Golden State Today

The University of California, Davis has been expanding its student housing capacity in recent years, which has led to a decrease in the apartment vacancy rate in the city of Davis. A survey report released on February 4th indicates that about 4% of market-rate apartments were vacant in fall 2024, while rents saw an average increase of 1.6%.

This data comes from UC Davis' long-standing apartment vacancy and rental-rate survey. Conducted by the Office of Student Housing and Dining Services, the survey aims to assist with planning for both the campus and nearby communities.

The current blended vacancy rate for apartments leased by unit and by bed is one percentage point higher than last year's 3%, marking the highest level since this data was first reported in 2017, excluding fall 2020 when remote instruction affected demand due to COVID-19.

Michael Sheehan, associate vice chancellor for housing, dining, and divisional operations in Student Affairs at UC Davis, stated: “It is great to see the vacancy rate at a level that is considered healthy for a market and the stabilization of rent escalation.” He attributes these changes to strategic planning and collaboration with local authorities.

UC Davis plans further expansion with a new residence hall expected to open in fall 2027 as part of the Segundo Infill Project. Additionally, there are plans for a new apartment project within West Village.

As of fall 2024, UC Davis housed over 15,000 students on campus. Since 2017, it has added more than 6,260 beds through various projects including Orchard Park and The Green at West Village. This expansion aligns with an agreement with the city of Davis and Yolo County to meet housing targets set in a memorandum from 2018.

In terms of enrollment, UC Davis had a total student body of 41,239 in fall 2024—a slight increase from the previous year. The university's Long Range Development Plan estimates a capacity for around 39,000 students on campus.

Rental rates have increased modestly; however, nearly 30% of respondents reported decreasing rents compared to just 10% in the prior year. Additionally, more apartment complexes offered incentives to attract tenants.

Survey data shows that unit-leased apartments accounted for about two-thirds of market-rate rentals surveyed. Among them, approximately 4.2% were vacant compared to only 2.3% last year. Meanwhile, bed-leased units saw an increase both in numbers and occupancy rates.

The survey involved responses from property management companies representing over eleven thousand rental units—covering roughly eighty-four percent of multifamily housing stock within Davis.

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