Bristol students start campaign against ‘mould epidemic’ in rental housing

Students at the University of Bristol have started a campaign against mouldy student housing, calling for a TripAdvisor-style review website to hold rogue landlords to account.

Bristol’s student newspaper Epigram launched the Break the Mould campaign on Monday 3 February.

It proposes incorporating a ‘Rent Review’ system into the Student Union’s (SU) My Rent My Rights campaign.

Students, like everyone, deserve the basic dignity of homes which keep them safe, not infect their bodies

Annie McNamee, Epigram Co-Editor-in-Chief

In an editorial, Epigram’s Co-Editor-in-Chief, Annie McNamee, claimed that students are facing a “mould epidemic”. As a result, the campaign aims to “reduce the amount of student houses with damp or mould” through the creation of an anonymous review website.

The website would inform renters about the quality of properties and the behaviour of their landlords, providing good landlords with ‘verification’ from the SU.

McNamee was motivated to start the campaign because she felt that “mould wasn’t addressed enough in discussions about housing”, an issue which has contributed to the power imbalance between tenants and “negligent” landlords.

She added: “Students, like everyone, deserve the basic dignity of homes which keep them safe, not infect their bodies.”

A survey by Epigram indicates that 93% of students have had problems with mould or damp in their home.

Last year, the SU released a Housing Report building on the work of a similar survey in 2015, which found that 75% of students had experienced these conditions.

The report also suggested that over 50% of respondents had had either ‘negative’ or ‘very negative’ experiences with their landlords. One respondent called the quality of housing “appalling”.

Abuse of power by landlords and subpar housing are not issues unfamiliar to Warwick students, who have complained about frequent violations of their tenancy rights and unsuitable living conditions.

84% of tenants experienced issues with their housing, 48% of whom had problems with mould or mildew

Exploitative renting practices are widespread in Britain, often targeting students. A survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 84% of tenants experienced issues with their housing, 48% of whom had problems with mould or mildew.

As part of the campaign, Epigram has launched a petition on change.org titled “Break the Mould – hold landlords accountable for dangerous student living conditions!”. It has received over 300 signatures.

A spokesperson for the University of Bristol said that “students in private accommodation deserve to live in safe and comfortable lodgings”.

The Labour government has introduced the Renters’ Rights Bill to provide increased protections for tenants, promising reforms such as abolishing no-fault evictions. It is expected to come into force later this year.