During their research they uncovered the growing crisis of students starting their studies, but unable to secure living accommodation before doing so.
Studenttenant.com took each university and used the student search function on a leading property portal to award each university a score, based on the level of student properties listed and those that had already had a let agreed.
Despite being four months into the current academic year, a number of universities are still ranking extremely high where demand for student property is concerned.
The University of Exeter tops the list with a demand of 62%, by far the highest statistic for property demand surrounding a UK university. The next closest competitor is a three-way tie between the University of Reading, the University of Bath, and Bath Spa University holding a demand of 53%.
There has become an alarming increase in the number of students unable to secure accommodation before starting the next step of their education. The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham is perhaps one of the most extreme cases. Ranked in fourth place with demand at 50%, some of the current first year students were forced to camp in the university grounds because they were unable to secure a place to live.
The University of Roehampton and Durham University have a 49% demand for student housing, and are closely followed by the University of Essex with 43% demand and Lancaster University at 42%.
Tenth place goes to Royal Holloway, associated with the University of London, with a 38% demand for student living accommodation.
Danielle Cullen, Managing Director of StudentTenant, had this to say: “We feel that it is simply unacceptable that students, as they have in Farnham, are forced to camp within the university campus due to a severe shortage of housing.
Housing for students should be a priority. These pupils have worked hard to prepare for their education and to arrive without a place to sleep is worrisome. With many universities still seeing high levels of demand for student property this far into the term, it doesn’t bode well for those looking to arrive next year.
Considering the tuition and fees that these pupils are paying, it is simply not good enough that they can’t secure a place to live.”
