Report: Student Accommodation Demand Survey 2021/22

If you work in the student accommodation sector, you’ll know already that the second wave of Covid-19 in the UK has had a dramatic impact on the ordinary student booking cycle, with early-bird booking only just starting to appear months later than usual. We worked with students across the UK to learn more about their expectations and requirements for booking accommodation in 2021/22.

Our findings show that the impact of the pandemic has not only delayed bookings, with over 60% of those we surveyed planning to book from May or later this year, but there has also been a change in many students requirements, especially when it comes to budget.  

61% of students intend to book accommodation from May onwards
69.8% of students haven’t booked due to lockdown uncertainty

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) has seen a 13% increase in demand due to the negative experiences students have faced with private landlords and letting agencies throughout the pandemic.

Benefits such as on-site facilities, social activities, high security and included bills are highly important to students when it comes to choosing PBSA over renting an HMO through a letting agent or landlord, as is the perception of PBSA as a modern, clean and high-quality place to live. 

Despite this, students are looking for further flexibility in terms of tenancy contracts, cancellation policies and booking periods in order to accommodate their changing needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic - which PBSAs are in a unique position to offer.

67.4% of students would feel more comfortable booking if there were good COVID-19 cancellation policies
17% of students say they preferred tenancy agreements of 6 months or less

Affordability is also a major factor, with many students indicating that their budget has reduced due to losing part-time work or having less financial support from their family or guardians. Shared twin rooms are an option that an increasing number of students are looking for in order to meet their new budgets.

There is further work required to educate students on the total cost of PBSA compared to other forms of renting, as students tend to perceive it as more expensive. Though, with bills included it tends to be a closer competition than thought. Housemates is working with the sector to improve this.

88% of students would use a platform that allows them to book accommodation in minutes by paying to reservation payment online

There is also a concrete demand for an instant booking platform like Housemates on the market and the vast majority of students are looking to book online. With booking demand predicted to bounce back up from the end of May onwards as further positive news around COVID-19 lockdown easing is expected, now is an excellent time to join the Housemates platform to ensure you have an efficient and Gen-Z friendly booking process that’s ready for the upcoming demand. Learn more on our business page.

Housemates is led by data. If you would like to learn more about what we do or work with us on future research or data projects, you can contact our CEO Lydia Jones directly at lydia@housemates.io.