Student Accommodation News (31/8/11)

Here you can find the latest UK student accommodation news headlines for the week ending the 31st August 2011:

Student Housing Survey Results Revealed

27th August 2011: The results of this year's National Student Housing Survey have been revealed, showing the top universities and private accommodation providers. The annual survey measures how satisfied students are with their accommodation and then awards prizes to the best.

This years major winners were Lancaster University which won the ‘Best University Halls' for the second year running and Victoria Hall, which took the award for ‘Best Private Halls Provider'. The northern city of Newcastle was dubbed the ‘Best Student Living Experience'.

In terms of student accommodation in London, Imperial took the award for ‘Best Student Broadband', whilst for international student accommodation, Liberty Living has the ‘Best Moving in Experience'.

Developers Spread to Student Housing

30th August 2011: One of the UK's biggest property developers, has revealed that it is entering the student housing market for the first time. London-based Development Securities are best known for their shops and office blocks, as well as owning the M.E.N. Arena music venue in Manchester.

Dwindling profits have lead to the company taking a change in direction, revealing that they plan to look in to Manchester student homes. The student housing business in the UK is thriving, as more and more expensive accommodation for international students is built, bringing more and more money. Indeed, Executive director Matthew Weiner revealed that "student housing is an area that appeals to us - it is an interesting market".

As international students are increasingly drawn to the top universities in the UK, and jobs in London for students readily available, student housing prices are increasing also. Whilst this is bad news for the students, it is good news for student housing developers.