Housing

Tackling the Student Housing Crisis in Bath

Student housing in Bath has become increasingly challenging. Rising rents, limited availability, and poor-quality housing, including mould and damp, have created significant barriers for students.

Our recent Student Housing Survey in 2024 revealed the scale of the problem:

High rents:

Bath is one of the UK’s most expensive student cities. Nearly 60% of students say their housing isn’t good value for money, and international students pay even more. High rents consume most of students’ maintenance loans, causing financial stress and forcings students to work part-time.

Limited supply:

Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage status and Green Belt restrictions limit development, this scarcity increases housing prices and competition for properties. Increased competition forces students to sign contracts quickly, often without viewing the property. This situation can lead to poor decision-making and force students into unsuitable housing arrangements.

Poor quality:

86% of students surveyed reported experiencing issues such as mould, dampness, condensation, drafty windows, or pests like mice and slugs. Many landlords are slow to respond, and students often avoid reporting problems out of fear of being blamed or evicted.

International barriers:

Most international students do not have a UK-based guarantor, this forces international students into costly arrangements with private guarantor companies, which charge high interest rates at 5% to 20%. Additionally, non-EU overseas students paid £139 rent more a month than home students. This is likely to be from international students having fewer choices in what properties are available to them.

Placement challenges:

Students on placement often have to sign contracts for properties they have not viewed. Additionally, those away for six months struggle to find flexible contracts, as most landlords only offer 12-month agreements.

Where We Hope to Be

The Students’ Union wants housing that is affordable, high-quality, and accessible for all students.

We want a system where:

How We Are Going to Do It

We’ve recruited Martha, our Cost of Living Community Organiser, who works closely with The SU Officer team to coordinate and deliver our Housing Campaign.

This campaign is built around three core pillars:

What we are currently working on

Flexible Rent Payments: We are lobbying the University to introduce monthly or flexible payment options for University-owned accommodation. This will ease financial pressure and align with students' budgeting needs for those who cannot afford to pay in large instalments.

University-Backed Guarantor Scheme: The Students’ Union is currently lobbying the University to introduce a private guarantor system for University of Bath students. Many international students are required to use external guarantor systems when securing student accommodation, as they do not have UK-based guarantors. These external companies charge high interest rates ranging from 2% to 20%. This is particularly important, as the Renters Rights Bill, which comes into effect on 1st May 2026, prevents international students from paying 12 months of rent upfront. Once the bill is in place, students can only pay up to one month of rent upfront. This means it's even more important for international students to have a UK-based guarantor.

Local Plan Submission: We've responded to Bath & North East Somerset Council's Local Plan consultation, which will shape housing, transport, and development in Bath for the next 15–20 years. Our submission focused on proposals that directly affect students, including protecting housing supply, supporting new on-campus accommodation, and ensuring affordability. This plan will influence where student housing is built and how accessible it is, so student voices are vital. We'll continue to gather feedback ahead of the next consultation in Spring/Summer 2026 to ensure your needs are represented. View our full response here: Local-Plan-Submission-BANES.pdf

Quality Standards: We are promoting tools like Marks out of Tenancy and the Council's housing reporting system to hold landlords accountable.

How can you get involved?

Students are encouraged to use the Marks out of Tenancy platform to share their experiences with landlords and properties. You can provide as much detail as you wish, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of your property, estate agent, and landlord. The more we utilise this platform, the more beneficial it will become for students in Bath. Marks out of Tenancy

If your landlord refuses to make necessary repairs or resolve issues in your home within a reasonable timeframe, you can report this to Bath & North East Somerset Council using their online report form. The Council will respond within five working days, assessing whether the housing conditions are unacceptable. They can provide inspection services and may enforce legal housing regulations if necessary. Here is the link to use the reporting tool: Report a problem with your rented home | Bath and North East Somerset Council

Further Support:

SU Advice and Support: The SU Advice and Support Service is here to help students with housing-related concerns. Whether you’re experiencing problems with your landlord, have questions about your tenancy, or feel unsafe in your current accommodation, the team can provide guidance and support. The SU Advice Team operates independently from the University of Bath, but they can also advise on issues related to University-owned accommodation. SU Advice and Support

University of Bath Student Support: The Student Support Advice Team gives students help and advice on welfare and wellbeing issues. Advisors are available in person 09:00 –17:00 Monday – Friday, at the 4 West Roper Centre. Student Support Advice Service

ResLife: ResLife supports students in both University-owned and private sector accommodation. The ResLife team is available to help you with finding privately rented accommodation and any issues that you might face during your time living there. You can fill out their private accommodation enquiry form, and the team will reach out to you: Private sector accommodation - support enquiry form

Student Community Partnership Bath: The Student Community Partnership Bath works with the University of Bath to support students. They can help with practical issues like noise complaints, waste and recycling, river safety, and moving in or out of your accommodation. Our Shared City – Bath's Student Community Partnership