There is no doubt that St. Andrews is a unique and beautiful place to live, especially for a student. Not many universities can provide a numerous choice of beaches to walk to between lectures, nor do many boast quaint cobbled streets, an imposing silhouette of a medieval Cathedral, or such a high concentration of pubs in one area either. But this reality, which many students eagerly anticipate when applying, is quickly becoming a thing of fiction, as students are forced to seek properties further afield. This is due to lack of space, few affordable university accommodation options, extortionate rent figures, or landlords desperate to rid themselves of their student tenants for a higher paying market.
The average rent price for students in St. Andrews is estimated at around £542.57 in 2018, placing St Andrews as the third most expensive university town to live in during that year, closely following London prices of £584.32. Fife Council’s decision to raise landlord fees for HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) in 2020 has directly impacted local rent prices, with the university’s own HMO having been raised by 800%. It is students who have taken the brunt of this decision as both university and private accomodation prices have increased. For many students, rent increases are an expectation now – with landlords raising the prices of their properties year to year.
This, in turn, makes the town an increasingly exclusive place to live, leaving students feeling helpless as they choose between university accommodation upwards of £4,975 (86.5% of Scotland’s maximum student loan) and leaving town for more affordable options elsewhere.
For those students not able to keep up with the rising prices, the process of finding accommodation can be extremely stressful and frustrating. Little pressure is placed on private landlords to lower their rent, as the town has only seen an increase in demand and competition among students for properties in town. The past two years has seen admission rates to the university soar as A-level and Higher level grades skyrocketed after pupils were awarded teacher predicted grades. The pandemic’s exam crisis coincided with an increase in overseas demand to study in this particular Fife coastal town, consequently raising the student population from an estimated 9,000 to just under 10,500. This drastic increase in student enrolment has placed immense pressure on the small town, resulting in an average rise in rent. So much so, that Dundee and Leuchars now taking students in, in an attempt to meet demand.
‘Campaign for Affordable Student Housing’ (CASH), a student committee dedicated to raising awareness of the housing crisis and making rent cheaper, found that students who live in accommodation further afield, such as in Dundee, feel “alienated” from the university town. CASH released figures from a survey which found that 81% of students viewed living in Dundee as a last resort with 100% stating that they would rather live in St Andrews, with the majority of students describing the move as negatively impacting their mental health or studies. For many of us, higher education is an experience we look forward to. We base our preferred university not solely on academic performance, but also on student satisfaction. Making lifelong friends and memories is what we hope to gain together with our degree – a task that online learning simply cannot provide.
It is both shocking and disheartening to see that such a large proportion of the student body feels cut off from the rest of the university, which impacts not only their studies, but their mental health and wellbeing too. Anxiety amongst students in regards to rental prices and the lack of affordable accommodation in St Andrews is now being shadowed by headlines on the recent cost of living crisis, as gas and electricity bills are predicted to double in upcoming months. With many students already living day-to-day as a sacrifice for remaining in town, the increase in utilities only augments a feeling of powerlessness at the living situation.
St Andrews, as one of the UK’s smaller universities, should provide a sense of belonging and inclusivity, yet more and more students are feeling isolated by the town’s exclusivity in residency.