Almost six in ten students at Durham University have said they feel that their accommodation is unaffordable, an ongoing study by the SU has released. 

Durham University students are being forced to fork out more than £2,000 out of their own pocket just to afford accommodation, leaving them “exhausted” balancing academic life with rising housing costs. 

Students have resorted to taking part-time jobs and say it’s “a constant balancing act” to afford rent, groceries, and travel leaving them “worn out.”

“I love my university and my courses but working as well just to afford rent leaves me exhausted,” says one Durham student, who like many others, is struggling to balance academic life with the rising housing costs. 

Across Durham, students report paying thousands of pounds out of pocket as rising housing costs put their education and well-being at risk.

As these students start to search for accommodation for the next academic year, many are finding that rent prices stretch their budgets far beyond what government loans can cover.

With little regulation in off-campus student areas, student landlords can set prices freely, often far above fair market rates.

Students are having to pay £2,000 out of their own pocket to make up the cost of extortionate student houses, impacting their studies and quality of life.

Alan Edwards, a third-year Durham University student, shared his experience: “I understand that housing is expensive everywhere, but for students specifically, it feels particularly unfair.

“In my second year, the cost shot up by £2,148 compared to what I paid in first year. And in third year, I had to make up another £1,752 out of pocket because my rent was £8,160 for the year, while my loan only covered £5,715, plus a £693 grant from the university.”

Meanwhile, a Durham student who preferred to remain anonymous shared, “My maintenance loan and grant don’t come close to covering my rent, so I’ve had to take on a job.

“I’m also living a bit farther from campus, which means I need a car to get around and to be able to go home and visit family sometimes. Between paying rent, affording groceries, and just basic travel, it’s a constant balancing act.

“I really love my university and my courses, but working on top of a full class schedule can be overwhelming. Sometimes I’ll finish a long shift, and instead of being able to study, I just feel worn out.

“It’s like I’m trying to juggle everything at once, but it can be exhausting, especially when it feels like I’m working just to cover the essentials.

“Honestly, I think there needs to be some kind of regulation on what student landlords can charge. Right now, it feels like they can charge whatever they want just because they know we need housing."

The lack of regulation has created a situation from our research where, a six-bedroom student apartment listed on Rightmove costs £7,280 per month, meaning each student would need to pay £1,213 monthly- £14,556 annually.

The student added: “It’s ridiculous. Students are already on tight budgets, and it’s hard enough to keep up with everything without worrying about whether you can afford to live where you study.”

Dan Lonsdale, President of Durham’s Student Union, describes the situation as a “crisis of affordable supply.”

The SU’s research reveals that students are spending two-thirds to three-quarters of their income on rent, far above the recommended one-third.

Nearly half of students work over 12 hours weekly, potentially affecting their ability to focus on their university work.

Recent data from the SU indicates that 57% of Durham students find their housing unaffordable, and one in four feel their housing is both unaffordable and of poor quality.

“55% of students report that housing costs limit their academic engagement, and 67% say it restricts their extracurricular involvement,” Lonsdale noted, adding that students from lower-income backgrounds spend disproportionate time working just to make ends meet.

The SU has launched campaigns encouraging students to resist panic renting and wait until they’re better informed.

Early releases by estate agents trigger a rush for housing, which Lonsdale says inflates prices and leaves students feeling pressured into costly commitments.

Housing quality has become an additional concern, with many students reporting poor living conditions such as mould, dampness, and pests. “We’ve had students hospitalized from exposure to mould and damp,” Lonsdale shared.

Mould behind a wardrobe in a student house that was sent into the SU involved as part of their investigationsMould behind a wardrobe in a student house that was sent into the SU involved as part of their investigations (Image: Contributor)The SU’s Rate Your Landlord platform gives students a way to share experiences and warn others about substandard accommodations, aiming to hold negligent landlords accountable.

In addition to advocating locally, Lonsdale stressed the need for broader rent control policies. “One landlord control 20% of Durham’s student housing—a concentration that skews the entire market.”

Durham University itself holds nearly 40% of student housing, further influencing local rents. “University rates have surged by 55% over the last decade, outpacing private rents,” Lonsdale pointed out.

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Durham University is trying to help their students in any way possible. A Durham University spokesperson said: “At Durham University most of our undergraduate students live in university college accommodation during their first year, and in private rented accommodation subsequently.

“We provide a wide range of support and guidance to students in finding private accommodation.

“This includes working with partners through a Student Housing Management Group; providing a central resource of information and guidance, our Housing Hub; and developing the Durham City Student Lettings Code of Practice. 

“For students looking for private accommodation for 2025/26: our analysis suggests there will be enough housing in Durham to meet demand, so don’t rush in before you settle in.  

“We always support all our students, including those facing financial hardship. We have a comprehensive package of scholarships, bursaries and other financial provision to support students from all backgrounds to study at Durham University.

“For example, the Durham Grant Scheme provides is a non-repayable bursary for UK undergraduates with a household income of up to £62,342.

“It is recognised as one of the most generous student bursaries at any UK university and is automatically paid to eligible students. We have increased it by a further 6.7% for 2024/25, making it worth up to £2,670 per student for each year of study.

“We also have a Student Hardship Fund available for students in urgent need.

“We are working hard to attract more students from less advantaged backgrounds and are making good progress in this area. Last year one quarter of our new UK undergraduates came to us through a widening access scheme, and we are confident that our entry figures for 2024/25 will show further improvement.”