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.
