Rise in university dropouts and homelessness ‘inevitable’ as UK student housing approaches ‘crisis point’

‘Student housing moving into shortage across the majority of universities,’ warns Unipol

More people will be forced to drop out of university without a rise in affordable accommodation, a union has warned (Getty Images)

The UK is approaching a “crisis point” in student housing, and risks seeing accommodation shortages on a scale not witnessed since the 1970s, a charity has warned.

With private rents soaring and the Covid pandemic having dealt a financial blow to universities, the National Union of Students (NUS) has warned of an “inevitable” rise in dropouts and student homelessness unless “urgent action” is taken to increase the amount of affordable housing available.

The situation has reportedly prompted at least one university to recommend that students drop out if they cannot find housing, with some young people forced to live in different cities from the institution they are attending – prompting calls for a cap on admissions.