Rental squeeze forces students into hotels
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The ANU increased its on-campus accommodation last year but demand has outstripped supply. (ABC News)
The Australian National University (ANU) has been forced to accommodate nearly 280 first year students in Canberra motels.
The Canberra rental market is hard to crack at any time but in February it can be near impossible as thousands of university students, government contractors and defence staff start work and study.
Real estate agents are reporting vacancy rates of less than 1 per cent.
ANU Student Association president Tully Fletcher says management is housing 279 students temporarily in motels and subsidised housing.
Mr Fletcher says the ANU has an enrolment guarantee that applies to most first year students to help find them accommodation.
"ANU has an unprecedented demand from interstate and international students this year and the university is doing everything that it can," he said.
"Things are extremely tight and because of the inadequacy of rental assistance scheme a lot of students don't have the necessary purchasing power to compete in the rental market ."
