The rental business for student accommodation

From an article in this week’s Economist:

• 1:4 students live in purpose built halls of residence
• in 2006, 82% were owned by universities; the figure is now 59%
• private halls are 40% more expensive
• London rent average is £220 per week ( in digs in 1978, in Newcastle,
• I paid a rent of £1:85 per week, although the building  was subsequently condemned)
• private halls have increased their rents by 20% since 2012.
• ‘UCL have put up rents by 56%’ since 2009 (UCL put the figure at 40%)