Astor College

DISGUSTING, UNHYGIENIC, AND DANGEROUS. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I stayed at Astor College from June 27–August 10 (44 days), and I can honestly say this was one of the worst accommodation experiences I have ever had. For nearly £4,000, I expected a comfortable, well-maintained facility—especially since this residence was advertised as one of UCL’s newer student accommodations. Unfortunately, my stay was plagued by severe problems that made it both uncomfortable and unhygienic. Kitchen: The kitchen was unavailable for the entire duration of my stay (all 44 days). This meant I had no option but to eat out, which became significantly more expensive over time. Although a complimentary breakfast was technically provided, it was wholly inadequate—one box of fruit and one box of pastries for an entire building of residents. More often than not, by the time I arrived in the morning, there was no food left at all. Even if you were lucky enough to grab something, it hardly compensated for two additional meals a day that residents had to purchase themselves. Toilets: The bathrooms were a recurring nightmare. At least once a week, toilets on my floor overflowed, creating pools of contaminated water across the bathroom floors, common areas, and even into the hallway carpets. The flooding was so extensive that it was often impossible to walk around the mess—you had to walk directly through it. The smell was unbearable, and with almost no ventilation in the building, the stench lingered for days. The most extreme incident occurred during the weekend of August 1–4, when four out of six toilets on my floor were simultaneously out of order due to overflows. The remaining two were backed up and unusable. This left long queues for showers and no sanitary toilets available. I was forced to go down multiple floors, often late at night, just to use the restroom. After several days of delaying bathroom use due to the lack of functioning facilities, I began experiencing bladder pain. This was not just inconvenient—it was a serious health and hygiene issue. Maintenance & Hygiene: Soap dispensers in multiple bathrooms were empty for nearly two weeks at the start of my stay. Despite reporting it, nothing was done. Bed linens and towels were meant to be changed weekly, but on July 4 and Aug 8 this was skipped, leaving me with the same sheets for two weeks. The laundry room was locked for four days (July 5–8) due to a door issue. No notice was given; I only discovered it after carrying laundry down. Staff told us to use an off-site laundrette in the rain, with no vouchers or compensation. Ventilation was very poor. For the first two weeks my room was unbearably hot. Some residents got fans from reception, but once they ran out, the rest of us were told to buy our own. I experienced heat fatigue, rashes, dehydration, and poor sleep. Overall: For nearly £4,000, I expected far better. Instead, I endured unusable kitchens, overflowing toilets, weeks without soap, skipped linen service, broken laundry facilities, and stifling heat. Other UCL accommodations were both cheaper and more reliable. Astor College was advertised as a modern, high-quality residence, but the reality was drastically different. The conditions were unsanitary, unsafe, and unacceptable. I strongly recommend avoiding this accommodation. Don't even consider trying to speak to Manager Serena Mouarkach or guest accommodations coordinator Cherril Fontaine. They will blow you off like it's a game. UCL students, Summer Session students, and potential London tourists- BE WARNED. DO NOT stay here unless you're interested in WADING THROUGH POOLS OF FECES, SWEATING THROUGH SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, AND CONTRACTING HEPATITIS A! SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ELSEWHERE!