The granite city, Aberdeen, has been calculated to be the cheapest place for students to rent private accommodation in the UK. The findings by StuRents are based on both PBSA HMO, but not university-owned and operated accommodation.
The average price of a private student rental property in Aberdeen is reported to be just over £96 a week by StuRents. Scotland’s two main cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, stand at £204 and £200 respectively.
“By maintaining affordable rental options, Aberdeen strengthens its reputation as a welcoming and supportive environment for higher education.
“This allows us to continue to attract a diverse student population, which enriches the cultural fabric of the city and contributes to the local economy.”
Spokesperson, University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is also highly ranked in league tables assessing academic performance and the student experience:
- 10th in UK and 48th in the world in Times Higher Education Impact rankings.
- 12th in the Guardian University Guide.
- 19th in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide.
It comes as Scotland has seen a strategic shift to meet growing demand for student accommodation.
A Scottish investor, Together, recently funded the acquisition of 850 beds for students across Aberdeen and Dundee by ATK Property Group, taking advantage of the PBSA supply and demand dynamic.
Indeed, Dundee has recently seen numerous PBSA schemes obtain planning consent, including approval of an eight-storey student accommodation development on the site of the former Liquid/Mardi Gras Nightclub, providing 215 bedrooms for university students by 2026.
“In Scotland, we are seeing developers not only respond to the demand but investing heavily in the future of student accommodation too. The current wave of developments looks like the beginnings of a broader, more strategic response to the student housing crisis in Scotland.”
Chris McLeish, Partner, Morton Fraser MacRoberts
