It’s that time of year again, students are scrambling to find the perfect flatmates, house and landlord. It would seem as though everyone is in a panicked frenzy at this point in the term as they fear that if they don’t secure a house before the term ends they’ll be forced to live alone, far from Selly in a dilapidated bedsit paying extortionate amounts in rent.

This is the lie we are told. Landlords spout these lies when we attend viewings or visit their agencies. This lie is so powerful and pervasive that it becomes a self-perpetuating myth on campus. We are led to believe that housing is a now or never situation. Hand us your enormous deposit now or you’ll regret it, sign this exploitative contract now or you’ll have nowhere to live.

We are led to believe that housing is a now or never situation

This is an extremely stressful situation for students to be in. Not only do we have to source huge deposits in a few short days but we are also forced into signing 12-month contracts. When I questioned a landlord about this issue, asking if we could arrange a contract that would last the length of the academic year from September to July, he was outraged. He took offence to the fact that I did not want to pay rent for the months in which I wouldn’t be living in the house. The fact that we didn’t want to waste a sizeable chunk of out maintenance loans enraged him. He explained that no lettings agents in Selly Oak would offer such a contract and that I was foolish to have even asked the question.

As first years we are quickly thrust into the housing market with little knowledge of how it operates. Before we have even completed our first month at university we are expected to find our housemates, a task which can be extremely difficult for some. Not everyone immediately finds their friendship group at university. Through fresher’s week, societies, our course, and accommodation we quickly become acquainted with so many new people it seems hard to keep count. Out of this vast pool of people we are expected to choose those we wish to live with for the whole of the next year.

We quickly become acquainted with so many new people it seems hard to keep count

Whilst searching for a house I felt as though I was subjected to it all. We were lied to about the number of houses available, we called agents to book viewings for houses only to find that they had been sold and we even had to collectively push a landlord’s car up the road in an attempt to get it to start. Within the houses we saw exposed wires, broken plugs, cramped living areas and clear instances of mould. These poor living conditions pose yet another risk to student safety when it comes to renting in Selly, the other risk being the recent rise in violent crime.

It can be particularly tricky selecting a safe area to live in Selly Oak. We’ve heard about crime committed on several of Selly’s streets so it seems that deciding which one is the safest to live on is an impossible task. The price, lies, uncertainty and seemingly unavoidable scaremongering only act to compound the stresses already presented by the first term.

It can be particularly tricky selecting a safe area to live in Selly Oak

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to begin house hunting until the new year, landlords would be honest and Selly Oak would be a safe neighbourhood. However, we don’t live in such a world, instead, we need to utilise the limited support that is available to us. Having now secured a property for next year I may offer some useful advice. Firstly, when you attend a viewing ensure that all of your future housemates are present. This will demonstrate to the landlord that you are serious about finding the right property and you will all be able to make better judgements as a group on whether or not the house is the right fit for you. Try going to the lettings agents directly when asking about viewings, they are far more likely to be responsive or even offer a potentially fruitful spontaneous viewing in person as opposed to over email. Go with a list of questions prepared to ask the current tenants, make sure that safety and the reliability of the landlord are at the top of your list of priorities. It may also be a good idea to ask such questions whilst not in the presence of the landlord, this will ensure that the people you are asking may answer honestly. Finally, make sure you all read the contract thoroughly no matter how boring and dense it is. You may also want to get it checked by the Living services as they offer a comprehensive break down of the document which not only makes the content more accessible but ensures that you won’t be exploited.

However, we don’t live in such a world, instead, we need to utilise the limited support that is available to us

Despite the existing support we do have, both from the university and wider student community, it is clear that fundamental change must occur in the way student house hunting occurs. Landlords should aim to be more understanding and honest when it comes to housing, they must see students as more than mere pound signs. While the pace of the market isn’t likely to change hopefully a change in attitudes may make the process more tolerable. In the meantime, as students, it is our role to share our experiences and advice to ensure that others are better informed and therefore less likely to be exploited.