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Student campaigners demand ban on guarantor requirements for tenants

Student campaigners demand ban on guarantor requirements for tenants

9:57 AM, 20th November 2024, About 2 months ago 45

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The National Union of Students (NUS) is calling on the government to make it illegal for landlords to require tenants to have a UK-based guarantor.

Student campaigners argue that the current housing system is “predicated on exploitation and profit extraction,” leaving many student renters vulnerable.

This demand follows an NUS survey revealing that one-third of students are struggling to afford housing costs, with 17% forced to rely on food banks.

Students are suffering at the hands of the housing system

According to the NUS survey, 60% of student renters were required to have a guarantor and 40% of respondents found the process of securing one difficult.

The survey says international students and low-income students face the most difficulty and stress when trying to find a guarantor as they do not have access to the same funds or security net that others may have.

NUS UK President Amira Campbell said: “The results of this research lay bare what we sadly already knew, students and apprentices across the UK are suffering at the hands of a housing system predicated on exploitation and profit extraction.

“We should be ashamed as a society that we are allowing policies like the requirement for a UK-based guarantor to stand as a barrier in the way of our most vulnerable students having a safe and secure place to live.

“Our country’s unfair and inequitable housing system is limiting students and apprentices from feeling part of their communities. We need urgent action from the UK government, and devolved governments in all the nations across the UK, to fix this system and help student renters.”

Nearly half of students have experienced mould or mildew

Other key findings from the survey reveal that 84% of student renters reported encountering issues with their housing, including 48% who have experienced mould or mildew, 44% issues with heating or cooling, and 20% with pest infestations.

Housing costs were confirmed as a continuing problem for students and apprentices with over a third of students (36%) indicating they have difficulty paying their housing costs. Almost 40% of those report going without heating, and 17% have used a food bank.

A third of students (32%) say that they didn’t feel part of their community, which the NUS claims shows the isolating nature of the current student housing system.


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paul smith

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14:29 PM, 23rd November 2024, About a month ago

I know some universities act as guarantor for some overseas students. If they stop paying rent/damage the place, they don't get their degree until it is sorted. No need to go their home country looking for money. Brutal but effective.

Rookie Landlord

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14:43 PM, 26th November 2024, About a month ago

"84% of student renters reported encountering issues with their housing." Well it depends on how you view this figure. I'm guessing about 100% of people who own their homes have issues with their properties.

Shinh

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14:48 PM, 26th November 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by Rookie Landlord at 26/11/2024 - 14:43
More importantly what are the top 10 issues ?

Gromit

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14:42 PM, 4th December 2024, About a month ago

Companies such as https://rentguarantor.com/payments will take on the risk (for a price) and can spread the risk over100s of students. Why should landlords take the risk for nothing and mostly haven't a portfolio big enough to spread the risk?

Freda Blogs

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9:14 AM, 5th December 2024, About a month ago

NUS clearly haven’t thought this through - which will surprise no-one. If PRS LLs can’t take guarantors and choose to exit the market, either students will have to study near home and stay with Mum & Dad, or Mum & Dad will need to provide the accommodation in the university town (assuming insufficient PBSA for all students).

What will be the impact for universities, parents, students and their futures, and the country which can’t get the highly qualified staff that they need?

Astonishing that NUS can be so dumb to not think through the consequences of what they’re demanding.

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