Hall rent hikes price out poorer students

Poorer students are being priced out of privatised halls of residence as rents rocket above inflation, public sector union Unison says.

A Unison report says that rents have risen by up to 22 per cent for halls that have been put into private hands, forcing some students to stay at home or take on ever-increasing debts.

Unison said student rents at Southampton Institute rose 22 per cent to £78 a week after privatisation, and at York, rents went from £48 per week to £72.