National Student Accommodation Survey
Recently, the results of the 8th annual National Student Accommodation Survey have been released and there is a lot to go through! Save the Student asked over 1,000 students about their student accommodation experience, covering everything from pricing, where students are living and common issues faced.
Let's find out what the biggest points made were…
Where are most students living?63% of students are choosing to live in accommodation provided by university or private accommodation such as rented flats or houses. Looking to move can be a stressful time, with students looking for somewhere to live earlier in the year now. A lot of people are worried about the housing crisis, so if it is on your mind then don’t worry - you are not alone and you don’t need to panic about finding an accommodation!
One way to avoid all the stress is by simply staying where you are! 33% of students reported that they stuck with their current accommodation and renewed the tenancy. If you like your accommodation at the moment and think this might be for you, but aren't sure how to go about this, check out our blog!
What are students paying on average?
There are so many factors that influence the cost of student accommodation from where your university is located to what type of accommodation you are looking at.
The average rent currently stands at £550 per month. This is only the average and ranges massively from region to region - from £469 in Scotland and goes to a whopping £778 in London. We have a whole guide for you on cheapest cities for student accommodation which you can check out here.
Pricing is just one of the things you need to think about when choosing your accommodation. The type of accommodation can also have an influence on things, with private halls costing on average £88 more a month. However, this is often because your bills are included - whilst this may be easier, it isn’t always better so do your research!
Want a bit more info about how much university accommodation is going to cost? To find out more, click here.
Student Rental Deposit:
On average, a student rental deposit is around £263. How much you pay as a deposit is directly related to how much your rent is. This is just to hold your place and cover any damages if necessary, and you should get your full deposit back at the end of your tenancy.
Unfortunately, 1 in 6 struggle to get it back with their landlord claiming things were damaged, missing or not cleaned enough. This can be really frustrating, but there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting the full amount back - you can find them here.
Energy Bills:
Paying for energy bills on top of rent can be tight, especially in the winter months when you use more on heating the property. The survey states that on average, students pay £86 per month. Bills are often a cause for concern for students, with hacks often coming in handy like having shorter showers and using an electric blanket instead of the heating. Whilst not ideal, this can be great when on a tighter budget.
Maintenance Loans:
Unfortunately, many students find that their student loans don't cover their living costs. With inflation going up, maintenance loans are not matching it and many are turning to the government for answers and change. In the meantime, 60% of students responded to the survey stating that they have to borrow money to cover rent and costs.
The majority of people borrowed from their parents or got a loan or overdraft from the bank. With the cost of living affecting everyone, this can lead to a burden on the parents as well as their children.
Whilst it may be hard, whilst living it uni you may need to be a bit more money aware. Setting yourself a budget can be a big adjustment, but is a really good way to make sure you are not overspending and is a good habit to get into! Want to try this out? Check out our top tips here.
What are the biggest problems students are facing in their accommodations?
The top 3 biggest problems faced by students are mold and damp, lack of water/heating and disruptive building work. Whilst this can be so frustrating to deal with, what matters the most is how your landlord deals with the issues.
35% of housing issues were not solved in the span of a week. This can be disruptive to both your studies and your life and should not go ignored. To find out more about how you can make a complaint about something regarding your student accommodation, click here.
Moving out into student accommodation can be one of the most exciting and scary times of your life. Hopefully the results of the survey can give you a bit more insight and you can be well equipped to take on student living.
*All data is from the National Student Accommodation Survey 2024, produced by www.savethestudent.org*
Gabby is in her final year studying Marketing at the University of Bristol, where she also does freelance content creation. She works as a Content Creator for Accommodation for Students too.
