Students see rents go through the roof | Money | The Observer

Students see rents go through the roof | Money | The Observer
School leavers waiting for their A-level results this week could have more than grades to worry about: the cost of student housing is up by as much as 25% year-on-year in some areas of the country.
On average, a student's weekly rent has risen by 2.4% from £67 in 2011 to almost £69 this year, according to Accommodation for Students, which bases its annual UK-wide table of rents on more than 100,000 properties in 77 cities. Some places have seen rises of 10 times this much including Hull, where rents have risen 25%, Lancaster (24%) and Durham (20%).
"A key factor in determining student rents is the desirability of attending some universities," said Simon Thompson, co-founder and director of Accommodation for Students. "That puts pressure on the accommodation available and, hence, the charging of higher rents. Winchester, Durham, Lancaster, Exeter and Newcastle come into this category."
Not surprisingly, London is the most expensive place to rent as a student, with a weekly average of £107.29.