Laurel Nueces & Halstead Co-Ops, austin-tx

I lived in Laurel House for two summer internships in 2015 and 2016 and I will say it was a great housing experience. The community was fantastic and I have always recommended people to live there and they have had great experiences as well. The community is what you make it. You get out of it what you put into it. I thought it was fair when it came to cooking, cleaning, etc. I highly recommend people consider Laurel house, even go check it out if you have questions and want more info. Definitely worth checking it out. 👍

I signed up too late to get on campus housing, and I thought this would be a decent backup. After no time at all, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. The people are all so caring, and our decision making is purely democratic. It’s got great rates, free utilities, and free homemade meals, I really couldn’t ask for anything more. Halstead is really a home to me now, and I think most who decide to live here will have a similar experience. Picture of the breezeway view is attached. (also the review bombers are fake, we don’t have “RA’s” like they claim so I know they don’t live here)

Great place to live, and met a lot of great people! There is a true sense of community at Laurel you won't find at a traditional dorm. I think Laurel is the ideal place to live for any UT student or any students living in the Austin area. The spammed reviews complaining about "bed bugs" are inaccurate, because: a) The bugs were brought in by the girl who was complaining about them likely because she was keeping stray cats without Laurel's knowledge, and b) They weren't bed bugs at all! They were harmless carpet beetles, that Laurel addressed immediately by bringing in an exterminator.

Living at Halstead has been the best part of my college experience. I moved in here looking for cheap rent and a community of people I can get along with and that is exactly what I found. The self-governance aspect of living here is also fantastic. As a member of the house, you get a say in what money is spent on, what rules are implemented, and what events are hosted. Having to work with others leads to making friends really fast and everyone is genuine and inviting. I think that everyone should live here for at least 1 year since co-op living feels like a genuine college experience. Plus the food is great, the spaces are clean, and the proximity to campus is fantastic. Could not recommend more!

Don't even bother staying here for long. The rent and conditions are the room are fine, but the community isn't all that its prided to be. There is a democratic process with motions to get what is needed in a way, but when one motions for something that is disapproved on by the officer core immediately, they try to shut you down with tons of excuses- even when its ultimately up to the house to vote. They were also difficult to work with if you had issues yourself and weren't already friends with them. Even though they may care for the whole, they don't like to hold responsibility or show care for the well-being of its individuals. For those seeking new places to live, co-ops are mainly managed by other tenants in the building- and drama builds up quick and a lot of things are done away from the rules when they can. Its another kind of dorm, but less peace. An example would be apparently an officer *secretly* giving out free rooms to their friends for the summer. The officer group operates and varies per house of Halstead, Nueces, and Laurel. If new ones get voted in and its better, good on them. If its the same people, it's not necessarily that they are the best, it's because most leave here after a year from seeking better housing or their international exchange ending, hence they don't care or know who to vote for. I've kept myself as best as can from their "bad apple" radar, but how the community treat others based on what circulates (some here aren't subtle or mature on how they talk about others, almost like teen-movie bullying style) and officers to them in the Discord server chats show tell otherwise. If a good chunk finds it so easy to talk about others in a bad way, so loudly and so uncaring, what will make this entire place? Not healthy or as open as they try, or some pretend, to be. There is mention in some reviews below of simply one member being the problem, but they never put their feet in their shoes... and some bits are falsified or overexaggerated what happened to them. If you're looking into co-ops, try to talk with others when visiting that stayed here in the recent years or before. Once more, place is fine, typical dorm room setting/size with added chores, just don't to be too trusting about the people. The only trusting ones as of are at the College Houses leasing office, who actually professionally care, listen, and handle what you need. Pick your house wisely, they won't always become a home. - Former Laurel-ite