Georgina Colman, 47, has a son and two stepsons currently at university, plus a third stepson, who has just left and still requiresIncreases in student rents mean that in 2025 the family will be paying an eye-watering £2,538 a month, not including bills, just for their children’s rent at university.
Georgina’s third stepson has just finished a drumming degree at Brighton and wants to stay in the city and be a musician. “He doesn’t want to come back to Basingstoke. But he’s on a career path that won’t start with loads of money so we’re helping him out too.” Research by think-tank HEPI found that the majority of students, 55 per cent, are now working part time – with 2023 being the first year that this was the case. The same report flagged how working too much compromised the quality of students’ studies.
Whoever wins the election, Colman hopes that they will look at regulating student landlords. “There should be a cap on what landlords can charge students. It’s not fair that they’re milking them,” she says.