The NUS's (National Union of Students) latest research claims that one in four student "digs" have unwelcome tenants in the form of insect infestation and vermin, they also add the caveat that this is occurring whilst rents are being raised.

Three thousand students were polled in the survey and 24 per cent  claimed that they had mice, slugs and other visitors in their rented properties and that they are paying more for their homes since last year.

There are also claims that that nearly 75 per cent of students felt that they were living in properties in poor condition with issues such as dangerous electrics, mould and damp and that 13 per cent did not have smoke alarms installed and a further 68 per cent did not have carbon monoxide detectors.

Another gripe was that 53 per cent of the students surveyed said that their landlords were slow when dealing with property repairs and maintenance problems.

A commercial and property services advisor reports that during 2013 just over £2 billion has been ploughed into the sector encouraged by high yields and strong tenancy demand. Returns from student rental properties is the highest of any type of real estate. 

Jo Winchester, Head of Student Housing Advisory at the company, said: "Investor appetite for student accommodation is growing, as there is a structural undersupply across many UK towns and cities.

"Although changes to tuition fees and other factors created uncertainty in the letting market of 2012/13, the latest UCAS figures show that University acceptance figures for 2013/14 are now at their highest level ever."