UNIVERSITY students are facing an accommodation crisis in Adelaide, paying up to $400 a week for single bedrooms the size of "cupboards", warning landlords are "cashing in" on the influx of international students in Adelaide.

A foreign student group has told The Advertiser of "horror" stories students are facing as they struggle to find affordable accommodation. They say bedrooms and even dining rooms are being divided up into smaller rooms, while illegal sub-letting is also a "common" problem.

Students yesterday signed letters to Premier Mike Rann at the University of Adelaide's Barr Smith Lawns, calling for an inquiry into student accommodation in Adelaide because they say there are too few affordable living options.

The Chinese Student Association president Yang "Jackie" Ye said foreign students needed more assistance to find accommodation that is affordable, safe and close to the city.

"Some of my members tell me they rent a house from other students who have already rented it from an agency. They then charge them more, which is a common problem," he said.

"My friend lives in a house that only has four rooms but there are eight international students living there. "The owners separate  ...  rooms to make more  ...  they are so small."

Adelaide City Councillor Francis Wong said he had spoken to several international student groups about the issue and he was "shocked" by their feedback.

"From what I heard (landlords) are charging a lot more - about $400-plus a week for a small room," he said.

"They are cashing in, thinking there are a lot of international students coming in here and it's a good opportunity to divide up as many (rooms) as possible in a building and to capitalise on that.

"I've heard a lot of this, where they convert (backyards) into rooms without windows, which is very unsuitable  ...  we need better quality control." According to the State Government, 10 student accommodation projects have been completed since 2001, housing an extra 1630 students across the city.

These included two major developments (IPAD and Octagon) which opened in 2009, bringing 650 beds to the market.

Next year, new development the Urbanest project at 140 North Terrace, which is near completion, will bring another 488 beds on to the market.

Further Education Minister Jack Snelling said the State Government understood the importance of providing affordable and suitable accommodation options for students to ensure a "positive and rewarding study experience overall".

"Education providers, property developers and local and state governments have worked very closely to support the continued growth of international student numbers and to meet rising demand," he said.

"A survey in October last year of more than 6000 international students showed they rank Adelaide highly as a preferred place to study because they consider it affordable, safe and quiet."

The Adelaide International Club - a foreign student group - is in the process of planning a new website or forum in partnership with several community groups to assist students in finding affordable and reliable accommodation.

"The universities have great accommodation websites for students to explore but sometimes students prefer peer to peer information," a spokesman said.