Cheapest and most expensive cities for students

The cheapest and most expensive cities for students in the UK have been revealed by researchers.

Tutoring experts Superprof looked at every university city and used Numbeo data to calculate where students can expect the cheapest and dearest living costs.

And with the cost of living rising, it’s becoming an important issue for students if they want to manage their cash effectively with the study showing where their student loan will stretch furthest.

Cost of student accommodation rent

Researchers looked at the cost of student accommodation rent, coffee, beer and taxi fares as well as the price of fast food.

And the price of rent was found to vary with the cheapest being £81 per week, to £176 in Bournemouth – but that excludes London’s average weekly rent of £224.

The most affordable university destination for students to live in is Wolverhampton with students spending £120.90 per week to live there. The average student rent is just £81.

In Derby, the weekly outgoings are £133.80, while in Aberdeen students will fork out £134.90 per week.

Next is Stoke-on-Trent, then Newcastle upon Tyne and Gloucester and Plymouth.

Liverpool is in eighth place; Lancaster is ninth and Bangor is in tenth place with a weekly bill of £157.70- and a rent bill of £115.

‘It’s fantastic that there are so many affordable areas’

A Superprof spokesman said: “Students, undoubtedly are looking to save money while living on a budget, and it’s fantastic that there are so many affordable areas where people at university in the UK can have a good time without breaking the bank.”

Unsurprisingly, researchers found that London was the priciest city for students to live in, with an average weekly bill of £284.10.

Along with having the priciest rents, London students also pay more for taxis, beer and coffee but similar prices for fast food.

The second most expensive university destination for students is Bournemouth, followed by Reading, Bristol and Chichester.

Most expensive city for students

Oxford is the sixth most expensive city for students with an average weekly rent of £158 and a weekly outgoings bill of £210.70.

It is followed by Edinburgh, Manchester, Bath and Brighton where a student’s weekly bill is £197.10, and the weekly average rent is £155.

The Superprof spokesperson added: “It’s more important now than ever with the cost of living currently rising for students to know how to manage money effectively.

“This ranking offers students a guide as to where their loan will stretch the furthest in the UK.”

Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: “The survey highlights the range of student accommodation rents and students will be aware before leaving home for their studies how expensive that city is going to be.

“Budgeting is a crucial part of being a student and there’s no doubt that landlords offering quality and safe student accommodation will find their properties in demand and, it appears, that landlords are offering reasonable rent for their homes.”

Call for the Renters Reform Bill not to be delayed

Meanwhile, Propertymark says that the government should not delay its Renters Reform Bill and says this is not the first time that new measures have been announced for the sector.

Propertymark points to the lack of a timetable for the bill to be introduced and says this will create more confusion and worry in the sector.

However, they say they are ready to consult over the proposed bill and how it will impact landlords and letting agents.

The organisation also highlights that it has put forward four key consultation issues to the UK government over the last four years that have still not been responded to.

New landlords and letting agent laws

They say that these issues will be crucial for any new landlords and letting agent laws to work in practice.

The proposals include tenancy deposit reform, a new deal for renting, a new housing court and reform of the rogue landlord’s database.

Propertymark says the Minister Eddie Hughes and government officials will have the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities organise roundtable sessions with the sector about the proposed plans.

The government’s proposed legislation will focus on four areas including the Decent Homes standard being applied to the private rented sector for the first time and there’s a consultation due this summer on this issue.

Unveiling of a private rented property portal

The second area of reform is the unveiling of a private rented property portal that will offer information about rental homes with an emphasis on landlords registering their properties, and what landlords must do.

The third proposed area of reform is the contentious abolition of section 21 evictions, also known as ‘no fault’ evictions.

The government says this will offer a fairer deal for tenants so they can challenge poor landlord practices without fear of being evicted.

Propertymark says that there needs to be extensive consultation so that repeated rent arrears can be dealt with effectively.

Introduction of a PRS ombudsman to cover all landlords

The fourth piece of reform will see the introduction of a PRS ombudsman who will cover all landlords who rent out private property in England - and give tenants access to redress.

And, depending on how the ombudsman is set up, Propertymark says this could see letting agents having recourse should they have complaints about dealing with a bad landlord.

Propertymark also highlights that they are having ongoing conversations with officials and are looking to use their wide membership base and network of regional executives to scrutinise the government’s Rent Reform Bill as it makes its way through Parliament.