Impact Investigates - Letting You Down: Student Renting Horror Stories 12

By this time (two months into a twelvemonth contract), the group felt that the agency was providing an unacceptable service. Therefore, when a rat was found in the flat, the students resorted to calling pest control instead of contacting the letting agency. They suspected that the agency would not sort the issue out in the timeframe needed.

Another student who expressed dissatisfaction with their letting agent was Anna Boyne. Boyne also lives in a house of eight people but signed her contract with a different letting agency. During her interview with Impact, Boyne stated many issues with the letting agency and the long period of time she and her housemates would have to wait for a desired resolution.

Issues such as a broken microwave, a fridge without a door, and a broken washing machine saw the group wait up to two weeks for the items to be fixed, despite the group constantly trying to get in contact with the agency. Like Kempton, Boyne and her housemates gave up on reporting issues to their letting agency, choosing to fix the problems themselves.

It is clear that change is needed to make landlords and letting agents more accountable. Impact contacted the agencies and individuals named in the interviews, however, none responded. All names and identifiable data have been redacted as a result.

Impact’s Advice: - Carefully research letting agencies and landlords before you sign. - Talk to students in older years to find out their experiences with certain letting agencies. - If you have any problems with your accommodation, talk to the Students’ Union’s Accommodation Services - Read up on your rights as a tenant

By Investigations Team: Gareth Holmes, Arabella Mitchell, Kit Sinclair, Cora-Laine Moynihan, Ben Mellor and Olivia Conroy

Comment - Homelessness in Nottingham: Why Is The Situation So Bad?

Homelessness in Nottingham is growing and there are fears the problem could get worse. Government officials have revealed that more than 1,200 people are described as homeless in the city. Lottie Murray investigates the root causes of the problem, and highlights some positive initiatives being taken to help the homeless.

Nottingham City Council says that their responsibility is to offer ‘help and support to everybody who is sleeping rough in Nottingham.’ It is important that this commitment, made by the council, includes addressing all circumstances contributing to homelessness.

However, Nottingham City Council claims that it’s difficult to provide support to every single person sleeping on the streets because “not everyone accepts the offered support, for complex reasons that may include drug and alcohol addiction or mental health issues.”

The stigma surrounding homelessness seriously damages the likelihood of victims of substance abuse reaching out for help. Critics of the homeless are known to say ‘they don’t deserve help because they got themselves into this mess.’ This damaging outlook can discourage homeless people from seeking support. Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East,

“As the UK plunges deeper into a cost of living crisis, more people facing homelessness is inevitable”

maintains that people often become homeless due to being evicted from privately rented homes. “We have to shift the balance of power in the private rented sector away from landlords towards protecting tenants, through rent controls and stronger tenants’ rights.” Whittome believes that to help remedy the issue: “We must urgently build more council housing, which has been sold off and not replaced for decades. Plentiful council housing could provide people with long-term, secure homes at rents that are genuinely affordable.” As the UK plunges deeper into a cost of living crisis, more people facing homelessness is inevitable.

So, what support is there currently for those sleeping rough in our city, and how can students get involved?

The University of Nottingham has announced that they are once again partnering with Emmanuel House to reopen their winter shelters to the wider community. The partnership means that 27 people are offered shortterm emergency accommodation a night