Spanish periodical reports on "the Odyssey" of finding student accommodation in the UK

Spanish prospective students are considering their higher education options following a recent article in El Periodico de Catalunya.

The article paints a bleak picture of the student accommodation landscape in the UK. We've summarised key insights below.

In the UK, finding student accommodation in major cities has become increasingly challenging due to an 8% rise in rental prices, putting a strain on students who rely on scholarships and subsidies to live near campuses. The lack of affordable housing has been exacerbated by a surge in student numbers, reaching a record 2.2 million students nationwide last year. According to data from student rental company StuRents, there is a growing demand for accommodation, with an estimated need for 621,000 new student beds by 2026, particularly in cities like Manchester, Glasgow, and Bristol. The steep price increases in some areas, such as a 27% rise in Bristol's residence prices, have forced students to consider leaving their studies or searching for universities closer to home to avoid high rents.

The rise in student rental costs, averaging £535 per month, has left 63% of university students struggling to afford accommodation. Two out of three students have resorted to part-time jobs to make up for the increased costs, as government aid remains below inflation levels. StuRents Head of Research, Richard Ward, points out: "Additionally, the shortage of new accommodations is due to the financial challenges faced by real estate developers in accessing loans due to rising interest rates. The combination of scarce land availability, increased construction expenses, below-inflation student maintenance loans, and a challenging urban environment has made affordable housing even more elusive for students. Rising homeowner expenses have also resulted in less investment in maintaining available homes, leading to student complaints about poor living conditions, with excess humidity being a primary issue."

Many students have taken to social media to share their grievances, raising concerns about the conditions in shared apartments. In some cases, students in Scottish cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh have been forced to rely on their classmates' sofas due to the limited supply of suitable accommodations, prompting student unions to call for urgent government solutions to address this growing issue.

Read the full article on recent article in El Periodico de Catalunya.