Stephen Humphrey

Accommodation Manager (Lancaster University)
 

What do you enjoy most about working in student accommodation?

Seeing students grow into independent adults, and being part of that journey, is so rewarding. I love greeting them on arrivals day, and it’s great when they come to me for help – even when it’s not about accommodation! No two days, or students, or flats are ever the same, and that variety keeps the job fresh and exciting.

Can you provide details about a specific student accommodation project that you’ve been involved in, that you’re really proud of?

I hosted our on-campus summer vacation accommodation in 2024. This involved balancing short- and long-term bookings, handling last-minute applications, and managing very short turn-around times between students leaving and arriving. Basically, running a 400-bedroom hotel whilst also getting ready for 700+ new students to arrive! With a lot of hard work, both the summer accommodation and September arrivals thankfully ran without a hitch.

What does ASRA mean to you? 

ASRA feels like a community where everyone is committed to improving the student living experience. The willingness to share best practice, rather than everyone keeping their ideas to themselves, shows that we all care about students having the best time wherever they live. There are always challenges facing the sector, and it’s good to speak to colleagues in the region and around the UK and realise that we really are all in this together!

Thoughts on the future of accommodation?

We all know that prices are going up, including the cost of accommodation. This poses a challenge for us to ensure that the facilities and services we provide match the expectations that come from a bigger price tag. The growing issue of student mental health is also closely tied to accommodation, and I think we will see residences staff increasingly taking more of an active role in supporting student wellbeing.