Net-Savvy Students make Web Access a Priority

National Student Housing Survey reveals internet access most critical factor for student tenants whilst lack of fridge-space tops complaint list. 

23rd Aug 2011

The internet generation is all grown up and ready to leave home. For the first time ever, students have rated good internet access above location when hunting for their perfect university accommodation.

From next year, students face a bill of thousands of pounds for the cost of a university education, and the discerning student knows what they want, how much it should cost them and they will accept nothing less.

Demand for university accommodation remains high, and more and more private property companies are branching out to offer accommodation solely targeted at the student population. Landlords and property investors need to start listening to these consumers, or risk losing out to bigger companies.

The National Student Housing Survey (NSHS) 2011 saw 15,490 students respond from more than 120 universities and colleges across the country, detailing what they look for in a property and what they expect to get for their money.

No longer can landlords get away with shoddy private rentals, or can universities house students in run down halls. Accommodation standards need to rise to meet the students’ demands, or they will simply go elsewhere.

The NSHS revealed that internet access is the number one priority for students, with 90 per cent rating it as a very important factor. Value for money came second (85 per cent) and location came in third, with only three-quarters of respondents rating it as "very important".

The respondents came from a cross-section of the student population, including those who own or jointly own their own apartments, those who live with their parents, those in private rented accommodation, those in private halls and those in university halls.

Landlords, both universities and private, are warned though, that despite their reputation for partying hard and sleeping lots, the modern student’s demands are as high as those of any other tenant.

The most ‘negative’ factors in students’ experience of accommodation, which they rated ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’, came with their experience of getting repairs done on time, noise levels, and lack of both recycling and environmental facilities.

For many young people, university is their first experience of living away from home, and cooking facilities, laundry facilities and decent toilets scored highly in factors which impact on the quality of residents’ day-to-day experience. Lack of fridge space was the number one complaint in all types of accommodation.

The survey revealed that anyone looking for accommodation usually begins their search in November, although private rentals are more erratic because they are more likely to be influenced by friends and the choice available. Private accommodation is at its peak uptake between June and September.

While those looking at halls usually only consider one option, the importance of making private student accommodation stand out from the rest is clear when it is revealed that half of the students searching for private rentals considered three or more properties before making their choice. Four per cent of students considering private rentals look at ten or more before deciding.

The top places to hunt for future accommodation were via the university housing or accommodation office, lettings agencies, and internet search engines.

The average rent paid by students in either halls or private rentals is £90 to £99 per week, although university halls are more likely to include "extras" within that fee such as internet access and cleaning.

Tim Daplyn, NSHS Project Director, said: "Going to university is no longer a right, but something students pay a lot of money to do. They know what they want and they are intelligent enough to make sure they get it. Student accommodation remains a thriving business, but those who will continue to succeed in this market will be those who listen to their tenants and respond effectively."

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

The National Student Housing Survey (NSHS) is an annual survey of students in higher education across the UK. The survey measures satisfaction levels in all types of accommodation and allows participating institutions to measure their performance against national and regional benchmarks. The 2011 survey attracted over 15,000 responses from more than 120 universities and colleges across the UK. This project is managed by Red Brick Research, an independent market research agency specialising in Higher Education. For further information please visit http://www.nshs.co.uk/ or http://www.redbrickresearch.co.uk/.

For more information on this release, please contact:

Claire Daplyn
Red Brick Research Press and PR Representative

Email: cdaplyn@gmail.com
Phone: 07847 573533