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The National Union of Students is calling for the government to better regulate letting agents and private landlords in an effort to improve living conditions for students studying in the UK.
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NUS Study into Student Accommodation
An alarming study commissioned by the National Union of Students has found that 75% of students are living in housing infested with vermin and damp. A quarter of all students quizzed reported that their homes had mice, slugs or cockroaches whilst a further 50% said their property was riddled with damp, condensation and had mould growing on the walls.
NUS Comment
“Although there’s a commonly held perception that poor quality student housing is a rite of passage, it is both disgusting and unacceptable that students should live in vermin infested housing in this day and age,” said NUS vice president, Colin McGuire.
“Our research has raised alarming health and safety issues and we are calling for more effective enforcement of standards to ensure students’ homes are fit for study.”
The majority of sub-standard homes highlighted by the NUS report into student living conditions are rooms in houses in multiple occupation run by private landlords. Many students are forced to live off campus because accommodation in halls of residence is in short supply. As a result, the NUS wants the government to make sure local councils have the resources to deal with complaints about sub-standard housing.
The study also revealed that many students were concerned about falling into debt in order to pay a deposit to a landlord in order to secure accommodation. Energy bills were a concern, too, and 50% of students were unaware of the fact that landlords were supposed to provide an energy performance certificate for the property.
