Christchurch residents are concerned the suburbs around the university are a becoming a slum.

Ilam and Upper Riccarton Residents Association Chairman Phil McGoldrick said the large homes that used to house parents and kids, are now home to up to seven or eight tenants.

He said they need to come up with a plan to stop the area becoming like suburbs around Otago University - which he describes as basically a slum.

"Lots of us for many years, have had lots of investment in this area and it's most important that, that is protected. If we go down the same track as Dunedin that's not good for anybody."