According to Bunk, recent media stories predicting that
the UK’s student accommodation sector will struggle in 2021 are wide of the
mark.
From a survey of students they have carried out, they say the student
accommodation sector will remain strong despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their findings reveal that 85% of students said they will return in the
next academic year to rent a property in the town where their university
is.
University experience is much different
Of these, four out of five say that while their university experience is
much different from the one they had imagined, they much prefer being at
university than living at home.
And 78% of the students questioned said their disappointment was aimed at
their university, rather than their current living situation.
The firm says the findings highlight that the student property market in
the UK will thrive in 2021.
Bunk also says that while the Covid-19 pandemic will undoubtedly have an
impact on the potential future development of student accommodation, they
say that purpose-built accommodation (PBSA) providers, as well as private
student accommodation landlords, should expect their properties to be
filled quickly next year.
Students will return to university in January 2021
The news that students will return to university in January 2021 has been
welcomed by Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students.
He said: “While there’s no doubt that this year has been difficult for
landlords with student accommodation who are worried about whether students
will return to their studies, the sector is performing strongly.
“And news that students will return is a positive sign that the
accommodation that landlords provide is suitable and they are making a life
for themselves in a university town.
“This return to university is to be applauded and student yields are still
among the best in the rental sector.”
Massive student rent strike planned
Meanwhile, a planned rent strike by students in the New Year will lead to
university-provided accommodation being hit.
And the organisers of Rent Strike state on their website
that students should ‘take back control’ – and not just for those living in
university halls.
They urge students to start a petition to demand a rent cut, and then
threaten a rent strike should enough people support it.
The website says: “It’s our collective action that can take housing out of
profit … so we no longer have to bear exploitation.”
Rent strikes on university campuses
So far, rent strikes on university campuses including Edinburgh, Sussex and
Oxford are being planned after the Christmas break.
Students in Cambridge and Bristol are also promising to join the strike.
The move has been described as the biggest student action in nearly 40
years.
