UUK Student Accommodation Survey
Thank you for your feedback
Earlier this year, students living in campus accommodation took part in the UUK Student Accommodation Survey. We received 288 responses, with views evenly represented across all Faculties. Your feedback helps us improve your experience of living on campus.
Below is a summary of what you told us and the actions we are taking in response.
What's working well
Feeling safe and supported
- 84% of students feel safe in their accommodation most or all of the time.
- Personal safety was rated better than expected by the majority of respondents.
- Staff were described as friendly, approachable and welcoming, especially during arrival.
- En-suite bathrooms and overall bathroom quality received consistently positive feedback.
What we’re doing next
- Out-of-hours Residence Life Managers are now fully in place, providing evening and overnight welfare support in halls during term time.
- The Residence Life Team and Student Resident Advisors (RAs) will be more visible across accommodation blocks from 2026/27, including wearing identifiable branded clothing.
- Our 24/7 Campus Safety Team will continue visible patrols and student engagement activities across campus.
Moving in and settling down
A generally positive start
- Around two-thirds of students rated their application, allocation and moving-in experience as good.
- Staff welcome and support on arrival were particular strengths.
Where we’ll improve
- Better room photos and clearer descriptions before applying
- Improved communication before and during arrival
- Better information around parking and unloading
What we’re doing next
- We are improving online room information, including photos and clearer comparisons between room types.
- Arrival communications will be reviewed to ensure they are clearer, earlier and easier to follow.
Maintenance, communication and responsiveness
What you said
- Repairs, maintenance quality, and communication around jobs were among the lowest-rated areas.
- Students reported frustration about not knowing what was happening once an issue was logged.
What we’re doing next
- We are working with our systems provider to ensure maintenance progress updates are visible to students, not just a final ‘job closed’ message.
- Future updates will include information such as appointment visits, parts on order, and expected return dates.
Noise, environment and shared spaces
What you said
- Noise levels were one of the most common negative themes and often worse than expected.
- Kitchen size and facilities were a key disappointment for many students.
- Recycling facilities and bin provision were seen as inadequate in some areas.
What we’re doing next
- A joint Noise Reduction Action Plan is being developed by the Residence Life and Campus Safety teams, using student feedback and sector best practice.
- The updated Resident Advisor role will place greater emphasis on visibility, early intervention and community behaviour.
- Recycling and waste provision will be reviewed with Estates to improve consistency and ease of use.
Value for money and affordability
What you said
- Value for money was the most common concern, with over half of students saying accommodation felt worse than expected in this area.
What we’re doing next
- Pricing has been a key focus for 2026–27. We have benchmarked accommodation costs against other universities, taken into account cost-of-living pressures and student maintenance loan levels.
- As a result, weekly rent rates for next year have been reduced, frozen, or only slightly increased, depending on room type.
Comfort and study environment
What you said
- Bedrooms and beds were generally well-rated.
- Some students raised concerns about room temperatures, desk chairs and study comfort.
What we’re doing next
- We are committing to a review of room temperature to understand where improvements can be made.
- Furniture issues highlighted through feedback will inform future replacement and investment plans.
Overall picture
Strengths
- Safety and security
- Staff support and approachability
- Bathroom quality
Key priorities for improvement
- Value for money
- Noise management
- Kitchens, recycling and shared facilities
- Maintenance communication
Keep telling us what you think
Your voice makes a difference. The actions above are directly informed by student feedback, and we’ll continue to share updates as improvements are delivered.
If you have ongoing concerns or ideas, you can:
- Speak to your Residence Life or Resident Advisor team
- Log maintenance issues via the Service desk
- Take part in future surveys
Thank you for helping us improve campus living.
