Majority of Students Satisfied with their Landlords

The majority of students in the UK are satisfied with their landlords, according to the latest National Student Index from property app BubbleStudent.

The survey dispels the common belief that students feel taken advantage of by those that they are renting from, finding that they’re generally happy with their living conditions and the services offered by their landlords.

A conclusive 63% of students surveyed said that they were more than satisfied with their living conditions, with over half of those believing that they were getting good value for money.

A small number (7.5%) were largely dissatisfied with their landlords’ communication and general behaviour, disproving the widely held notion that student-landlord relationships are strained.

Student properties can provide lucrative opportunities for buy-to-let investors, as, despite the public perception, students are typically reliable renters, with access to a steady stream of income through loans and grants.

The majority of student tenants will also be supported by a parent guarantor, which minimises the risk of defaulted payments, while the six-month lead time on contracts helps to reduce void periods.

The UK has close to two million full-time students, almost half of which are currently renting from private landlords. The removal of the university admissions cap in 2015 has seen record numbers of students take up places at university, so, for investors, students represent a guaranteed market, regardless of economic fluctuations.

For students, sourcing the right property can be a challenge. As often first time renters, students often struggle with the processes involved in finding and securing accommodation, and the findings from the National Student Index highlight the value that students place on good landlord relations when it comes to selecting a property.

Felix Henderson, the CEO and Founder of BubbleStudent, says: “There are many misconceptions about the relationship between student tenants and landlords, however, our research has revealed that the majority of students are more than satisfied with general landlord behaviour and the standard of their accommodation, representing a real shift in the dynamic from previous years.

“This change is, in part, due to an increasing awareness of just how lucrative the student market can be, along with improvements to the way these relationships are facilitated and managed. We use an app-based service to match students with properties, book viewings, secure contracts and help students make rental payments. This virtual proximity has gone a long way towards helping to remove some of the barriers and pain points for both students and landlords alike, resulting in improved satisfaction across the field.”