In todays APPG for students we are discussing how to find the best way through the student housing crisis.
Students joining us are: Natasha from @UCBguild, Sophia from @ArtsSU_, Poppy from @UoNSU, Cerys from @LancasterSU
ALT a group of panel members sat in front of an audience of students in UK Parliament
Feb 21, 2024 · 3:37 PM UTC
3
2
11
2,910
We are also joined by Johnny Moore, Student Experience Division Head of Business Management from @durham_uni, Paddy Jackman, CEO of @Unipol, and of course @PaulBlomfieldMP
1
116
Natasha from @ucbguild is kicking us off talking about the unique hurdles faced by international students trying to enter the student rental sector, including difficulty finding guarantors, an unfamiliar housing system, and difficulty securing affordable accommodation
1
106
Poppy from @UoNSU is discussing damp and mould in student accommodation and the failure of landlords to address the issues.
“As a result of the over-reliance on luxury PBSA, there is a severe lack of affordable student accommodation.”
1
1
83
“If we want to ensure the future of education is accessible, we need to radically reimagine our student accommodation sector” - Poppy, @UoNSU
1
1
82
Sophia from @ArtsSU_ is now telling us about student housing from the perspective of carers and postgraduate students. She had to leave her home after an almost 50% increase in rent.
1
85
Students are being forced to commute to London from as far away as Derby as the average rent in London has increased by 9% in the last year.
1
84
Student carers often lose their financial support when they become students, meaning their budgets are even more stretched.
1
81
Cerys from @LancasterSU is now talking about how the national housing crisis particularly effects disabled students.
“It’s an additional vulnerability which means the effects are felt more deeply… We are denied access to the resources that would allow us to thrive.”
1
1
96
Mould and damp can have a big impact on students health and wellbeing. Cerys is telling us about how the mould in her student accommodation compounded the impact of COVID-19 on her lungs.
1
1
79
Vijay from @BrookesUnion explains the challenges he has faced as a postgraduate international student. Many international students are unable to secure permanent housing so have to live in AirBnbs, hostels and hotels. Many miss classes in order to work so they can pay rent.
1
101
Students need to be able to exit their rental contracts if they are unsuitable and need more support navigating the rental sector so they know their rights.
1
96
After overnight queues to secure accommodation last year, @durhamsu worked with @durham_uni and the local authority to work out how they could take the pressure off of the local student housing market.
1
101
“The only people who can get a university education today are those who can afford it” - Paddy Jackman, @Unipol
1
238
“Making accommodation affordable comes down to the proper funding of universities and the proper funding of students.” - Paddy Jackman, @unipol
222