The cost of student accommodation was among the metrics used to calculate where the cheapest student towns in the UK to live in are.
Researchers also looked at the price of alcohol and taxis to reveal where a student’s finances will go furthest.
The survey was carried out by Oxford Royale, an international education provider, who looked at the Complete Universities Guide of the UK’s top 40 universities, and they also analysed data from the website Expatistan to work out where students can live for the lowest amount.
The average weekly rent figure they used was for a shared student flat with a shared bathroom.
Most affordable town for a student to live in
Top of the list is the University of Dundee as the most affordable town for a student to live in with an average weekly bill of £157.
The outgoings also include a fast-food meal, a cocktail and a pint of beer.
However, Dundee is only the third cheapest student accommodation destination with tenants paying £106 per week on average.
Instead, the cheapest city for renting student accommodation is the University of Aberdeen at £100.
Cheapest city for a student’s weekly bills
The second cheapest city for a student’s weekly bills saw Newcastle University, Northumbria University and the University of Aberdeen all scoring equally at £161 per week.
Newcastle is the second cheapest city for student accommodation at £101.
Student landlords will not be surprised by the survey revealing that the most expensive city for students to move to is London.
Researchers found that students in the capital have a total weekly bill of £302 and average weekly rent in a shared flat of £211.
Most expensive city for a student to live in
The survey also shows that the University of Oxford is the third most expensive city for a student to live in, with Cambridge the seventh most expensive.
The chief executive of Oxford Royale, William Humphreys, said: “it’s great to see many areas in the UK where students can have a good time without having to break the bank.”
He added: “There’s no doubt students want to save money when living on a budget.
“With student costs rising nationwide, it’s important for students to know how to manage money and this list offers insight and guidance into where their loan will stretch.”
Cheapest student rents in the UK
The top ten for the cheapest student rents in the UK is the University of Aberdeen at £100, in joint second place is Newcastle University and Northumbria University, and the University of Dundee in third place at £106.
They are followed by the University of Liverpool at £109, the University of Lincoln with a weekly student rent of £113, and the University of Leicester at £114.
The University of Birmingham and Aston University, which is also the same city, students there are paying £118 and students at the University of Sheffield, are paying £122 per week in rent.
Finding a quality student home
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: “The research that reveals the cheapest student towns to live in highlights how important finding a quality student home at a good rent is.
“However, the figures are just averages and student landlords offering student accommodation will be able to charge a rent that reflects their quality offering and the property’s location to the university campus.”
Legal webinar for landlords confused by legislation
Meanwhile, one specialist lettings firm is proposing to hold webinars for landlords who are confused about current and future legislation affecting the rental sector.
The general manager of Sugarhouse Properties, Josh Mitchell, says that landlords need to be aware of upcoming regulations including the Renters Reform Bill, health and safety laws, plus licensing issues and inventories.
The firm lets accommodation exclusively to students and young professionals and says there are now 170 pieces of legislation that cover the private rental sector.
‘Continuous updates and increasing regulations’
Mr Mitchell said: “Much of my time is spent dealing with continuous updates and increasing regulations to ensure the properties we manage for landlords are compliant.
“Landlords not only have to worry about potential penalties these days, but some regulation breaches can have a detrimental impact on a landlord’s ability to let property in the future.”
Mr Mitchell, who has been working in the property rental sector for more than 10 years, added: “The sessions will provide guidance and help to the young professional and student landlords of Leeds avoid the common pitfalls that we see too often are catching landlords out.”
He says that landlords need to ensure that their properties will meet tenant demand, but that they are also safe and compliant.
The webinars are for those landlords with properties in Leeds and they can be accessed by joining the Leeds Private Landlords group that has been set up on Facebook.
