University students in the UK are facing “unprecedented rent rises” amid record demand for accommodation, while the value of the maintenance loan designed to cover living costs stagnates, according to a report.
Many students are struggling to find affordable rooms, as rents have jumped by more than 8% overall this year compared with 2022-23, a survey by the real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield says. In some cases, the increases are significantly higher, up by as much as 27% in one case.
There has been an increase of almost 390,000 students in need of accommodation over the last decade, and this combined with rising operational and development costs, high inflation and a declining rate of new bed delivery is sending rents soaring.
