Students: Housing

Question

The department plays no role in the provision of student residential accommodation. Universities and private accommodation providers are autonomous and are responsible for setting their own rent agreements. It is for local areas, through their Local Plans, and in response to local needs and concerns, to determine the level of student accommodation required in their area. The department continues to work alongside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to engage with students and the higher education (HE) sector to understand the impact of existing and proposed new housing policies.

We encourage universities and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, clear, and have the interests of students at heart. This includes making accommodation available at a range of affordable price points where possible. We also encourage HE providers and private accommodation providers to work in partnership to help students make well-informed choices about their accommodation.