Too much of new student housing is unaffordable for domestic students, the cross-party London Assembly housing committee has warned.
In a letter to the mayor of London, the committee said the type of student accommodation being built is too focused on catering for an affluent market, most of which comes from overseas.
Tom Copley, chair of the housing committee, said: “Preserving the social mix of London universities is essential. While we are rightly proud of the fact that people from all around the world want to come to study here, our universities must not become dormitories for the children of the global super-rich.”
London has 366,605 students, of whom 67,000 are international. They contributed £5.9bn to London’s economy in 2011/12.
Average student rents in London were £157.48 per week in 2012-13, a rise of 26% from £125.34 in 2009/10.
The letter also recommended that as the number of students living in outer London increases, Transport for London could make fares for students cheaper.
