Durham Uni website suggests average weekly rent is £60-100, but The Tab finds it to be over £140

We have barely broached a month back at Durham, yet freshers have already experienced the full brunt of the housing crisis.

The Tab was the first to report that students were queueing outside estate agents overnight in the hope of beating the queue to sign a house in the morning, as house prices have risen astronomically this year and availability appears scarce.

The University has admitted this crisis is partially due to it accepting too many students, and had “anticipated” the housing shortage.

In an investigation into the reality of the housing crisis for students, The Tab recently asked Durham students for information regarding their current and future housing prospects for next year.

We found that of those surveyed, just over a third of students had bills included in their rent for next year, leaving 63.4% of students surveyed to weather the storm of ever-increasing gas and electric costs.

The average rent without bills for next year of those surveyed will be £143.43 per person per week, and rent with bills will be £192.88 per person per week.

Despite these figures, the Durham University website still advertises that students can expect to pay between £60-100 per week on housing with bills paid separately.

The web page suggests that weekly bills will cost at least £15, and a contract with bills included will cost £100-110 per week. It also advises that self-catered students should budget £30 per week for food, which may appear a conservative estimate in the cost of living crisis.

These figures have not been accurate for some time, as The Tab found the average rent for this current year without bills to be £122 per person per week, and with bills to be £154 per person per week.

It appears the web page is regularly monitored and updated by the University, as it advertises Lane 7 bowling, which only opened a few months ago.

A statement on the web page says:

“Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published on this page is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website as early as possible.”

Durham University has been contacted for comment.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Durham students left to sleep on the streets overnight to sign houses during housing crisis

• 15 things that are easier to do than signing a student house in Durham

• I’m a fresher and the Durham Uni housing crisis is especially frightening for us