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Student tenants in Newcastle Upon Tyne are getting increasingly concerned over poor housing conditions, including incidents of mould, constantly damp rooms, faulty heating and house appliances, and delays in repairs, as they become more and more common each year. 

Living areas including Jesmond, Heaton and Sandyford remain in demand for students at Newcastle and Northumbria, as they move into them after their first year of university. While usually happy to pay higher rent prices for a house in a more popular area, students are getting more troubled by the constantly worsening accommodation quality, conditions and safety. 

There is a constant increase of problem reports in house shares, with students noticing mold on their walls, leaking roofs, malfunctioning appliances and poor insulation. Some tenants have said it can take weeks for a repair to be made, leaving them to struggle to feel comfortable at home, while already balancing university work and living expenses. 

“In second year our boiler broke around February. Thankfully we had a second electric shower, but even then, it had really bad pressure, and we were stuck – five girls, middle winter, with one working shower and limited hot water for about two weeks.” – Emma Fahey.

Shared student housing in Jesmond and Sandyford can now cost more than £150 per person per week, while some student accommodation even exceeds £200. While that it wouldn’t be too crazy to pay that amount of money for a nice house, it gets increasingly upsetting when the house isn’t nice at all, and you have to just be okay with not having hot water and a broken washing machine. 

It is becoming evident that the increasing rent prices are not reflected in housing standards. Fourth-year Newcastle student Louie Gregory said his house in Sandyford suffered repeated heating failures throughout winter.

“Some days the heating would just turn off and we had no hot water at all. We were paying so much money every month, and still wearing coats indoors and asking the neighbours if we could use their shower.” – Louie Gregory

Louie also described the lack of communication possibility between tenants and letting agencies.

“It just feels like students aren’t taken seriously, because landlords know there will always be demand for houses in Newcastle.” – Louie

Newcastle City Council has previously introduced licensing schemes aimed at improving standards in privately rented properties. They attempted to ensure that landlords meet legal requirements surrounding safety, repairs and property management. However, according to student tenants its enforcement still feels limited, particularly because housing demand remains high.

Karolina Miroschnichenko, a second year Psychology student from Russia said she struggled to challenge poor living conditions after arriving in the UK.

“As an international student, I didn’t really know my rights, so it’s easier to just accept what I am given, rather than argue for what I deserve. You worry that if you complain too much, it could affect your tenancy.” – Karolina Miroschnichenko.

Karolina explained that her accommodation initially appeared modern and newly-built in online photographs, but looked very different when she moved in.

“The pictures online were bright and clean, but in reality the house had old furniture, a constant damp smell, and several broken appliances.” – Karolina.

Many tenants claim to be reluctant to formally report issues due to fears of losing deposits, or damaging relationships with landlords, however, student unions argue that affordability should not come at the expense of safety and comfortable living conditions.

As demand for student accommodation remains high, tenants would benefit massively from stronger regulation, improved property inspections, and greater support and communication from their landlords. As already already managing academic pressure and financial concerns, decent and safe housing should not be another stress factor students are forced to manage.