Three out of four landlords complain that students do not treat their rented homes well, according to a survey by a leading mortgage lender.
Only 24% rated property condition as good or excellent at the end of a tenancy agreement, while just over a third (38%) considered students looked after their homes while they lived in them, revealed the survey for Paragon Mortgages.
Generally, landlords felt they had a positive lettings experience with students -
● Just over 70% found students paid their rent in full and on time
● More than half (53%) reckoned their student tenants behaved well
Demand for student lettings remains high despite this year’s increase in tuition fees, the survey showed, as 57% of landlords felt that had seen little or no change in demand.
Around 76% of landlords believe demand for accommodation is good or excellent.
This echoes another recent survey by the National Landlords Association that disclosed 70% of landlords felt the outlook for investing in student lets was good.
while 70% rate the future of investing in student lettings as good.
Paragon’s managing director John Heron said: "The student rental market is one of the largest specialist components of the private rented sector. Letting student property is appealing to landlords as they usually benefit from higher than average rental yields as rooms tend to be let on an individual basis.
“There are generally lower levels of arrears too as student tenancy agreements benefit from parental guarantees.
"Landlords who let a proportion of their portfolio to students are feeling positive about the market and their experience of letting to students continues to be good. This is an area of the private rented sector which will continue to thrive as long as the demand for university places continues."
