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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Do We Want to Be?
The Students’ Union wants housing that is affordable, high-quality, and accessible for all students.
We want a system where:
- Students can pay rent flexibly, reducing financial stress.
- International students have fair access to housing without punitive costs.
- Landlords are held accountable for property standards.
- Students feel empowered to speak up about poor conditions without fear of eviction.
How Are We Working to Get There?
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:
- Advocating for Affordable Housing
- Advocating for Better Quality of Housing
- Informing and Empowering Students
What Are We 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 Do I Find Out More?
If you are looking to find out more about housing you can checking out our SU Advice and Support page for information on housing advice or you can look at our housing rights page to find out what you are entitled to as a tentant.