Newcastle University student Grace Boyle was forced to move out due to unfit private housing conditions since moving in.
Damp and mould: Uninhabitable living conditions in Jesmond. Images supplied by: Grace Boyle (Granted permission to use)
A second-year student was forced to move out of private rented housing in Jesmond due to uninhabitable living conditions putting her in hospital.
On October 26 Grace Boyle was given a day’s notice to move into an Airbnb out of Jesmond after submitting more than 80 maintenance requests for her HMO house of six in West Jesmond.
The Journalism, Media, and Cultural Student claimed she developed a form of pneumonia due to housing conditions. Boyle said: “It’s having a lot of long-term effects. My mental health is an abomination.”
“I’m just taking every day as it comes, if I don’t I will just crumble,” she added.
The Jesmond house developed a bug infestation of woodlice, mould and damp issues, water leaks, broken heating and unsecure doors.
Research from Save The Student found one in three students are affected by damp in their housing and 29% of students experience a lack of heating and 17% having pests.
Protimeter moisture meter reading: Serious moisture condition. Image supplied by: Grace Boyle (Granted permission to use)
Boyle was bed bound for five days. She said: “I could not move, I could not breathe, I could not sleep. I’ve been so cold.”
The student claims this has impacted her degree since requesting PECs for all her assignments and stepping back from being a committee member for her society.
She explains: “it’s insane and it’s deadline season.”
Interview with Grace Boyle, Newcastle University student. Filmed and edited by: Grace Bamforth. Photos embedded credit: Grace Boyle
The estate agent which is not named at Boyles request did not comment on issue upon request. The agents offered the house of six £100, providing them with £16.66 each for living with 80 maintenance requests.
Shelter states landlords have responsibilities to ensure their properties are fit for people to live in, with poor conditions described as ‘so bad’ that it’s not reasonable for you to live there.
Hannah Cooper, Research and Campaigns Manager at Citizens Advice explained: “everybody deserves to be in a home which is warm, safe and that is able to meet their needs. We are currently facing lots and lots of housing issues.” Housing is one of top five issues for Citizens Advice.
“It’s not something you expect as a uni student, estate agents know how to rip off students” – Grace Boyle
Gov.UK data estimates number of homes in England with damp and mould range between 962,000 homes to 6.5 million households. The NHS states damp and mould increases the chance of respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma.
The tenants as a result have been moved into an Airbnb for an estimated two weeks. It has currently been three weeks with the six being split up to opposite sides of Newcastle 30 minutes away from university.
Boyle said: “I just want to live in a safe dry house, I think I deserve at least hot water, heating, not the feeling that someone is going to break in every five minutes.”
Cooper explained: “housing is a human right. I think there’s a power imbalance between landlords and renters.”
“It’s a case of students not knowing of where they can go,” Cooper added.
Hannah Cooper: Audio edited and recorded by: Grace Bamforth. Music by: LEXMUSIC: Creative Commons License
The household remain paying bills of £150 a week per person for partial bills whilst living away. Boyle states the bills are not worth the house she is paying for. Her house is due to rise next year to £175 a week.
Unipol and HEPI (Higher Education Policy Institute and The Home of Student Housing) found rent for students has increased by almost 15% in the past two years. Save The Student found 41% students do not view their student housing as good value for money.
Boyle added: “I do not want to be investing my very low funds into a house I don’t like.”
It is advised to contact Citizens Advice Newcastle if tenants are not sure what repairs landlords must do but it must be fit for human habitation.
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