New Report Reveals How Landlords and Letting Agents Can Satisfy Students

BIRMINGHAM, U.K. - May 5, 2014 - PRLog -- Following the research by the National Union of Students (NUS), which highlighted that three quarters of students are living in poor accommodation, a study has been undertaken to discover exactly What Students Seek from their accommodation to identify the simple steps landlords and lettings agents can take to ensure they secure the best tenants.

What Students Seek was compiled by Glide, the utilities and service provider for students, in partnership with Accommodation for Students. The report found that contrary to the NUS report, 76.9% of students are in fact satisfied with their accommodation, with 8.3% of them stating they were completely satisfied. Satisfaction rates have dipped slightly year on year, however, and there are undoubtedly areas for improvement. The findings reveal common themes that can be incorporated into smart business practise without emptying the bank.

Glide CEO James Villarreal said: “Our research findings are more in line with recent discoveries from the NLA rather than those of the NUS, indicating that the NUS may be out of touch with student needs. This isn’t about costly renovations or complete makeovers, our research has proven how practical students are when it comes to selecting their accommodation and how simple measures by landlords and lettings agents can attract the right tenants.”

Get the price right - Money is still the overriding factor when it comes to choosing accommodation. 65% of students value price as the most important factor, with and an overwhelming majority of 82% ranking it 1^st or 2^nd. Price beats all other factors when selecting rental properties, including the level of upkeep at the property, only 18% rated this to be the most important factor, and the décor and furnishings, less than 10% rated as the number one factor.

It’s therefore important that landlords and letting agents price their properties competitively. The report revealed that across the country the average weekly rent for students is £95, however, landlords and letting agents should market their properties in line with their local average, over a third of students (37.1%), rated their weekly rent as bad value for money:

·         London: £140 - £180 per week

·         Midlands: £100 - £120 per week

·         South of England: £90 - £120 per week

·         North of England: £70 - £80 per week

·         Wales: £70 - £80 per week

·         Northern Ireland: £70 - £80 per week

·         Scotland: £90 - £100 per week

Extras - The report revealed that students are practical when it comes to rental selling points. 82% rate fast broadband access to be the number one benefit, up from 51% in 2013. Following Internet access, 75% of students listed good storage as another factor that can influence property selection, so it is vital that ample cupboards are provided.  In terms of additional comforts, over half (58%) of students now look for rooms with a double bed, while a quarter are looking for en-suite facilities.

Making life simple - Shared accommodation can lead to disputes, particularly regarding money. Over one in ten students (11.4%) have been left to pay someone else’s bill. Almost a third, 31.5%, rely on overdrafts or credit cards as a form of income and found managing their debts stressful, while 65% are worried about having enough money.

One way landlords and letting agents can help tenants is by offering all inclusive bills. 71.9% of students rated inclusive bills as either an essential or important factor when choosing a property.  Bills can cause stress and create arguments in a shared house, while landlords and letting agents can sometimes be left with unpaid bills. Inclusive bills are an easy solution to avoid these issues.

Act correctly - Another way landlords and letting agents can help tenants is to manage their properties with efficiency. Two thirds of students have experienced problems with a landlord or letting agent at some stage. 41.2% claim a lack of response when it comes to maintenance issues, and a third, 33.2%, state a poor level of upkeep on the property.

As well ongoing repairs and property care, issues can also evolve from simply not talking to tenants. 31.9% said a lack of communication caused problems, while 19.2% had experienced intrusive visits or inspections at some point during their tenancy.  On the flip side, it would appear there are some landlords out there going the extra mile - 5.6% of students have said they’ve received incentives for choosing a property, 3.2% have been taken out for a drink, and although low, 0.2% have received help with coursework.

Less can be more – The report revealed how 58% of students deemed large communal areas, an important factor when choosing a property. While it is often tempting to turn that living area into another bedroom to secure extra rent, it’s worth considering that tenancies of four are proving the most popular way to live for UK students today, so sacrificing a living room to squeeze in an extra bedroom, might well be turning off good tenants.

Market your property on student friendly platforms – Cheap and effective if you know what media platforms your target audience is engaging with. Over 80% of students use Facebook daily and 73% engage with You Tube either daily or weekly. Landlords and Letting Agents should look at effective campaigns that reach students on these popular platforms.

Get the timing right - The report did name January as the most popular month for students to start their accommodation search, but landlords and letting agents who still need to fill properties shouldn’t be worried – it’s not too late. Students continue to search well into June and July, with another big rush coming in August, during the clearing phase of enrolment.

Landlords and letting agents still have time to fill their properties and attract the right tenants by taking on board some of the measures outlined above.

ENDS

Notes to editors

·     For more press information or the accompanying infographic please contact Shelley Doyle or Chevi Davis, Present PR: shelley@presentpr.com / chevi@presentpr.com.

·     Results taken from a survey of 1,170 students in March 2014 as well as year-on-year data obtained from previous surveys and focus groups conducted by the AFS.