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12 Sep 2024

Top problems faced by students in University accommodation revealed

As thousands of students across the UK prepare to embark on their university journey this month, 57% of them are leaving home without the knowledge or confidence needed to fix common household issues*.

Graphic of a student researching how to solve home repair issues

 The new research from home assistance provider HomeServe has found that the vast majority of students (95%) say they’ve faced a home-related problem in their rented accommodation.

An infographic showing research around how university students deal with home repair issues.

 

The most common accommodation issues faced by university students

Some of the top issues students face when they move into halls or rented accommodation include plumbing issues (38%), boiler problems (36%) and electrical concerns (25%).

Top 10 issues faced by university students

  1. Mould or damp problems (44%)
  2. Noise disturbances from neighbours (42%)
  3. Problems with appliances (e.g., refrigerator, washing machine) (40%)
  4. Plumbing issues (e.g., leaks, blockages) (38%)
  5. Heating system problems (e.g., boiler issues, radiators) (36%)
  6. Problems with the landlord or property management (27%)
  7. Pest infestations (e.g., rodents, insects) (25%)
  8. Electrical faults (e.g., faulty wiring, outlets) (25%)
  9. Issues with safety equipment (e.g., smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms) (22%)
  10. Difficulty in performing basic DIY tasks (14%)

The research shows, however, that many students aren’t confident in performing basic home maintenance tasks, such as bleeding a radiator (57%), setting central heating (29%), or unclogging a sink or drain (22%) which could help mitigate some of the issues they are facing.

There is also a lack of knowledge when it comes to identifying safety issues such as boiler problems (50%) ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning (30%) or recognising a gas leak (38%).

Despite facing these issues, one in four (24%) say that they have had to chase their landlords to deal with the issue, and a tenth (11%) say that their landlord is slow to respond. This leads to feelings of anxiety for more than half (56%) or students, with women more likely than men to experience these feelings (62% v 47%).

Brian Sweeney, HomeServe’s Home Expert comments:

“Moving out and living independently for the first time can be a big step for many. We have launched our University Accommodation Repairs Guide to help empower new students with the knowledge they need to set themselves up in their new home. From basic DIY top tips to information on when to call the experts in for those bigger household issues, HomeServe are here to help'.

"This new data builds on our Gen D-IY campaign launched over the Summer, which aims to equip younger people with the skills they need for the future. This new guide, together with our Gen D-IY videos, aims to help young people set up home for themselves - whether that’s moving out independently, or embarking on a university adventure.”

For more information and for simple home maintenance advice, visit HomeServe’s University Accommodation Repairs Guide

About the research

Unless otherwise stated, data is based on Opinium commissioned research amongst 1,000 UK current or prior students (18+) in August 2024.

 

*57% of students surveyed weren’t confident in at least one home maintenance issue. These include fixes such as changing a lightbulb, unclogging a drain, setting central heating, setting or adjusting a boiler, replacing a fuse or resetting a circuit breaker or bleeding radiators.