Safety and wellbeing are foundational to university life, yet three in four residents at private purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) said they ‘feel safe’ compared to just over half in private rentals (75% vs 56%), new research reveals.
The research comes from Here! Students, a UK-wide provider of high-quality student accommodation, who have commissioned a survey of 600 students across the UK to uncover how safe students feel in accommodation.
Despite students claiming to not feel as safe in PBSA, according to the National Student Accommodation Survey, this is the most popular arrangement for accommodation year-on-year, with 36% renting from a private landlord as it is cited as being more affordable.
When it comes to the experience overall, two-thirds of students living in PBSA rated their experience positively (67%) versus 51% with a private landlord.
Private student rentals lack the safety features PBSAs provide
Going to university is more than just a change of address. For many first-year students, it’s their first true taste of independence, mixed with a heady dose of excitement, uncertainty, and responsibility.
When students were asked about the security features in student halls vs private rentals, they revealed that these were more widely available in PBSAs.
PBSA rooms were revealed almost twice as likely to have a lock on the bedroom door (59% vs 31%), with secure, lockable windows (48% vs 30%) and CCTV (27% vs 12%) providing an extra layer of reassurance.
Table 1: Security features in student accommodation vs private rentals
| Security Feature | PBSA (%) | Private Landlord (%) |
| Lockable door | 59% | 31% |
| Lockable windows | 48% | 30% |
| Smart doorbell | 29% | 13% |
| Door viewer | 30% | 21% |
| External/security entry | 31% | 17% |
| CCTV | 27% | 12% |
Private landlords aren’t as equipped for student amenities
When students were asked how equipped PBSAs are vs private landlords, PBSAs came out on top, with most of them providing key essentials such as a desk and chair (58% vs 32%).
Table 2: Study amenities available in PBSAs vs private rentals
| Amenity | PBSA (%) | Private Landlord (%) |
| Desk & chair | 58% | 32% |
| Study area/space | 31% | 14% |
| High-speed Wi-Fi | 44% | 32% |
| Washing machine | 47% | 36% |
| Drying facilities | 38% | 25% |
| Bike storage | 21% | 6% |
How does student safety compare across the UK?
Comparing how safe students feel across the UK, the data revealed Sheffield to be the city where students feel least safe in their accommodation.
The top three cities students feel least safe in were revealed as:
- Sheffield (69%)
- Manchester (66%)
- Birmingham (73%)
There is a clear gap between student safety in halls vs private landlords, with students claiming they felt least safe in private rentals overall with the top regions being:
- Sheffield – 44%
- Leeds – 48%
- Liverpool – 50%
On the flipside, Oxford was ranked as the safest student city with 88% saying so. This was closely followed by Liverpool (80%) and Leeds (78%).
When it comes to private rentals specifically, Nottingham topped the list with 65% saying they felt safe.
A spokesperson from Here! Student Living comments:
“Finding the right accommodation is about more than having a roof over your head. It’s about feeling safe, supported and being able to focus on your studies knowing you have a home you can rely on.”
“For parents, universities, and policymakers, the data serves as a reminder that high-quality student housing isn’t a luxury. It’s a vital component for safe and healthy students, which is completely invaluable when navigating new independence and the challenges of settling into university life.”
For more information about Here! Student Living please visit: https://herestudents.com/student-housing-report-what-student-living-is-really-like/
