separate bedroom
- Mixed houses – secure an ensuite room while housemates take standard rooms