Posts with tag: student accommodation

Student accommodation rent prices are up as much as 26% in parts of Britain

Published On: October 7, 2021 at 8:37 am

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Research from Manor Interiors shows that the cost of renting for a student has increased by as much as 26% in some places.

The expert in build-to-rent furnishing solutions has found that the average student in Britain currently pays £132 per week in rent. In London this reaches as high as £152 per week.

However, when analysing the cost of renting for students over the last five years, Manor Interiors found that London is one of just two regions to see the cost paid per week actually fall. In 2017, the average London student paid £182 per week in rent but this has since fallen to £152 per week, showing a 16% drop.

Students in Scotland have seen a -2% decline in rent costs, resulting in them now paying an average of £127 per week.

Meanwhile, students in the East Midlands have seen the largest increase. The average now sits at £129 per week, which is a 26% increase in just five years.

The North West and Yorkshire and the Humber have also seen student rental costs increase by more than 20% since 2017, up by 23% and 21% respectively.

The South West (16%), Wales (14%) and South East (11%) have also seen a double-digit increase, with the North East (9%), West Midlands (7%) and East of England (3%) also seeing an increase.

Farhan Malik, CEO of Manor Interiors, comments: “An extra £11 a week might not seem that significant but every penny counts when you’re a student and over the course of a year, they are now paying a considerably higher price in rent compared to just five years ago.

“The good news is that an increased cost of renting and changes to student financing have not dampened the appetite for university education and we’ve seen a record number of students choose to pursue a degree this year.

“Of course, more students looking to rent a limited level of accommodation is likely to keep rental prices buoyant. Great news for landlords or PBSA providers, but not so great if you’re a student.”

The average student rent per week and five-year change

LocationAverage student rent 2017 (per week)Average student rent 2021 (per week)Change (%)
East Midlands£102£12926%
North West£109£13423%
Yorkshire and the Humber£103£12521%
South West£127£14716%
Wales£106£12114%
South East£132£14611%
North East£112£1229%
West Midlands region£111£1197%
East of England£128£1323%
Scotland£130£127-2%
London£182£152-16%
England£123£1349%
Great Britain£122£1328%
Data sourced from Save the Student

Record number of students looking for accommodation last minute, Housing Hand finds

Published On: September 13, 2021 at 8:28 am

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UK rental guarantor service Housing Hand has reported an ‘extraordinary surge’ in business, as a huge number of students race to book their university accommodation at the last minute.

James Maguire, Head of Sales and Business Development at Housing Hand, comments: “We’ve not seen a rush like this before. The summer months are always our busiest period for student bookings, as young people arrange their homes for the coming academic year.

“However, this summer we’ve seen a record number of students leaving things to the very last moment before booking their accommodation. Brexit and COVID have created the perfect storm in terms of delaying decisions around committing to the expense of accommodation for the year ahead.”

Terry Mason, Group Operations Director of Housing Hand, comments: “With the prospect of a more normal academic year finally a reality, students are rushing to find the homes that they need in time for the start of the autumn term. It’s entirely understandable why so many have left it so late, but it certainly adds to the pressure in terms of getting everything done in time for the new academic year.”

The Housing Hand team has also commented on the results of a recent study from the Higher Education Policy Institute and Universities UK International. It shows that just 10 international (non-EU) students opting to learn in the UK will generate £1million of net economic impact.

James Maguire comments: “Historically, the UK has always rated very highly for non-EU students, alongside the USA and Australia. With those two countries still a little behind the UK in opening up to students after the pandemic, the UK is benefiting from a major opportunity. Here at Housing Hand, we are seeing record numbers of non-EU students using our guarantor services.

“The last two weeks in particular have seen last minute arrivals from many countries, including India, the United States, Malaysia and many of the Middle East countries. This is definitely filling the gap that has been left by the continuing uncertainty Brexit has caused for students from EU countries.”

Terry Mason adds: “Last year, many UK students decided to take a ‘year out’, as the pandemic added uncertainty. This year, they have enrolled in university courses. It may follow that the European students are taking a year out as the Brexit/fee issue is compounded by the pandemic. If this is the case, then we will be looking at another bumper year next year.”

Students don’t feel furniture quality reflects accommodation prices

Published On: September 6, 2021 at 8:28 am

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The majority of UK students don’t feel the furniture provided with student accommodation reflects the price they pay to live there, new research shows.

Manor Interiors, provider of build-to-rent furnishing solutions, surveyed 917 UK students in August 2021 to learn their thoughts on university accommodation and the furniture provided.

It found that 69% of students don’t think the furniture provided within their student accommodation reflects the price they pay. 33% of students admit that they’ve accidentally broken a piece of furniture in their student halls due to the poor quality of the furniture itself.

CEO of Manor Interiors, Farhan Malik, commented: “The cost of renting can consume a considerable chunk of a student’s finances and it’s fair to say that furniture within student accommodation will be more rigorously put through its paces compared to a property rented by a professional or mature tenant. 

“So it’s understandable that PBSA providers try to strike a balance between providing a cost-effective offering and one that adequately meets the needs of the modern student. 

“However, all too often this can mean cutting corners on the quality of furniture and opting for cheaper, mass-produced products that soon suffer from the wear and tear of student life. 

“Opting for bespoke products can not only improve the durability, style and quality of student accommodation, but when furnishing multiple units, it can also prove as cost-effective, if not more so, than mass-produced furniture items.”

Have you ever accidentally broken a piece of furniture in your student accommodation due to it being of poor quality?

AnswerRespondents
No67%
Yes33%

Do you feel the furniture provided within your student accommodation reflects the price you pay to live there?

AnswerRespondents
No69%
Yes31%

The survey was carried out by Manor Interiors via consumer research platform Find Out Now on 20th August 2021.

Rental stock research reveals university areas with highest rental demand

Published On: July 14, 2021 at 8:29 am

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Student accommodation platform UniHomes has researched which universities are seeing the greatest rental demand from new students, as the beginning of a new academic year approaches.

UniHomes’ Student Rental Hotspots Index looks at the UK’s top 100 universities. Every quarter it highlights which ones are currently experiencing the highest demand for student rental accommodation. This demand is based on the number of student homes listed on the market that have already had a let agreed as a percentage of total stock available.

The Q2 index shows that there is currently a tie for the highest level of student demand. Both the University of St Andrews and the University of Cambridge rank top, with 60% of all rental stock listed around each university already taken.

The University of Nottingham is also home to some of the highest levels of demand at 44%, with the University of York (42%) and the University of Glasgow (42%) making the top five as well.

Other universities seeing some of the strongest levels of student rental demand include the University of Essex (34%), the University of Southampton (31%), Aston University, Birmingham (29%), Durham University (27%) and the University College London (27%).

Phil Greaves, Co-Founder of UniHomes, comments: “As thousands of students begin moving into their student accommodation for the fast-approaching academic year, the return to in-class learning this year is still pushing high rental demand surrounding the nation’s universities.

“Despite much of the last year’s learning being done in a virtual capacity due to the pandemic, we’ve seen many students remain keen to carry on renting within their chosen university city and this has provided some much-needed certainty for student landlords.

“If you haven’t yet secured your student accommodation for the new academic year then don’t worry. While demand around many universities is high, there is still plenty of stock on the market for those looking to the year ahead.”

Table shows the top 10 UK universities for current student rental demand
UniversityMain Campus OutcodeStudent Rental Demand
University of St AndrewsKY1660%
University of CambridgeCB260%
University of NottinghamNG744%
University of YorkYO1042%
University of GlasgowG1242%
University of EssexCO434%
University of SouthamptonSO1731%
Aston University, BirminghamB429%
Durham UniversityDH127%
University College LondonWC127%
Data sourced from Rightmove based on student rental stock available as a percentage of all student rental stock including that which has already had a let agreed. 

Student accommodation rental demand unchanged by pandemic

Published On: June 7, 2021 at 8:13 am

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The UK’s rental demand for student properties has remained unchanged by the pandemic, research from student accommodation provider UniHomes has found.

Their research reveals which UK universities have seen consistent student demand, helping maintain rental yields in the surrounding areas.

UniHomes analysed rental yields in postcodes surrounding main campuses of the top 100 UK universities and considered how they’d changed since the start of 2020.

The University of St Andrews has seen the average rental yield increase from 3.4% to 5% since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, Aberystwyth University has also seen a notable increase, up from 4.6% to 5.9%.

Lancaster University has also seen the average rental yield increase by 1% since the start of last year, with Loughborough University, Falmouth University and Queen’s University Belfast seeing yields climb by 0.9%.

Edinburgh Napier University (0.8%), University of Leeds (0.8%), Manchester Metropolitan University (0.7%) and University of Edinburgh (0.7%) also make the top 10.

Phil Greaves, Co-Founder and Director of UniHomes, comments: “Despite the pandemic and the restrictions imposed around face to face teaching for much of the last university year, we’ve seen a consistent demand from students looking for properties.

“We understand that living away from home to attend university is a massive part of the student experience. Even now, most will have secured a property for the next academic year, however, we are still witnessing a high demand in key areas.

“This demonstrates the strength of the sector and with the appetite for student rentals only set to grow, we should see this positive trend continue as we approach the new university year.”

Table shows the top 10 universities for pandemic rental yield growth
UniversityOutcode – main home campusRental Yield – Jan 2021Rental Yield – May 2021Pandemic yield change
University of St AndrewsKY163.4%5.0%1.6%
Aberystwyth UniversitySY234.6%5.9%1.3%
Lancaster UniversityLA14.6%5.6%1.0%
Loughborough UniversityLE113.2%4.1%0.9%
Falmouth UniversityTR105.9%6.8%0.9%
Queen’s University BelfastBT74.0%4.9%0.9%
Edinburgh Napier UniversityEH115.2%6.0%0.8%
University of LeedsLS25.9%6.7%0.8%
Manchester Metropolitan UniversityM155.0%5.7%0.7%
University of EdinburghEH85.8%6.5%0.7%
Average yields in each university outcode based on rental and house price market data sourced from PropertyData
     

Coastal universities with most affordable student rental accommodation

Published On: April 29, 2021 at 10:11 am

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Research by student accommodation platform UniHomes has found the coastal university cities with the most affordable rent prices.

The platform’s analysis of student rental costs within reach of each coastal university in the UK found that students pay an average of £157 per week.

Coastal university rental costs by region

Yorkshire and the Humber the North East are the most affordable regions, at £90 per week, followed by the North West, at £132 per week. However, each of these regions is home to only one coastal university ranked within Britain’s top 100.

Wales is the next most affordable area at £156 per week, with five coastal universities ranking within Britain’s top 100.

Scotland is home to the most choice with nine coastal universities and an average rental cost of £157 per week, while the South East (£167 per week) and the South West (£174 per week) are home to the highest rental costs of all regions.

Most affordable coastal universities for renting

Teeside University in the North East and Yorkshire’s University of Hull rank top for most affordable at just £90 per week.

The University of Plymouth in the South West is the next most affordable for a coastal student rental at £95 per week, while Scotland’s Robert Gordon University (£100 per week) and the University of Aberdeen (£104 per week) complete the top five.

Phil Greaves, Co-Founder of UniHomes, comments: “We have some outstanding coastal cities and towns in Britain and a number of these are also home to some excellent universities. This means many students can combine their higher education endeavours with a year-long trip to the seaside.

“Of course, with the unpredictable nature of the British weather there’s no guarantee of sun, but a scenic university can provide many students with a completely different pace of life to that of their hometown.

“Generally, the cost of renting around these universities is no different to their non-coastal counterparts although this is, of course, dependent on which university you opt for. 

“Some of the more traditional seaside tourism towns will set you back a fair bit more but there are options across all areas of coastal Britain that can provide you with a fairly affordable university rental.”

The below data is based on the UK’s top 100 Universities but excluding Northern Ireland due to a lack of student rental data.

Rental data is based on the weekly cost of renting a student property within the same postcode as each university’s main campus. Source: Save the Student.

The difference in the average weekly student rental cost by university geography (coastal vs other), excluding bills

CategoryNumber of UniversitiesAverage Rental Cost per Week
Coastal27£157
Town/General71£159

The average weekly student rental cost of all coastal universities in each region

RegionNumber of UniversitiesAverage Rental Cost per Week
SOUTH WEST7£174
SOUTH EAST3£167
SCOTLAND9£157
WALES5£156
NORTH WEST1£132
NORTH EAST1£90
YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER1£90

The average weekly student rental cost surrounding each university

UniversityRegion/NationAverage Rental Cost per Week
Teesside University, MiddlesbroughNORTH EAST£90
University of HullYORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER£90
University of PlymouthSOUTH WEST£95
Robert Gordon University (RGU)SCOTLAND£100
University of AberdeenSCOTLAND£104
Lancaster UniversityNORTH WEST£132
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityWALES£135
Queen Margaret University, EdinburghSCOTLAND£142
University of PortsmouthSOUTH EAST£144
University of ExeterSOUTH WEST£149
Swansea UniversityWALES£153
Cardiff UniversityWALES£154
University of DundeeSCOTLAND£155
Abertay UniversitySCOTLAND£155
Arts University BournemouthSOUTH WEST£159
Bournemouth UniversitySOUTH WEST£159
Heriot-Watt UniversitySCOTLAND£159
Edinburgh Napier UniversitySCOTLAND£165
Aberystwyth UniversityWALES£167
University of SouthamptonSOUTH EAST£168
Bangor UniversityWALES£172
University of SussexSOUTH EAST£189
University of BristolSOUTH WEST£192
University of EdinburghSCOTLAND£203
Bristol, University of the West of England (UWE)SOUTH WEST£230
University of St AndrewsSCOTLAND£234
Falmouth UniversitySOUTH WEST£234