Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) - scoping survey findings

3. Quantitative findings: overview of PBSA in Scotland

The survey collected a range of quantitative data relating to PBSA provision in Scotland. The findings shared in this section are based upon data submitted with PBSA providers via the online survey portal. This section provides a brief overview of key findings in relation to the characteristics of PBSA provision, with further details available in Appendices 1 and 2. Full survey data is available upon request.

3.1 Overview of PBSA provision

Half (23) of survey respondents were PBSA providers. Of those, 10 were university/HE providers, 5 were college/Further Education (FE) providers, and 10 were private providers^[4].

Eight respondents managed at least 46 PBSA properties, eight managed between 2-15 PBSA properties, four managed 16-30 properties, and three providers managed a single property. The majority of PBSA properties managed by respondents were based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Of the 23 providers, 20 said that over 200 rooms were available in the properties they managed.

3.2 Rental costs and contracts

Current average weekly costs of room provision (excluding additional services) ranged between £100 - £225, as detailed in the table below:

Table 1: Current average weekly cost of PBSA in Scotland

Please provide details on the current average weekly cost of the rooms you offer, excluding additional services (e.g. laundry, additional internet connectivity)[5]	Number
£100	6
£125	6
£150	9
£175	7
£200	2
£225	1
Total	22

Details of PBSA room provision costs in 2016 and 2018 are available in Appendix 1.

13 providers reported that they charged additional costs for laundry, in most cases between £1-£5. A small number of providers also charged for additional services including internet connection, gyms and car parking. Full details of additional costs are included in Appendix 1.

The types of contract offered to students varied among PBSA providers, as detailed below:

Table 2: PBSA contract lengths

What contract lengths do you offer students? (tick all that apply)	N
Semester tenancies (approx. 16 weeks)	12
Academic year tenancies (approx. 39 weeks)	21
Calendar year tenancies (52 weeks)	13
Other	7
Total	22

The majority of providers (18 out of 21) did not offer non-term time or holiday rent reductions.

Out of 23 providers, 8 reported that they offered bursary schemes to students, such as for care experienced students or students who found themselves in unexpected hardship, while 13 did not and the remaining 2 did not know.

Out of the 21 providers who answered the question, 5 reported that they included students or student representative groups in rent setting, while 15 did not know and one did not know if this was the case.

Out of the 21 providers who answered the question, 9 reported that they had a policy on rent affordability, 10 did not, and 2 did not know if this was the case.

3.3 Tenancy agreements

The types of tenancy agreements offered to students varied among PBSA providers, as detailed below:

Table 3: PBSA tenancy agreements

Please indicate which tenancy agreements apply to students resident in your properties (tick all that apply)	N
Regulated tenancies	0
Assured tenancies	4
Short assured tenancies	7
Private residential tenancies	3
Common law tenancies	2
HMOs	10
Lease	2
Short term lease	1
Holiday let (for those with appropriate planning permissions)	1
Other	2
Total	21

Six (out of 22) providers also reported that they acted as managing agents for private landlords. Further detail is contained in Appendix 2.

3.4 Planning and regulatory frameworks

PBSA providers reported that a wide range of codes or regulatory mechanisms applied to their businesses:

Table 4: Codes/registration mechanisms applicable to PBSA providers

Please indicate which of the following applies to any of your properties or parts of your business (tick all that apply)	N
Letting Agents Code of Practice	4
Register of Landlords	11
Accreditation Network UK	5
Unipol	11
National Code for Large Student Developments	10
Other	1
Total	18

Providers were also asked for details about the planning permission attached to their properties, with just over half (12 out of 22) reporting that permissions allowed for non-student use:

Table 5: Planning permission attached to PBSA

Does the planning permission attached to any of your properties allow for non-student use?	N
Yes	12
No	6
I don't know	4
Total	22

Table 6: PBSA use of planning permission

If you answered yes to the previous question on planning permission, how do you make use of this? (tick all that apply)	N
Accommodation for tourists	12
Business lets	2
Other	6
Total	13

Finally, providers reported on the percentage of PBSA rooms covered by a contractual or other arrangement:

Table 7: Contractual partnerships, nomination agreements and relationships

Approximately what percentage of your rooms are covered by a contractual partnership, nomination agreement or relationship?	N
None	9
1 - 10%	0
11 - 20%	5
21 - 30%	2
31 - 40%	2
41 - 50%	0
51 - 60%	1
61 - 70%	0
71 - 80%	0
81 - 90%	0
91 - 99%	0
All rooms	2
Total	21

3.5 Support for students

PBSA providers reported offering a wide range of mental health and wellbeing support for students, as detailed below:

Table 8: Mental health and wellbeing support for students in PBSA

What types of mental health and wellbeing support do you offer to student residents? (tick all that apply)	N
Engagement via social media	17
Referrals to university-provided services e.g. counselling	20
Activities to build more supportive communities in residences	19
Provision of information about local and NHS services	21
Staff trained in Mental Health First Aid	17
Student wellbeing check-ups through Res Life	15
Community chat facilities / meeting opportunities	18
Joint projects with Student Associations	14
Joint projects with institutions e.g. collaboration with Student Services at a University	12
Provision for religious observance / festivals	10
Employability support, careers guidance	12
Volunteering opportunities	10
Financial support e.g. rent discounts	12
Other	4
Total	21

Providers generally offered some types of specialist or alternative accommodation, with adaptable rooms the most commonly offered:

Table 9: Specialist or alternative accommodation types in PBSA

Do you offer any specialist or alternative accommodation types? (tick all that apply)	N
Adapted rooms	18
Adaptable rooms for ambulatory disabilities	11
Adaptable rooms (other)	10
Single-sex halls	4
Accommodation for families	4
Vegetarian or vegan accommodation	3
Quiet blocks	6
Safeguarding accommodation	4
LGBTQ+ flats	1
Other	4
Total	22

When providers were asked for more detail about why they did not provide certain types of specialist accommodation, the majority (16 out of 21) said this was because there was not demand.