A student’s choice of where they will live while studying at college can often come down to the cost. Affordability will be a key concern if an international student does not have the much-quoted “bank of Mum and Dad” to rely upon to pay for accommodation and living costs as well as hefty course fees.
In 2015/16, the cost of an average student accommodation in London can range from £150 to £225 or more a week just in rent alone, which is estimated to be nearly 70 per cent more than the average rent for the rest of the country. Unhappily, the standard of accommodation does not always follow the level of rent charged. Students appear to constantly face dealing with the traditional problems of sub standard conditions, unprotected deposits and unfair terms set out in tenancy agreements.
As the cost of renting in London and the other major cities around the UK continues to spiral, many students from overseas have depended upon the value and standards set by hosts of homestay accommodation.
Average weekly rents up by 18 per cent since 2012/13
Following the government lifting restrictions on the number of students a university or higher education college can take in, the number of applicants has risen by as much as 6 per cent (from EU countries) for 2016 /17. It means that the student intake looks set to continue rising indefinitely with a knock on effect upon the overall cost of accommodation everywhere.
Between 2010 and 2013, rental payments for student accommodation in the UK rents rose by 25 per cent, compared with rises of 13 per cent over the same period in the wider rental market. The latest survey by the UK’s National Union of Students (NUS), in association with Unipol Student Homes, reports that in 2015/16 the average weekly rent stands at around £150, up by 4.4 per cent in 2014-15 and by 18 per cent since 2012/13.
The NUS says that the rise in rents can be partly explained by the huge growth in private sector student housing developments while educational institutions sell off their own supply of low-rent accommodation to private developers. Over the last decade, the private sector has increased its provision of bed spaces from 18 per cent to 41 per cent.
Gap between rent in London and rest of the country is noticeably widening
The outlook for international students looking for affordable accommodation in different parts of the UK continues to be variable. But there is no doubt that the gap between rental costs in London and the rest of the country is noticeably widening. Just one year ago, average weekly rents in London were £45 more expensive than even the immediate surrounding areas of the South East- the next most costly region. Fast forward 12 months later and the gap has now widened by more than £75. Since 2012/13 the rate of increase in London rents have, year-on-year, consistently outstripped everywhere else – by as much as 13 per cent in 2014/15 and 2015/16.
Students at college in areas of the south west, such as Bristol, will have seen the two highest rent increases, from more than 50 per cent to over 80 per cent of available student accommodation, a pattern also repeated in the south east. A student living say, in Manchester in the Yorkshire area, would have seen rent rises of more than 60 per cent across all student housing exceed even the top two rental bands. Once again, the pattern is similar for areas in the north west, such as Liverpool.
Only around a third of institutions provide for the short term stay
Even the supply of short-term accommodation has seen significant change, which most affects international students settling in during their first year living in the UK. English Language students also rely on short term accommodation as their courses tend to be of short duration. While short term accommodation is offered by one in three providers, only around a third of institutions are able to provide for the short term stay compared to 45 per cent of private providers. It should also not be forgotten that a university halls of residence is also temporary and only available for a first year student.
The sky-high costs of housing rental now almost completely eats into a student’s living and, most importantly, study allowance. It should come as no surprise that the affordability, comfort and convenience of a hosted international student accommodation looks to be even more of a sustainable lifeline to young undergraduates in the UK for the first time. In some cases, staying with a host family, group accommodation or house shares may be the only realistically affordable option for the foreseeable future.