Landlords are taking advantage of first-time student renters by failing to carry out repairs, according to a new poll.
A fresh report by the National Union of Students (NUS) reveals that students are finding renting difficult, in terms of affordability, poor conditions, and a lack of bargaining power with landlords.
More than a third of students have reported feeling anxious or depressed due to “appalling” living conditions and “exploitative” landlords, while the NUS report also suggests that around 20% of students have to deal with pests in their rented accommodation and almost half are living with damp and mould growing in their homes.
The NUS also found that 17% of students surveyed said their living conditions had worsened existing health conditions, while 12% believed they had developed a new health problem.
According to the NUS, around half of students spend more than 75% of their monthly income on housing costs, while almost half of student renters had not been provided with paperwork to prove their tenancy deposit is secured in a tenancy deposit scheme.