How british family neighborhoods turned into student-only zones
Local communities across UK face big changes as student housing needs grow fast. Family homes are being turned into student houses while long-time residents watch their neighborhoods change
In St James Exeter a once-quiet family area has changed beyond recognition. Robyn Connitt whoʼs lived there about half-a-century sees her neighborhood turn into a student-dominated zone with take-aways and barber-shops replacing local shops
These days‚ its full of takeaways and barber shops. Some of us have been told by students that if we dont like it‚ we should leave
The problem spreads nation-wide as student housing needs grow: last year saw over 21 thousand new house-sharing licenses issued (thats nine-percent more than year before). Universities keep accepting more students - about 3 million enrolled in 22/23 school year; while housing cant keep up
- Lack of student beds expected to reach 625k by 26
- Family homes turn into shared student houses
- Local services feel pressure from tax-exempt residents
- Car parking becomes hard during term-time
- Safety issues grow in student areas
In Durham Luke Holmes a Conservative councillor points out tax system problems: students dont pay council tax but use all services - this puts extra load on other tax-payers. Meanwhile in Leeds Richard Tyler sees similar issues: “Once you get such strong demand for student housing the price of properties shoots up and families get priced out“
Some cities try to control this with special rules for house conversion but many think its too late. Tammy Palmer lib-dem councillor in Exeter says: “Most residents enjoy having few students around - they have no issue with couple of houses being used as student accommodation in their street‚ but many have seen entire roads become student homes“
