Yes indeed. The house I'm supposed to be buying in Wales will not complete before I have to move, so I have nowhere to live!

As I don't know anyone at the uni, I have little choice but to go youth hostelling for a week or two until the paperwork get's done.

Anyone any better ideas for a homeless PhD fresher with no mates?

Do the University have no weekly let rooms? Lancaster do.

Want a tent or sleeping bag...then you could sleep in your office (as per one of undergrad lecturers).

Thanks Golfpro. I'll ask. I did turn down a full year's uni accommodation (I applied just in case the house fell through). At that time they didn't appear very forthcoming, but I'll ask them what options exist.

It might come to that Fifi!

I can ask around, as I know several archaeologists from Wales that have come up here, and see if they know anywhere or anyone.

I do have a sleeping bag. I might look for a comfortable doorway.

I could sleep in the car. Use the campus swimming pool every morning and get showered there.

I think I'll ask the accommodation people and ask my supervisor what the options are. It may be that I can bunk down with a fellow student in the department. Any other ideas?

I could, but it gets painful on the knees after awhile.

well if it was supposed to be completed by then, surely they have to pay for you to stay in a hotel until its done?
like a 4* one minimum

we have one PhD sleeping in his office for 3 months already- it proves that it is possible;))

It's very complicated but the gist of it is that I'm waiting on paperwork from someone which is delayed, and that person has no obligations to me whatsoever. So it's out of my hands.

hmm, how about taking your sleeping bag and going to sleep on that person's doorstep? maybe s/he will let you in?

seriously- maybe your university has a message board for adds, you could post there that you are looking for a place for a week, you never know....

Ask your department if they have a list of short term accomodation for visiting academics.
I know at my uni, there is a list of people who have a spare room, who put overseas researchers and vistors to the department, up for a week or two for a small fee.