Students' renting responsibilities highlighted

Posted: 22 Sep 2006 11:24:10 GMT

UK students setting off for university are being warned about the new responsibilities they face living in private rented accommodation.

UK students setting off for university are being warned about the new responsibilities they face living in private rented accommodation.

A report by the National Landlords Association points out that around nine out of ten students live in private rented accommodation for at least part of their degree courses and finding the right place to live can play a key role in the success of their university career.

The growing numbers of students in towns and cities across the UK are placing greater pressure on the rental housing market, with university students comprising 70 per cent of the residents of Bangor in North Wales.

Rent levels in university towns vary widely, with accommodation for students at older universities in Manchester, Exeter, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge and London generally paying more than those at more modern universities.

A student at Oxford or Cambridge will pay an average of around £80 a week, compared to £44 a week in cheaper towns such as Belfast, Bradford and Sunderland.

Deputy chairman of the National Landlords Association, John Socha, said: "For some smaller towns, such as Bangor or Warwick, St Andrews or Lancaster, the influx of students completely changes the feel and atmosphere of the place."

The association advises students that bargains can be had in certain university towns, but cheap accommodation should not colour their choice of location. Houses and gardens should be kept in a clean and tidy condition in order to avoid disputes and both students and landlords should work hard to maintain a good relationship.

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