New research shows rent for student accommodation is on the rise

Published on Monday 11 August 2008 10:53

STUDENT rents have risen by almost 20 per cent in four years, research suggests today.

An undergraduate can now expect to pay 61.64 a week, up almost 10 from 52.44 in 2004. In Edinburgh, this rises to 71.06.

The figures, based on 46,000 properties in 73 UK cities, were published by the website accommodationforstudents.com.

London was still the most expensive place to study, with an average weekly rent of 102.65.

The best value towns were Middlesbrough, Stoke, Wolverhampton, Crewe and Bradford, with rents between 40 and 45 a week.

The highest in Scotland was St Andrews, where rents topped 82 a week, followed by Edinburgh and Glasgow with average prices 71.06 and 69.34 respectively.

The findings showed some "hotspots" where rents have risen well above the national average – renting in Exeter now costs around 78 a week, 35 per cent higher than the average of 58 five years ago.

Simon Thompson, co-founder and director of Accommodation for Students, said: "Not only are costs going up but availability has been reduced as many former student landlords are now renting to young professionals who can no longer afford to get on the property ladder."