Landlords have been forced to sell up because of high mortgage costs and tax rises
An exodus of landlords has left almost a quarter of a million students without a room in top university cities, analysis has found.
Students at Russell Group institutions face the most competitive ever race to find housing this year amid a shortage of housing which is driving record rents, property experts have warned.
It comes after estate agents warned that landlords are selling up because of high mortgage costs, tax rises and increasing regulations.
Across 18 university towns and cities which are home to Russell Group institutions, there is a shortfall of around 240,000 students rooms, according to analysis by StuRents, a housing portal.