Students have protested “abhorrent” conditions they faced to register for accommodation after hundreds queued overnight outside rental agencies.
Durham University students camped out for several hours to secure a home for next year amid claims of rising rents and a shortage of available property.
Demands included an end to “oversubscription” and more college housing.
The university said it had “assured” the students that it would support them “in finding a suitable home.”
A demonstration took place in front of the Bill Bryson Library on Friday afternoon.
Organizers claimed the university failed to address the student cost-of-living crisis, which they called a “ridiculous charade”.
It said the terms of the signing of student accommodation had been “abhorrent”, coupled with a 150% increase in rent and students being “forced” to camp outside estate agents.
Among the placards seen at the protest was one that read ‘Housing isn’t my degree’ and another read ‘Face the truth, we need a roof’.
Second year Rachel Lawrence was among those attending the march, organized by the University of Durham Labor Club, Durham Against Rough Sleeping and Durham Tenants’ Union.
“I currently live in a house that we pay £145 a week for – originally they tried to raise it to £209, which is ridiculous,” she said.
“My room is moldy, has damp, so today we’re here to protest and try to show the university and show the real estate agents that we don’t have it.”
One of those who queued overnight was 20-year-old Maddie Turner, a second-year psychology student from Winchester, Hampshire.
A few days ago she queued at 02:00 BST to secure a home for her third year.
“I heard prices went up this year, which you had to do,” she said.
“I think the university is taking on too many students, but I think the bigger problem is with the landlords.
“They know the students in certain areas need this housing, and they have this captive audience.”
Jake Roberts, 20, a second year English Literature student from Halifax, West Yorkshire, is on a scholarship.
He told BBC Newsbeat’s cost-of-living reporter Sam Gruet that he and his roommates were moving out of their property because the rent was rising.
“It’s already the top of what we can afford – we’re still concerned about how we’re going to pay for it next year,” he said.
“I have a side job, I don’t know if that’s enough, and if you’re putting almost your entire weekly budget into your rent or your bills, you’re not going to be able to get the same experience as someone who has that kind of money.”
Durham University said it offers financial aid to help students but cannot exercise “control” over the private rental market.
It has also been accused of having to take in more pupils after class limits were changed during Covid.
“We have seen deplorable behavior by hiring agents and landlords in Durham, raising prices above inflation and releasing properties much earlier than usual,” a spokesman said.
“Like many other UK universities, we have been forced to accept a larger than usual student cohort in 2021 due to the late change in A Level mark limits. We have reduced our intake this academic year.”
Harringtons, a city-centre letting agent, told the BBC that he and all other agents in Durham were “perplexed” as to why this year’s students slept on the street overnight.
“No agent would ask or expect anyone to do this, we have families of our own so whether students choose to do so is completely out of our control,” a spokesman said.
It added that staff were “dismayed by the scenes they witnessed” arriving for work at 06:30 BST and thought they were “getting a head start” on the day.
It said all inquiries it had received at its office in recent weeks had been informed that homes and application forms were online and advised people not to come to its office.
A spokesman added it would prefer all agents to release their homes in January, but “due to the large volume” of student inquiries beginning in early October, agents have been “pushed” to release properties much sooner.
“Yes, rents have gone up this year, as with everything in the current climate,” it added.
“Most of our properties come with bills included so we’re sure you need to understand that rents will need to increase to cover the rise in gas/electricity prices that is affecting everyone across the country, as well as a sharp rise in mortgage rates. ”
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