Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and student housing: research findings

Key Messages from Student Interviews

• There is substantial variation among students in terms of their ability to find, choose and afford accommodation.
• Prior to arriving at university, many students reported that they did not have a strong awareness of the local housing market, and that housing options did not form part of their decision-making over where to study.
• Findings suggest that students tend to find it easy to find PBSA and are well supported with this by universities, compared to students in the PRS who were more likely to report difficulties in accessing suitable and affordable accommodation. Difficulties in accessing the PRS guided some students to live in PBSA instead.
• Students are attracted to PBSA for different reasons, including the opportunity to socialise and make friends when starting new courses or moving to new locations, though preferences vary in terms of its suitability for students in later years of study.
• Location is an important consideration for students, with students prioritising proximity to university buildings and keen to avoid living in locations that lead to higher travel costs.
• There were mixed views as to whether PBSA adequately accounts for a range of household types and needs. Students with different household types, such as families or those with pets, reported difficulties in finding suitable accommodation. Disabled students and those with long-term health conditions also highlighted challenges in finding suitable PBSA, often due to issues of access or expectations over the level of shared amenities and space.
• Students generally perceived PBSA to be expensive within local housing markets, with no discernible difference between university and private PBSA.
• However, views on value for money varied and were contingent on the relative price of other forms of accommodation. In areas where the PRS was in high demand and characterised by high rents, PBSA was perceived as good value for money. In areas where PRS rents were lower, students were willing to trade this off for the positive attributes of PBSA living.
• In general, students who participated in interviews were relatively satisfied with PBSA. Many reported that their accommodation was uniform and functional in design, but that this matched their expectations and needs.
• Students valued key design details such as access to natural light, views of green space, and ventilation in buildings.
• Communal spaces in PBSA were valued by students, though some felt that some older PBSA does not provide enough of this space. Use of communal space varies according to household relationships, with some students dissuaded from using space where they do not have positive or comfortable relationships with those they share with.
• The extent to which students felt at home in PBSA varied. Some described feeling at home and attempted to personalise their rooms but were restricted from doing so by providers. Others did not feel at home, sometimes because of poor household relationships or by an expectation that they may not live in PBSA for long.
• Students felt that staff in university-owned PBSA played an important role with respect to wellbeing and on-site security, though many students had a minimal relationship with their provider restricted to requests for repairs and maintenance.
• Students in PBSA were less aware of their tenancy rights than those in the PRS and some were dissatisfied with the perceived inflexibility of tenancy agreements in the PBSA sector.
• Students noted that universities attempted to be inclusive and diverse experiences and appreciated attempts to promote these within institutions and accommodation.
• However, students highlighted areas where this could be improved, including how the needs of disabled students are understood, the diversity of accommodation provision in meeting the diverse needs of students, and how positive relationships between students from different cultural and demographic backgrounds can be promoted once they are living together.