LONDON, August 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A national survey of over 10,000 students across the UK reveals the changing face of student living. While some students are paying more than GBP150 per week for accommodation, which can include everything from en-suite bathrooms to private fitness facilities and weekly cleaners, conditions for students on budgets of less than GBP60 per week can be much more difficult.

Nearly one in five students in private rented housing who responded to the National Student Housing Survey reported problems getting repairs done and, despite the declining trend (down from 24% in 2009), a further one in five private renters are still living in houses with six or more bedrooms.

The picture in halls of residence is also mixed. While many universities still manage their own halls, there is a growing trend for institutions to partner with private companies or outsource their accommodation provision altogether.

Overall satisfaction levels are good in both university and private halls, with 85% rating their accommodation positively, but closer examination of private halls in particular reveals a huge disparity between the top performers and the rest. Of the six major private halls providers examined, one had satisfaction scores of just 50% and over 40% said their relationship with the management was 'Bad' or 'Very Bad'. While all halls have problems with noise, ratings again vary considerably between providers.

The private student accommodation market is increasingly competitive, so it is important that students and their parents consider all the options available to them very carefully. We believe that providing students with quality, secure and well managed accommodation allows them to focus on achieving the best academic results possible to secure their future. Whatever your budget, our advice is to shop around to ensure you know exactly what you are paying for and make sure there are no hidden extras.

- Charles Marshall, BRANDEAUX / Liberty Living- 2010 Best Private Halls Provider

To download the full research report please visit http://www.nshs.co.uk/download/2010/

Awards

Each year the results of the National Student Housing Survey are used to calculate three awards designed to recognise the achievements of organisations who are leading the way in improving accommodation standards for students.

The 2010 awards winners are:

Best University Halls is awarded to the institution demonstrating the highest levels of student satisfaction amongst residents. The 2010 award goes to Lancaster University.

Best Private Halls Provider is awarded to the private halls provider achieving the highest levels of satisfaction amongst residents. The 2010 award goes to BRANDEAUX / Liberty Living.

Best Student Living Experience is awarded to the town, city or locality achieving the highest levels of student satisfaction in the private rented housing sector. The 2010 award goes to the City of Stirling.

About the National Student Housing Survey

The National Student Housing Survey (NSHS) is an annual survey of students in higher education across the UK. The survey measures satisfaction levels in all types of accommodation, and allows participating institutions to measure their performance against national and regional benchmarks. The 2010 survey attracted over 10,000 responses from more than 120 universities and colleges across the UK.

The project is managed by Red Brick Research, an independent market research agency with a specialist practice working with students in Higher Education. For further information, please visit http://www.nshs.co.uk/ or http://www.redbrickresearch.co.uk/ .

Contact: Tim Daplyn (Managing Director) tdaplyn@redbrickresearch.co.uk +44(0)844-884-5498

SOURCE: Red Brick Media Group Ltd

CONTACT: Contact: Tim Daplyn (Managing Director),tdaplyn@redbrickresearch.co.uk, +44(0)844-884-5498