Student Housing Trends 2024 to Watch Out

The shortage of student housing is a persistent concern, and the situation has become more severe due to global economic conditions. With universities across the US, UK, and Australia experiencing significant growth in international student enrolment, finding suitable accommodation has become a challenging task for students. This blog highlights five student housing booking trends that students must know in 2023.

1. The student housing shortage is a real deal!

While all the major student destinations are seeing a surge in international intakes, there are just not enough houses available for them. Moreover, student housing has historically been in short supply in Australia, USA and UK.

• UK: Students across multiple cities in the UK, including Glasgow, Durham, Bristol, Manchester, and York, struggle to find suitable accommodation. In Durham for AY 22-23, students queued overnight to secure housing for next year. The dire situation in the UK has caused some universities to halt intake. The students have been advised not to register for courses because of the lack of available housing.
• Australia: Many Australian cities are already at capacity for purpose-built student accommodation beds, with Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide having almost zero vacancies. Whereas, in Sydney and Melbourne, students are struggling to find their perfect home months before their semester start dates.
• USA: In the US, finding a home for the students of UC Berkley, UCLA, and UC Irwin has become a mammoth challenge due to soaring rents and the lack of on-campus accommodations. And, as per the current booking trend, accommodations in major cities like New York, Chicago, San Fransico, Tempe and Los Angeles are running out in the blink of an eye.

The current shortage of available student housing has become a concerning issue, leading to several negative consequences for students. One of the main problems caused by the lack of housing is that students may feel compelled to defer their studies due to the unavailability of suitable student accommodation.

On amber’s booking platform, we have seen a rise in inquiries about the advanced booking of studio and ensuite rooms in popular international student destinations, much earlier than their semester intakes. Check out this blog to know whether choosing a luxury student accommodation is worth the price or not?

2. Rents are rising this year, so make sure to increase your budget

With the rise in costs, global economies and geo-political situations, the scenario is playing out a bit differently this year, With the rising cost of living, accommodation costs, gas prices  & utility bills in many countries, it’s imperative that you factor in these reasons while you make your budget for your education.

• UK: Both university-managed and privately-managed student housing has seen rent increases in recent years, with some universities charging at least £1,000 more per year for university-managed accommodation since the start of the pandemic. Private student accommodation has also seen an average rent increase of 14.5% across all Russell Group cities in the past four years.
• USA: During the 2022 academic year, there was a significant increase in both rent growth and occupancy rates that had not been observed before. The average rent growth exceeded 4% when considering the entire leasing period. Despite the higher rents and living costs, Boston, New York, San Fransisco, and Chicago are the most popular cities among students.
• Australia: The situation is particularly challenging for international students studying in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne. With limited options available, finding budget-friendly accommodation can be difficult. The average rent in Sydney has increased by 11% in 2022 alone, reaching AUS$679 per week, and only 1% of available housing is for rent. The popular student suburbs of Glebe and Kensington have seen combined rent increases of up to 38.9% in the past year.

Considering these factors, international students must prioritize their overall budget to ensure a comfortable and safe living environment. It's recommended to research different options and locations and factor in these costs before the application process.

3. Beat the rush; book your student accommodation early!

There are nearly a million international students presently pursuing higher studies in the USA. As for the UK and Australia, this number is more than half a million. These countries highly appreciate the talent pool that comes with international students like you.

Before the pandemic, it was still possible to get private accommodation a month before the academic year started, however, now cities like London, New York, and Manchester are fully occupied way earlier than the UCAS latest updates. So, by the time you get your admission letter, there is a high chance that you may miss a chance to find a room on campus or in the off-campus PBSAs near your university.

The first mover advantages

• Book with confidence: Whether you are starting out your first year or studying in the second or third year of your international academic life, securing a room that feels like home sets you free from the uncertainty of your living situation in the cities, which are almost short of student rental properties and halls of residences. Now you may think, what would happen if you booked the accommodation early and, unfortunately, you don’t get a place at your choice of university, or your visa gets rejected? Well, don’t worry! On amber, there are plenty of properties across the globe which do offer the policies like “No Place No Pay” and “No Visa No Pay”. This means the properties with these policies will refund your booking amount and deposit if things don’t go as planned.
• Settle in soon and comfortably:  As you skip the queue and start looking for the room earlier than your peers, that gives you a chance to make your abode in your preferred on-suite apartments and studios at well-located PBSAs that are also fully packed with amenities like a gym, courtyard, cinema room etc. And if you want to book as a group and stay together, then booking early can get you clustered apartments where your group can settle in under one roof, and no man is left behind!
• Maximum savings! As you approach the peak season, such as the start of college semesters, the rent prices tend to increase significantly. This surge in rent prices is like the surge in cab prices during rainy days. With early booking, you avoid the peak seasonal rent hike and save tons of money!
• Your own community: When you grab a place at a residence where diverse student communities are built to make you feel that you belong, your student life gets much more delightful. While booking early, you can also make yourself familiar with your peers at some student accommodations and take your call.

Becoming an early bird gives you a chance to find a perfect nest that fits your needs and budget. Finding an accommodation sooner can make a significant difference in your overall college experience.‍

4. Save more by booking PBSA rooms

PBSA rooms are among the most preferred accommodation types in the UK, USA & Australia. With additional amenities such as - gym, all utility bills included, security and maintenance team in place, the students have lesser things to worry about. While the PBSA’s might seems expensive to you right now, when the utility bills come in from your private accommodation, you will clearly see that this year PBSA’s have outranked private rental accommodations this year.  Students living in PBSAs in London have seen 33% savings as compared to students in other types of accommodation.  In the below graph taken from amber's student housing report, you can see how students in Liverpool and Sheffield are saving up to 25% and 15 %, respectively.

Why PBSA is the correct choice for students

PBSA, which stands for Purpose-Built Student Accommodations, are housing developments designed to meet the specific needs of university students, especially those from different countries. Living in a PBSA comes with several advantages that cater to international students, and some of these benefits are elaborated on below.

• Save money on commute: PBSAs are strategically built near university campuses and city centres. Which means students have easy access to their collages. Being able to walk down to campus means you will save big on fuel and transportation costs.
• Live in secure surroundings:  It is pretty standard for PBSAs to have proper security measures in place for student safety, and there’s always an active on-site team to provide you with timely assistance in any emergency.
• Flexible, all-inclusive bills and amenities: PBSAs offer flexible rental contracts with all-inclusive bills. Students can pay weekly rent for their choice of studio or en-suite, which includes the cost of necessary utilities like water, electricity and wifi. Hence, even though when the market sees inflation in the prices of these commodities, you won’t feel its heat as you are secured with the fixed rental contract throughout your tenancy period. Apart from offering these utilities, PBSAs make it an even sweeter deal by offering a laundromat, which you can benefit from at a minimal cost. Plus, you can also enjoy the amenities like a gym and cinema room which adds to a more pleasant living experience without paying extra on their weekly rent.

5. Rise in student housing booking scams!

Yes, you read that right, with maximum enrolments and lesser accommodation options, students are finding themselves in a vulnerable position. Even PBSAs are getting booked from January itself for the semester starting in September. These are the types of student housing scams that you need to be aware of:

• Fraud advertisements: Fraudsters make use of various websites to promote rental properties that appear to be available, often at enticing prices and convenient locations. These advertisements may seem authentic, featuring multiple photos and contact details for interested individuals to discuss further.
• Fake listing: Students sometimes pay advance fees to secure a property without viewing it due to high demand. Unfortunately, in some cases, they later find out that the supposed landlord is a fraudster who does not own the property. Sometimes the property doesn’t even exist, or sometimes, these rooms already have tenants residing there.
• Subletter Scam: There are many instances reported in the news recently. For example, In Canada, there was a student who booked a room via Facebook and was scammed into a subletting of the unit. Whereas, in Australia, rental scams are common knowledge where students don’t get their room keys even after paying the booking amount.

Read our blog on how to avoid and spot the rental scams in a very comprehensive manner

For international students visiting a property physically and checking rooms out isn’t always a viable option. Hence, the best solution to avoid these scams is to search for rooms to rent on a credible booking platform. You can take a virtual property tour and get an elaborate description of the property, its terms and conditions and its distance from your university. And for more queries, there is 24/7 customer support available, which brings you much-needed peace of mind.

Dreaming about studying abroad is courageous. To experience that dream coming true is even more beautiful when you have a cosy and secure stay reserved for your academic adventure. Check out this blog to know the best types of student accommodation for affordable stay.

Whether it's booking early to avoid the rush or finding the accommodation in your budget this year, amber will help you secure a comfortable and affordable home far away in foreign lands!  So, book smart, live comfortably, and make unforgettable memories with amber. Get in touch today to reserve your spot!