No running water. No heating. Noisy housemates. An infestation of rodents. Does this sound like a nightmare of your student days? Well, you’re not alone: a new survey reveals that these are the most common complaints for student accommodation – even as the cost of rent is going up.
The vast majority of the 2,196 students who took part in the poll by Save the Student said they had encountered serious problems with their housing – with 32% saying they lacked heating or water, and 16% saying they had an infestation of mice or rats.
Around 5% said they thought their house was dangerous to live in.
But the most common complaint? The dreaded noisy housemate.
Kerry, a student in Bournemouth, said: “Halls were a terrible experience. Building work almost constantly, rats, and a very irritating flatmate who was loud and disgusting and inappropriate.”
The survey, covering both halls and private rentals, for the first time also highlighted concerns about the cost of living for students.
It found students pay an average of £970 in upfront housing costs and said the average rent takes up 100% of the average maintenance loan payment, leaving them with nothing to live on without extra financial support.
This puts the onus on parents, with the average contribution from parents at around £44 per week, with one in five students receiving more than £400 per month from parents to help cover living costs.
But despite the extra support, 40% of the respondents said they rely on overdrafts loans or credit cards for extra cash.
The pressures of finance and poor conditions contributed to 63% of respondents saying it impacted their mental health, and 37% saying it had affected their studies.
Mark, who is studying at a university in Sheffield, said: “I have suffered from severe depression and anxiety at university, and have undergone counselling and CBT because of it.
“My parents help as much as they can but it is hard for me to afford my rent and living expenses on minimum student loan when my parents are putting two other children through university.
“I had a part-time job but that plus studying was too much and made my mental health worse.”
An investigation by HuffPost UK last year found the rent at student halls increased on average by 41% between 2008 and 2018, despite maintenance loans rising by as little as 13%.
The largest increase was at Cardiff University. Ten years ago students could rent accommodation for £2,163 per year, but the lowest price in 2018 was £3,824.
Jake Butler, from Save the Student, said: “Too many people – including students – seem to believe that poor living conditions are just a part of student life.
“While the laws around renting are constantly improving there needs to be a much easier way for students to report and resolve problems with their accommodation.”
New laws, which come into force on March 20, are designed to ensure all rented properties are fit for human habitation. It strengthens a tenants’ ability to take action against landlords who fail to ensure their homes are kept up to scratch.