London’s student accommodation ‘too focused’ on catering for an affluent, overseas market, Mayor Boris Johnson warned

A member of the London Assembly has written to the Mayor of London on behalf of British students who are being pushed out of the city’s accommodation market which is ‘too focused on catering for an affluent market’.

In today’s letter, Tom Copley, chair of the housing committee, has called on Boris Johnson to give a helping hand to ordinary families who the committee said are facing ‘daunting accommodation costs’ for studying in the capital.

The committee made the move to write to the Mayor after startling figures surfaced, showing the extent to which British students are being affected by an influx of overseas students coming into London to study.

According to a recent London First and PwC report - along with another from Universities UK - London has 366,605 students - 67,000 of whom are international - bringing over £5.9 billion to the city’s economy in 2011/12.

Figures from another report from the National Union of Students (NUS) have shown how the cost of rent has steadily been rising since 2009/10. During this period, the average weekly rent sat at £125.34, but rose by 26 per cent to £157.48 in 2012/13.

Then, the Mayor’s Academic Forum recommendations paper into the city’s student housing found 57 per cent of all new student accommodation was in just four central London boroughs, something which is ‘unsustainable both in terms of rental prices and availability of land’.

Describing how the preservation of the social mix of London universities is ‘essential’, Mr Copely added: “Our universities mustn’t become dormitories for the children of the global super-rich.

“London universities aren’t just for families who live in the capital - they are national assets that help young people right across the United Kingdom.

“Unless the Mayor takes action, students from ordinary families will be priced-out of the capital’s campuses and from realising their full potential in some of the world’s best universities.”

The letter also recommends that, as the number of students living in outer London increases, Transport for London (TfL) could make fares for students cheaper.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London described how Mr Johnson is ‘very mindful’ of students’ housing needs, having introduced a new policy this year to expand student housing by between 20,000 and 31,000 places over the decade to 2025, and added: “Policies have also been put in place to encourage dispersal to more affordable locations beyond the historic concentrations in and around Central London.”