Thrifty loners are moving in with random families instead of their mates

Rising rent prices and constant money problems are driving students out of halls and into the houses of strangers instead.

Growing numbers are choosing to live with their landlords directly and in the spare rooms of families around the country – not with their mates in a typical uni house.

Second year Electrical Engineering student at Westminster Christopher McCutcheon is set to move into a house with a couple in September after being turned off bank-breaking university accommodation.

Christopher told The Tab: “I guess it’s kind of like meeting your flatmates and your landlord at the same time.”

He added: “I don’t know them but I know who it is, it’s a couple. I was just desperate for somewhere cheap to stay.

“I went looking around for what I wanted and staying in someone’s house looked good so I took a shot at it.

One of the companies have reported a staggering booking increase of 200 per cent in London over the past three years.

“It was a little awkward at first because I’d be living in their home but after a couple of minutes it was all fine, they were friendly.”

Most people move in with their mates from uni, but Christopher’s main motivation for staying with a family was to save some cash.

“The homestay is infinitely cheaper, honestly I’m saving like £3000 as opposed to going in halls.

“I have to travel a bit further than I would have but it’s not too far.

“Some student house reviews said there were rats and the bedding hadn’t been changed, all that sort of stuff.

“I had a friend who stayed in halls in a brand new building where a lot of rooms just got trashed, broken into.

“There was a guy who got kicked out a few months in, their kitchen was stained brown and yellow.

“I am expecting it to be cheaper, quieter, cleaner and safer, but this would all of course depend on who you have chosen to stay with.

Homestay.com said bookings made by students in big uni cities London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are four times higher in September than at any other time of the year.

Second year Physiotherapy student Hannah James from Plymouth Uni stayed with a family while on a work placement as part of her course.

She told The Tab: “My placement was not near my university therefore I couldn’t afford to pay for my original student accommodation as well as travel costs to and from my placement, so decided to move to the area of my placement for the five weeks.

“I really enjoyed my time in a Homestay, as a student it fit me perfectly and was affordable.”

She added: “It was nice to be in a family environment with the option of food cooked by the owner and it was good to have locals to give advice about the area.

“I’ve already recommended it to my friends and I am already planning on staying in a home again.

Alan Clarke, Homestay.com CEO, said: “From speaking to our community we’ve learnt that many first-year students are unable to secure accommodation in halls, and are struggling with the costs of private rent.

“Homestay accommodation often works out as a cheaper alternative and a good temporary solution, whilst students find something more permanent.

“The fact there’s a host that will cook the the odd meal and take care of the bills also doesn’t hurt!”