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January housing release is a myth

Lilith Foster-Collins

News Editor

January saw no significant release of additional student housing, according to data collated by Palatinate.

On January 1st, 167 student houses were available on the online housing site Sturents for the next academic year. By January 31st just 68 houses remained, with a steady decline throughout the month.

Both Harringtons and Bill Free Homes confirmed they did not release any houses in January.

Bill Free Homes explained: “We may bring a few new properties to the market but these would either be newly developed properties where the details are still being finalised, newly purchased properties or properties from Landlords who are new to us.” Of the houses available at the beginning of the month, 28 were priced at less than £100 per person per week (pppw). By the end of the month this was just two houses. The vast majority of houses in January were priced at more than £140pppw.

Bill Free Homes commented: “This year we did not plan to release until Early November, however we had 1062 registrations on the website] by 18th October 2021 and were left with no choice but to follow in other agents footsteps and release the properties.”

“We have found that student housing, or the lack thereof, has been a huge problem for the Student population this year.”

The estate agents that Palatinate spoke to suggested that the January housing release is a myth. Neither Harringtons nor Bill Free Homes have ever had a “second release”.

Bill Free Homes said “We are well aware of students believing that there is a “second release” in January but this is not something BillFreeHomes have ever done nor are we aware of any other agents who do this.”

“Most landlords would not be comfortable with us holding their properties back whilst the majority of houses are snapped up in the Autumn term in fear of being left behind.”

There were very few larger properties available by the end of January, with no seven beds available during January. Most properties advertised were studios, one beds or two beds.

The availability of houses also differs by area. On the 31st January no houses were available for the next academic year in either the Whinney Hill area or Clapypath.

Bill Free Homes offered advice to students.“The best advice we can now give to students who are still looking for properties is to be as flexible as possible. You will often find you get far more for your money by going ten minutes further away from the Centre.”

“Most importantly we need to ensure the seemingly false rumour of a second release is stopped, this is highly unfair on students (mostly first years) who do not know how the rental market in Durham works.”

In November, Palatinate revealed that the rush to sign student houses starts as early as late October. The number of student houses available on the online housing site Sturents rose until October 26th, and then began to decline steadily until November. At its peak, 967 houses were available.

Students expressed how the rush had affected them. First-years described the rush as “frantic” and “stressful”.

Harringtons acknowledged the problems with the housing rush:

“Whilst we try to hold off with releasing the houses too early, to give the first year students better chances to find strong groups, (who then don´t fall apart later) and to give our current tenants the option to stay on for their final year, the students essentially determine when letting season begins as it is the high number of enquiries that lead to the properties being marketed.”

Students have also faced increasing rents in houses advertised for the next academic year. Data collected by Palatinate shows that on the 26th October, the median rent price of houses was between £120- 140 pppw. In October, more than 42% of houses cost over £140pppw.

One landlord Palatinate spoke to confirmed that prices had increased, and said that while there are multiple factors, “the shortage of houses in Durham City Centre is also the major [reason] why they’re getting increased”.

(Anna Marshall)

SU backs strikes again

Lizzie McBride

Investigations Editor Durham’s Student Union Assembly have announced that they will be supporting UCU members in their upcoming strikes. The latest set of industrial action is planned for the 14th-18th February, the 21st-22nd February, and the 28th February2nd March. The SU also supported last term’s strikes, and has said that their “position in response to this round of action remains the same, because this is the same dispute.” “It is being prolonged not by striking staff, but by the failure of both Durham University and Universities UK to meet UCU’s reasonable demands.” UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said the Union does not “take this action lightly... Time is running out for university bosses to avodi more disruption this term.” Durham Students’ Union has still not announced whether this support would extend to the marking boycott which the UCU recently proposed, which the SU voted to oppose in 2014.

Durham pledges against use of non-disclosure agreements to silence harassment complaints

Lizzie McBride

Investigations Editor

Durham University has signed up to a government pledge promising not to use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment. 26 UK higher education institutions have signed the ‘Can’t Buy My Silence’ pledge so far which is a commitment not to use “non-disclosure agreements to silence people who come forward to complain of sexual harrasment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.”

In 2020 the institution featured in a BBC investigation that revealed almost a third of UK universities had used NDAs to silence student’s complaints of sexual assult, bullying and poor teaching since 2016.

Durham paid out £20,500 to fewer than five students in the 2018/19 academic year and £156,800 to eight students in 2017/18. From 2016 to 2020, 45 universities paid out a total of £1.3 million to students as part of NDAs. Payments ranged from £250 to £40,000.

Non-disclosure agreements, which were designed to protect business secrets, are legal contracts that stop people from sharing private information. Jeremy Cook, Durham’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience), denied in 2020 that the University had used NDAs “in any student case involving sexual misconduct and violence”. Minister for Higher and Further Education, Michelle Donelon, said, that “Sexual harassment is horrendous and complainants should never be bought or bullied into silence simply to protect the reputation of their university.

“The use of non-disclosure agreements to buy victims’ silence is a far cry from their proper purpose, for example to protect trade secrets. I am determined to see this shabby practice stamped out on our campuses, which is why last year I wrote to vice-chancellors making my position clear.”

Donelan described the pledge as a “moral contract” and called on other vice-chancellors to “do the right thing and follow their lead”.

Concerning the new pledge a Durham University said: “We will not tolerate sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying within our community. Where this occurs, we will always ensure victim-survivors get the support they need to report allegations, rebuild their lives, and stay safe.

“We would not use nondisclosure agreements to silence victim-survivors of sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.”