GSL Index results show that while student opinions about their kitchen facilities are improving, there is still significant room for improvement. When asked what one thing they would improve about their accommodation, kitchens are one of the most frequently cited features, with over 2,500 students weighing in with their opinion on how kitchens can be improved.
In Q4 2024, 65% of students rated their kitchen facilities positively, an increase of 5% from the previous year. In the same survey, 14% of students also said they would pay more rent in return for better kitchen facilities. There is also a link between satisfaction with the kitchen and satisfaction with the accommodation experience overall.
Student comments point to four main problem areas:
1. Cleanliness
Kitchen cleanliness is the number one complaint, with many students calling for stricter cleaning policies and better enforcement of shared responsibilities.
“Being more disciplined with the residents by conducting kitchen check-ups regularly, once per month.”
Regular cleaning of the kitchen and other communal spaces is an expectation for most students, and something that 12% of students would pay increased rent for.
“More deep cleaning in the community kitchen”
“Considering I am paying £315 per week, there should be some kind of cleaning of the kitchen. I have friends paying half of what I pay, and they have someone who helps clean the kitchen once a week.”
2. Equipment and Storage
A lack of fridge and cupboard space also tops the list of frustrations. Students expect ovens and hobs to work and for maintenance requests to be acted on quickly, and they expect extras like blenders and kettles as a matter of routine.
“There is no space to keep the cooking stuff in the kitchen. So I have to carry all the things to the kitchen and bring it back. It is a big hassle and hindrance to cooking.”
“A mini fridge and freezer are shared between six people, whereas other flats with eight people get two fridges and freezers. Storage space is also limited; some people have to share cupboard shelves.”
“Include a blender in the kitchen”
3. Layout and Space
Many students report that their kitchen is too small for the number of residents, leading to overcrowding during peak cooking times. For others, poor design features such as freezers located in a different area make cooking (and midnight snacks) a frustrating experience.
Students want kitchens that feel like home and that double as social spaces, not just places to cook. There is a clear desire to share meals with other residents and socialise in the kitchen; however, many complain that their kitchens feel sterile and purely functional, resembling public spaces rather than homely environments, and that a lack of adequate seating and tables is a barrier to socialising. Students frequently suggest improvements such as sofas and tables, along with sufficient seating to facilitate shared meals and socialising.
“The freezers are in the basement, completely separate from everything, making it a bit of a bother to fetch stuff like ingredients or even just a midnight ice cream treat.”
“More communal living space in the kitchen to make it more homey to hang out.”
“Feels like a secondary food tech classroom rather than a home.”
“Sofas in the Kitchen”
“Develop the kitchen area so it feels more accommodating and flatmates can hang out together in there.”
4. Orientation & Support: Expectations set early
Some students highlighted the importance of guidance around kitchen usage etiquette and cleanliness expectations on arrival, with several suggesting a kitchen orientation would clarify expectations and reduce misunderstandings and conflict about shared responsibilities.
“One thing I would like my accommodation to improve is to provide each cluster with an orientation for the new student on the rules, how to use the things in the kitchen and what kind of cleanliness they need.”
The Takeaway: Kitchens are an important part of the student experience. While some students are willing to pay more for improved kitchen facilities, for a large majority, a clean, functional kitchen that feels like home is expected, and students seek support to reduce potential conflict around kitchens. Investing in kitchen quality is not just about improving facilities – it’s an investment in an improved student experience.
