New student property plan is approved in Canterbury, UK

Canterbury is a popular university city in the UK and its large student population is in need of housing.

It is home to four large universities; the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Creative Arts and GAUC.

The city is home to roughly 26,260 full time students but the main two universities are only able to house 22.8% of students.

The lack of available rooms has put a notable strain on the local housing market, despite a new wave of new student property developments which have sprung up in key student areas across the city. Even new plans for a 26-room student property development which has been approved by Canterbury City Council will not cover the demand for rooms.

Student HMOs in Canterbury

The Council believes that there is a need to free up family homes which have been converted into Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), to accommodate the city’s growing student population.

Continual investment in new purpose-built student accommodation could solve Canterbury’s student housing debate.

HMOs in the city have been accused by locals as the reason why rents and house prices have seen a sharp increase. Some local residents have even go as far to say that houses that have been changed into HMOs have affected the local community.

Councillor Perkins, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council, commented, “I live on a street with students, and during the holidays, it is very quiet. The noise starts up again when the academic year begins.

“It is a very small minority of students, but I understand people’s concerns.”

Streets which are dominated by students during term time then turn into ‘Ghost roads’ which Councillor Linfield believes to be unsafe for locals.

“If you’re the one occupied house in a street of empty properties that would change your behaviour. You wouldn’t feel safe.”

It would seem that investment in student property in Canterbury could solve the housing shortage in the city and help return the local area back to its former glory.