Understanding the Housing Market: Market Conditions

Before getting into details about housing, it is important to look at the "big picture". You are entering the housing market, maybe for the first time, and whether you are living in university or private sector accommodation, the main determinants of what you can rent will be decided by the particular factors of your local housing market:

• Knowing how expensive it is to live in your area
• if there is a surplus or shortage of housing

Whether there is enough good quality housing will determine:

• when you should look for housing
• how much you can expect to pay 
• how much you can negotiate
• what kind of property you can expect to rent

If there an accommodation surplus or a shortage?

There is currently a surplus of student accommodation in Leeds. In 2012 there is likely to be a surplus of approximently 3,800 bed spaces. It is never to late to start house hunting. Students who wait until after the January rush are more likely to get a better deal. There is no need to rush in Leeds.

How expensive is it to live in Leeds?

To give you some idea of the housing market here are a few indicators:

• Although rents vary the average cost of student rents in Leeds is £66.67
• The number of students housed directly by the institutions in Leeds is 12,600
• The number of students housed in the private sector is 30,450

Leeds average rents in 2011  for a room in different types of properties are as follows:

What Can you expect to pay in the different areas within Leeds?