Student Housing Issues

- Amy Pile, President, Bucks Students' Union

Raising Student Voices: A Call for Government Action on the Student Housing Crisis

We are Bucks Students’ Union, representing the student community at Buckinghamshire New University. Our students are facing a critical housing crisis marked by increasing rents, substandard living conditions, and poor landlord accountability. These issues are affecting their academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being.

At our Union Council on Thursday, October 17, 2024, housing was the central focus of discussion. Students were asked a series of questions to elicit feedback on their personal experiences with housing. Their responses provide a clear picture of the widespread issues and underline the urgent need for government intervention.

1. Satisfaction with Current Accommodation: Affordability and Quality

Students consistently expressed dissatisfaction with both the affordability and quality of their housing. The rising cost of rent coupled with unresolved maintenance issues left many feeling frustrated and financially strained.

• Landlord Accountability: A key concern raised was the lack of accountability from landlords. One student shared, “It’s been months since I moved out, and my landlord still hasn’t returned my deposit. It wasn’t even put into a protection scheme.”
• Poor Quality: Issues with property maintenance were pervasive. “My windows don’t close properly, and it’s been over a month since I reported it. I pay £690 per month, and I don’t think I’m getting anywhere near the quality I’m paying for,” said one student.
• High Rent for Substandard Housing: Another student shared their frustration with rising rents, “I’m paying £715 a month, but the accommodation wasn’t even ready when I moved in. Broken smoke detectors, rubbish in the garden, and a broken shower that took weeks to fix."
• Unfair Trade-offs: The rising cost of rent means students are sacrificing other important aspects of university life. “I pay my rent, but I can’t afford to go out anymore. It’s not affordable when you have to give up so much just to keep a roof over your head,” said one student.

Recommendation: We call on the government to strengthen regulations to ensure landlords meet their legal obligations, including timely maintenance and fair deposit handling. There should also be a review of rent prices in relation to housing quality to prevent the exploitation of students.

2. Barriers to Securing Accommodation: Guarantor Requirements and Upfront Rent

Securing accommodation is increasingly difficult for students due to strict guarantor requirements and the demand for large upfront rent payments. International students, in particular, face additional barriers.

• Guarantor Issues: Students without a UK-based guarantor often found themselves excluded from the housing market. “I had to rely on university accommodation because I didn’t have a guarantor. The stress of it all was overwhelming,” one student explained.
• Financial Strain of Upfront Rent Payments: Several students struggled to meet the demands for large upfront payments. One shared, “We lost out on a flat because they wanted six months’ rent in advance. My guarantor lives abroad, and they wouldn’t accept that.”
• Housing Group Instability: The difficulty in securing guarantors also led to instability in housing groups. “Our group kept falling apart because some of us couldn’t find guarantors. It delayed everything, and by the time we sorted it, most of the good housing was gone.”

Recommendation: The government should create or support guarantor schemes for students, particularly for international students, and reduce the burden of upfront payments by allowing more flexible rent arrangements.

3. Challenges in Private Housing: Rent Increases, Repairs, and Landlord Communication

Students living in private rented housing described numerous challenges with rent increases, repairs, and unresponsive landlords or letting agents. These issues often left students living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions.

• Rent Increases Without Improvements: One student shared, “Our rent went up even though we’ve been living with mould for months. They don’t fix anything, but they’re happy to charge us more.”
• Unresponsive Landlords: Poor communication was a common issue. “Our heating didn’t work for weeks, and we had to constantly chase our landlord to get it fixed. It wasn’t until we threatened to withhold rent that they did anything,” said another student.
• Unfair Treatment: One student described how their landlord took advantage of them, “We couldn’t move into our flat because the previous tenants hadn’t been kicked out. We had nowhere to go, and the landlord didn’t care. We eventually found another place, but it was much more expensive.”

Recommendation: We urge the government to implement stronger protections for student tenants, including better enforcement of repair and maintenance standards, and controls on unjustified rent increases.

4. International Students: Unique Housing Challenges

International students face a unique set of challenges when it comes to housing, including financial barriers, lack of guarantors, and limited access to support.

• Limited Work Hours: One international student shared the financial difficulties they face, “We can only work 20 hours a week, so it’s hard to save enough money for rent. And because we don’t qualify for student loans, housing is a constant source of stress.”
• Lack of Guarantors: Many international students reported difficulties securing accommodation due to a lack of UK-based guarantors. “I don’t have a UK guarantor, and I can’t pay the whole year’s rent upfront. I ended up having to commute from a city hours away just to attend my lectures.”

Recommendation: The government should work with universities to create tailored support for international students, such as flexible payment plans, access to financial aid, and university-backed guarantor schemes.

5. Location-Related Issues: Safety and Accessibility

Students also raised concerns about the location of their housing, with many reporting safety issues during their commutes and inadequate access to university resources due to long distances from campus.

• Safety Concerns: One student shared, “Walking home is terrifying. I’ve been followed by cars, and there are no streetlights near my accommodation. It’s unsafe at night.” Another added, “My friend lives down a dark alley with no lights. She must use her phone’s torch to get home safely. That’s not acceptable.”
• Long Commutes: Others spoke about the inconvenience of living far from campus. “I live 30 minutes away, and the buses only run every hour. It’s really isolating, and I’ve had to cut down on social activities because of the distance.”

Recommendation: Local authorities and universities must work together to ensure student accommodation is located in safe, accessible areas, with proper street lighting and frequent public transport links. Safety measures such as 24-hour campus security support should be expanded.

6. The Role of Universities and Students’ Unions in Housing Support

Students feel that universities and Students’ Unions could do more to help them navigate the housing market and address their concerns.

• More Housing Options: “After the first year, we feel like we’re left on our own to find housing. There need to be more options for returning students,” said one participant.
• Improved Support: Another suggested, “The university should offer a vetted list of landlords and properties, so we know who to trust. They should also provide more accommodation for final year students.”
• Training and Resources: Many students felt that the university’s accommodation team could offer better guidance. “The accommodation team needs to be trained in conflict management and how to help students with contracts. It would make a huge difference if we had that support,” one student noted.

Recommendation: Universities should expand their housing support services, offering a dedicated team to assist students in finding safe, affordable accommodation, with clear resources and advice on dealing with landlords and signing contracts.

Conclusion: A Call for Government Action

The feedback from our students paints a clear picture of the housing crisis they face, from unaffordable rent to uninhabitable living conditions. This is not just an issue affecting a few but a systemic problem impacting students across the country. The financial, emotional, and physical toll is undeniable.

Our Call to Action: We call on the government to take immediate action by strengthening tenant protections for students, including:

• Rent regulation and enforcement of quality standards.
• Flexible guarantor and rent schemes.
• Tailored support for international students.
• Better collaboration between local authorities and universities to ensure student safety and access to resources.

Students should not have to choose between their education and their well-being. The time to act is now—students across the UK need the government to take this issue seriously and implement meaningful change.

At Bucks Students’ Union, we are committed to amplifying the voices of our students and working to ensure their concerns are addressed. It is time for the government to step up and protect the future of students and higher education.