Availability in the private student halls sector is at a three-year high, according to new data from marketing and insights platform StudentCrowd.

On average, 99 more buildings have at least one room available to book in April for 24/25 compared to the same period last year. This increase in accommodation availability follows a significant decline last year, which was 5% down on 2021 during January to March.

The data comes from a new report which shows that, despite an increase in accommodation availability, prices are continuing to increase. There has been an average increase of £2.86 ppw each month since the start of the current booking cycle: 

Price increases persist despite the fact that student applications have decreased slightly overall (-0.3%). This is largely attributed to a plateau in 18-year-old applicants, a 5.2% reduction in mature student applications, and impacts in the international student market. 

A StudentCrowd spokesperson says: “Despite a plateau in student numbers this cycle, the prices of student halls have continued to rise. This is largely due to wider market pressures: hall providers have sought to build more rooms to meet pre-existing over-demand but, simultaneously, new regulation and the imminent Renters Reform Act encouraged many private-house landlords to leave the market, perpetuating an under-supply of student homes. 

“This raises the continual question of affordability for the end user: the student. 

“Compounding this issue, StudentCrowd polls demonstrate that students are starting to choose their university based on the cost of accommodation rather than based on academic potential, resulting in a market powered by perception of value for money rather than the propensity to succeed.”