Bath has emerged as the second most competitive student housing market in the UK, surpassing even London, according to a new report. For the 2026-2027 academic year, there will be an estimated 1,699 online searches for every available student property in the city.
This intense demand is driven by an 18% increase in student numbers at the University of Bath from 2018 to 2024, amounting to over 3,000 additional students. At the same time, Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage status and green belt protections restrict new developments, limiting how and where student accommodation can be built.
Phil Greaves, CEO of UniHomes, comments, “Searching for student housing amidst university deadlines and exams is a stressful experience. Being informed about local market conditions helps students act early to secure the best options and offers some reassurance during a challenging process.”
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The most sought-after areas for student housing in Bath include Oldfield Park, Twerton, and the city centre.
In response to the housing demand, Bath and North East Somerset Council recently approved plans for 900 new student flats on the University of Bath’s Claverton Down campus. This expansion aims to ease pressure on private rentals. Additionally, Bath Spa University is pursuing planning permission for a new creative hub adjacent to its Locksbrook Campus, which would feature further student accommodation.
The findings are based on three years of student search data from UniHomes’ website, combined with Google search volumes, to forecast housing demand. Liverpool tops the list as the most competitive market with 2,525 searches per property, while Bath’s neighboring city Bristol ranks eighth with 661 searches per property, indicating comparatively less pressure than Bath or London.