1. Influencing rent costs on your campus
Jo Goodman, NUS

2. Session objectives:
Understand some of the history of student accommodation
Consider what it is for
Establish strategies you can use to influence rent-setting at your institution
Hear from two unions on what they’ve been doing

3. Student accommodation – a history
13th Century:
Students lived where they could “in taverns, private homes or wherever they could find them, or in the ephemeral houses, halls or hospices hired by some ‘regent Master of Arts’”
Harold Silver, 2004
Student behaviour largely unsupervised and undisciplined causing friction between students and communities – riots and disturbances

4. Student accommodation – a history
16th Century:
Accommodation seen as part of the role of the college in moulding students and forming part of their moral and academic experience
Accommodation intended as an extension of study space and brought more areas of student life under the purview of the institution

5. Student accommodation – a history
Mid 20th century:
Seen as critical factor in student success and very desirable despite shortage of money post WWII
University Grants Committee saw it as desirable “for common life and for the interplay of mind upon mind”
1960’s – backlash against control, change to age of majority

6. Student accommodation – a history
1990s onwards:
HE expansion – HEFCE grants no longer included accommodation subsidies
Many universities turned to private finance and partnerships with private providers
Marketing comes into play more

7. What is student accommodation for?
University Grants Committee 1957 found itself “unable to resolve questions about halls without first having ‘a concept of the purpose of a university’” Question: How does your institution view accommodation and how does this fit with how it considers itself?

8. How does your institution view accommodation?
‘Brand’ ‘World leading’ ‘Affordable’ ‘Character’ ‘Demand’ ‘High end’ ‘Top of the range’ ‘Marketable’ ‘Student lifestyle’ ‘Meeting expectations’ ‘Free’

9. Questions to ask…
How does the institution’s accommodation strategy fit with its widening participation agenda? Does accommodation subsidise other areas of the institution? Is more expensive accommodation used to subsidise affordable accommodation? Are accommodation bursaries available?

10. Background
The most recent edition of NUS/Unipol Accommodation Costs Survey showed cost of living in halls has doubled in the past ten years
NUS Pound in Your Pocket research showed over fifty per cent of students regularly worried about meeting basic living costs such as rent
Changing student numbers and increase in private provision has led to an increasingly competitive and fluctuating market

11. Accommodation Costs Survey
Research conducted every 2 – 3 years by NUS and Unipol
Aimed at institutions and private providers of purpose-built student accommodation (or halls of residence)
The most recent survey covered around 85 per cent of bed spaces
There have been huge changes in recent years to:
The level of rent charged
The types of room on offer
Who is providing these rooms

12. Rising rents:

13. Rising rents: Common room types
Institution
Nomination
Private
Self catering single
£97.08
£97.05
£98.31
Self catering en suite
£122.81
£119.99
£122.33
Studio
£134.40
£160.58
£188.09
Average annual rent across all providers and room types was £5,244.04

14. Rising rents: By region

15. Room types on offer

16. Room types on offer – by provider type

17. Homes Fit for Study
Research undertaken last academic year, released in March
Almost 7,000 HE respondents
Assesses the state of student housing in the UK

18. Housing costs
Q. How much do you contribute to monthly rent or mortgage payments?
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

19. Key motivations across the sample
Location convenient for place of study (56 per cent)
Affordability (37 per cent)
Ease (32 per cent)
Q. Why did you choose to live in this type of accommodation during your studies?
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

20. Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

21. It was the easiest option
Key motivations - PBSA
It was the easiest option
The location was convenient to get to my place of study
I wanted to be able to meet other students
Q. Why did you choose to live in this type of accommodation during your studies?
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

22. Less common motivations - PBSA
It was more affordable
I wanted to live with friends
I needed to live with my family
Q. Why did you choose to live in this type of accommodation during your studies?
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

23. Demographic differences
More likely to live in PBSA
Less likely to live in PBSA
First-year undergraduates
Returning undergraduates
Masters level students
PhD students
Younger students
Older students
Full-time students
Part-time students
International students
Home students
Non-disabled students
Disabled students
Students with caring responsibilities
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

24. Satisfaction in PBSA Satisfaction indicator
Institutional accommodation
Private developments
Good value for money
45%
50%
Good condition
72%
75%
Adequate space
71%
74%
Made the right choice
69%
Feels like home
56%
54%
Feel involved with other students
57%
Engage effectively with my course
43%
Feel part of the local community
31%
Q. To what extent do you agree, if at all, with the following statements?
Source: Homes Fit for Study (2014)

25. Concern about living expenses
Of those living in halls, students in quintile 1 are 50 per cent more likely to work over 16 hours per week than those in quintile 5. In the broader sample, they are 21 per cent more likely to work this many hours.
Source: Pound in Your Pocket, NUS (2012)

26. Key questions to consider
What would a progressive rent structure look like at your institution/in your town?
Is the rate at which accommodation costs have risen at your institution/in your town in recent years in line with inflation/student support?
Are you involved in the rent setting process and your institution’s future development plans?
Which arguments can you utilise to best effect? Consider both the welfare case and the business case.

27. Building your case Welfare case Business case Risk of causing hardship
Rising faster than student support
Harder for students to find work
Families likely to be under increased pressure
Can present a barrier to access
Limits choice of students who are less able to pay
Opportunity to join up with widening participation strategy
Not all students have access to bursaries and rent waivers:
e.g. estranged students, disproportionately likely to affect LGBT students
Cost concerns may affect choice of institution
59 per cent of international students think accommodation cost is ‘very important’
Increasing private provision means greater competition
Private providers likely to market aggressively
Returning students likely to be more cost sensitive

28. Planning your campaign
Analysing the issue
Investigate rents and rent setting process
Compare and contrast
Consider diversity of membership
Consult members
Developing your strategy
Map stakeholders
Develop your ask
Look beyond headlines
Prepare to compromise
Consider tactics
Think long term
Monitoring and Evaluating
Plan clear, measurable aims and objectives
Assess and demonstrate your impact

29. If you’re working with private providers
The good news: They have an incentive to keep you happy The bad news: They are unlikely to sway far from market rents

30. A tale of two unions

35. A few ideas…
Attend open days and talk to prospective students about their accommodation choices and budgeting
An alternative prospectus featuring students’ experiences of accommodation at your institution
Gather students’ experiences of living in expensive accommodation e.g. Kent case study, #RentAche
Find out what students like about more affordable accommodation to influence your institution’s future strategy
Engage on any partnership or nomination agreements being entered into
Work with your student media and local press

36. Resources Housing How To – Campus Rent Negotiations
Accommodation Costs Survey report
Accommodation Costs Campaigning Guide
Accommodation costs and financial wellbeing briefing
Accommodation Costs Social Policy Briefing
Each other!

37. Thank you!
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