The Property Marketing Strategists (TPMS), a property marketing consultancy, recently undertook research into international students’ views on accommodation. It found that like domestic students, affordability is on the radar, with 75 percent saying student accommodation is too expensive.
Student numbers are at an all-time high, and amidst this International student numbers are continuing to grow with nearly half a million visas granted in 2022. There are many influences on the cost of accommodation, like all development areas, the planning crisis has made it harder to build, aided by the rising cost of materials and higher cost of borrowing. Yet, despite this, there is a way to drive down costs when we think creatively.
“PBSA is a numbers game,” shares Sarah Canning, co-founder of TPMS. “The sector has been booming, but because demand outstrips supply – over love for the product available. As competition intensifies in the sector, diversity of offer is what is required – and a tool to do this is to simply offer a range of different options – yes, studios, but also 4-5 bedroom apartments enabling students to create stronger community bonds and enabling opportunities to share amenities too. This also creates a more sustainable product that can be repurposed if required in future.”
“We need to banish the studio demand myth, international students largely do not want to live alone – in fact, our research shows just 12 percent reported so. Over 50 percent want to live with 3-4 other people, they don’t mind sharing kitchens and breakout spaces – but, there is some reluctance to share bathrooms which could be negated if only sharing with 3 other people. What has surprised me is the fact that a third are willing to share a bedroom, with this rising to 45 percent amongst Indian Students, which are one of the fastest growing student populations in the UK. What this tells me is that we need to dismantle what we think we know about international students, and listen,” adds Sarah.
The enthusiasm for sharing bathrooms is notably lower. International students are reluctant to do so regardless of financial concerns, with only 21 percent of international students agreeing. Notably, African students are particularly opposed to sharing bathrooms, with less than 10 percent considering it, while Indian students surpass the average, with 31 percent willing to share their bathroom.
Other insights
- 61 percent of parents/guardians pay for university accommodation and just 12 percent use a maintenance or government loan
- International students show a strong inclination towards stability, with 22 percent favouring a 12-month lease. This desire for a longer contract is emphasised by the findings that nearly a third (32 percent) of international students from Asia prefer accommodation contracts for the full length of their degree. This contrasts with the 19 percent figure among European students, highlighting regional variations in accommodation preferences
- 77 percent of international students want all utility bills included in their rent payments, even if this results in paying a higher overall rent.
- 57 percent would like a washing machine in their apartment
