Broadband access is rated as more important that value for money and location by students looking for a home.
Thousands of students in universities and colleges across the UK were asked what makes a good home by the National Student Housing Survey (NSHS), and 90 per cent rated broadband internet access as their top priority.
Good value was second (85 per cent) and location was next (75 per cent).
At the opposite end of the scale, lack of fridge space was the main moan, closely followed by landlords failing to carry out repairs quickly, noise and lack of recycling facilities.
In common with most tenants, they also complained about poor kitchens, laundries and toilets.
Most students start looking for somewhere to live in November, while the months with the biggest uptake of private lettings are June and September.
Students opting to stay in halls of residence generally settle on the first they view, while half looking at private rentals look at least three properties and a few (four per cent) look at up to 10 properties.
The first stop when looking for housing is the university housing office, then lettings agents and searching online.
Average rents in halls and private rentals is £90 to £99 per week, but halls are more likely to include "extras" like internet access and cleaning in the price.
"Going to university is no longer a right, but something students pay a lot of money to do. They know what they want and they are intelligent enough to make sure they get it. Student accommodation remains a thriving business, but those who will continue to succeed in this market will be those who listen to their tenants and respond effectively," said Tim Daplyn, NSHS project director.
The NSHS warns landlords who fail to offer top-class accommodation that notes student likes and dislikes risk losing out to competitors.
“From next year, students face a bill of thousands of pounds for the cost of a university education, and the discerning student knows what they want, how much it should cost them and they will accept nothing less,” says the survey.
“Demand for university accommodation remains high, and more and more private property companies are branching out to offer accommodation solely targeted at the student population. Landlords and property investors need to start listening to these consumers, or risk losing out to bigger companies.”
