Jesmond landlords are some of the worst

Northumbria Student’s Union have taken awful living matters into their own hands in trying to force landlords to improve their shoddy conduct.

By circulating a survey around student haven Jesmond, it’s been revealed that students put up with the likes of rodents, damp and broken furniture due to the lack of response from their landlords and letting agencies.

350 of the surveys showed that despite multiple complaints being made to landlords about things from leaking roofs to previous tenants ripping electricity meters clean off the walls, pleas for a better standard of living were simply falling on deaf ears once rent had been paid.

A common occurence.

Letting agencies were found to be equally as useless with many not obeying the ’24 hour notice’ law for house viewings and visits.

In some cases the survey mentioned that while their landlords had been helpful, changes fell short at the hands of the letting agencies who did little to nothing once students were in their houses.

In fact, students went as far to say many felt pressured into renting properties immediately after viewing. The survey showed students were rarely advised about the legal 24 hours they have to make a decision and are bullied into signing contracts the same day.

Needless to say that because of things like this, they were also appalled at the unjustifiable admin fees that come part and parcel of renting student property.

The aim of the survey is to try and force landlords and letting agencies to improve their line of work so students feel the amount they end up paying before even entering a property can be justified.

you could easily be pressured into living here

Collaborative steps between Northumbria Student’s Union and Newcastle City Council aim to have 1,000 surveys completed by December. This would give them enough evidence to determine their course of action.

Lay student councillor of NSU Annabelle Coakley, said: “When you speak to students about their housing situations, by and large, the response is overwhelmingly negative.

“In order for anything to change, the letting agents, landlords and the residents all need to communicate and work together.”

A Newcastle council spokesperson agreed with Annablle, saying that the NSU’s work demonstrates that “students do believe issues exist regarding property standards”.

The spokesperson went on to say change would be found in “students being educated on their rights and responsibilities, and where to go for help when a landlord does not comply with the legal requirements.”

The Landlord Accreditation Scheme and Shared Housing Accreditation Scheme both exist prior to the action taken by these surveys, which are meant to make sure landlords adhere to a code of practice and an agreed set of standards. Unfortunately, both schemes are optional and so largely ignored.