With over 35,000 students coming back to study at the city’s universities we are reminded that Brighton & Hove remains an exciting place for students to come to study. This annual influx of students has increasingly become tied to the perennial problem of where they live.
Pressures on Housing from an Influx of Students
In recent years, the local private rental market has struggled to meet this demand, leading to an undersupply of affordable student housing. Rising rents, competition for shared houses, and the lack of student-centric housing options have created a challenging environment for new students.
Freshers' Week
For many new students, Freshers' Week is their first encounter with independent living, and the comfort of having pre-arranged, secure housing can make all the difference. PBSA projects offer a streamlined process for students who might be navigating their first move away from home. Unlike the often-chaotic process of finding private rentals, PBSA options provide an all-in-one package, including utilities, high-speed internet, on-site security, and sometimes even communal spaces for socialising – which are perfect for Freshers' events and bonding with new peers.
As a result, the convenience and community feel of PBSA developments help ease the anxiety of finding housing during the hectic Freshers' Week period. These accommodations also tend to be in central, well-connected areas of Brighton and Hove, making it easier for students to get to campus and participate in the range of Freshers' events without worrying about commuting long distances.
For the money saving conscious student (and aren’t they all) PBSA offers the unique opportunity to pay rent for the time they are here unlike most private rents who will only offer a twelve-month contract!
Impact on the Local Community and Private Rental Market
While PBSA projects have helped alleviate some of the student housing pressures in Brighton and Hove, they have also stirred mixed reactions from the local community. On the one hand, these developments relieve the burden on traditional housing stock, freeing up more properties for non-student residents and helping reduce competition in the rental market. On the other hand, critics argue that the rapid expansion of PBSA threatens to change the character of certain neighbourhoods, as large-scale student buildings can sometimes clash with the aesthetic and cultural fabric of the city.
Moreover, there are concerns about the affordability of PBSA. While these developments offer convenience, they are often priced at a premium, meaning that many students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, may still opt for traditional private rentals to save money. During Freshers' Week, this issue becomes even more apparent, as wealthier students choose PBSA for its higher standard, while others continue to face the daunting task of finding affordable, more often poorer quality accommodation in a competitive market.
The Future of PBSA in Brighton and Hove
As Brighton and Hove continue to grow as student destinations, the demand for more PBSA projects will likely persist. Developers have recognised the city's potential as a thriving university hub, and more student accommodation developments should be welcomed to meet the ongoing demand. However, this expansion needs to be carefully balanced with the needs of the wider community, ensuring that new developments are sustainably integrated into the city’s landscape.
Freshers' Week will always remain an exciting start to university for new students, and the role of PBSA in easing the transition to university life cannot be understated. These purpose-built developments offer a modern, convenient solution to the challenges of student housing, and for many, they provide the perfect base from which to launch their university experience. As the landscape of Brighton and Hove continues to evolve, PBSA will undoubtedly play a key role in shaping the future of student living in the city.
If you need help in positioning your current or future PBSA projects, please get in touch.
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