SDLP Education Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has repeated his concerns about the high cost of student accommodation in the North after authorities in the South have labelled it a ‘crisis.’
Mr McGrath has said that what students are experiencing in the South is not unique, but rather, more and more students in the North are having to commute long distances from home because accommodation prices are simply unaffordable.
The South Down MLA said: “The rental cost of student accommodation is rising and becoming more unaffordable for many students. The cost of student accommodation in the centre of Belfast is as high as £1,600 per month. These rising costs mean that those students whose parents cannot afford to subsidise their rent are being priced-out of the full University experience.
“University is more than merely an academic exercise… it gives young people a chance to experience new things and gain independence by living away from home for the first time.
“Therefore, it is vital that more help is provided to students from less affluent backgrounds to ensure they can experience everything University has to offer, without the stress of commuting long distances to and from University, especially during exam times,” added Mr McGrath.
Adding to the student crisis is the rise in demand for rentable accommodation. Across Belfast and the wider area, there is full occupancy and it is effectively a sellers market.
