STUDENTS from poor families are forced to live in lower standards of accommodation because they cannot afford privatised halls of residence, a union has said.
Researchers working for public service union Unison looked at rents at 12 higher education establishments which have entered into accommodation contracts with private companies.
At York University rents are now £60 or £72 a week, according to which hall students are in, compared with £48 before privatisation and an average of £57 for other accommodation in the area.
However, the researchers who compiled the Unison study said the rents in halls of residence did not necessarily reflect unfair pricing, as the accommodation was often of very high quality.
Rachel Cashman, the former vice-president of welfare for the National Union of Students, said: "Accommodation costs are rising in some areas at almost three times the rate of inflation."
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