By Amy O’Donoghue
Photo Credits: NUS
On 23 October, LSE students joined young people from across the UK to lobby against guarantor requirements for student renters. Members of the NUS travelled to Westminster to ask their MPs to support an amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill, submitted by Alex Sobel MP, which would legislate against these requirements. The day saw participants of more than 50 student unions reach out to their MPs, with representatives from numerous regions of the UK coming out to discuss the issue.
NUS research shows that one in four students have “reported difficulty” acquiring housing due to guarantors. Many landlords require an individual to be UK-based and make above a certain level of income to be a viable guarantor, which the NUS describes as “a huge barrier for international, working class and estranged students”.
NUS data indicates that 13% of students have experienced homelessness. For international students, this figure rises to 29%. In their view, the abolition of guarantors for students could help to decrease these figures.
LSE runs a scheme in which the university can act as a guarantor for students unable to find their own. However, landlords are not obligated to accept this option and some prefer private guarantors. Moreover, LSE only acts as a guarantor for students who are non-UK residents, meaning this scheme does not aid home students who may face similar difficulties.
International students may still encounter challenges. One student described the “difficult situation” she found herself in when searching for housing in London. She spoke of having “no idea” that LSE could have acted as her guarantor and consequently ended up paying a full year of rent upfront.
According to her account, many international students aren’t made aware of the fact that it’s not normal to pay up to a year’s rent to acquire housing, or that LSE could help them. She called for “a comprehensive framework” and more support for international students who may be as unaware as she was, pointing out that LSE has a high proportion of international students who need their safety to be ensured as they navigate the housing market.
The Renters’ Rights Bill is currently being scrutinised and is expected to return to the House by 28 November, when MPs can vote on the amendment put forward by Sobel. This will determine whether protections for students against guarantors will be enacted, or whether this issue will continue to prevail within the housing market and university communities.
An LSE Spokesperson commented:
“The Rent Guarantor Scheme, run by LSE’s Residential Services Office (RSO), is primarily targeted at international students as they tend to struggle most to provide a UK-based guarantor. It is also open to care-experienced students with ‘home’ status.”
“The scheme was expanded in December 2023, increasing the guarantee to cover rents of up to £250 per week/£1000 per month. It was also expanded to include PhD students, and the terms of the scheme were relaxed so that students no longer need to have lived in an LSE/University of London Hall of residence previously to be eligible- they just need to provide a letter of reference from a previous landlord. The scheme is promoted on our website, at Open Days, and in housing talks provided in the Winter Term each year.”
“The Residential Services team is happy to work with the LSESU on promoting the scheme more broadly and willing to listen to suggestions and proposals.”
LSESU’s General Secretary said:
“In partnership with SUs across the UK we are calling for the removal of rent guarantors due to the financial and social challenges that guarantor requirements create for many students, especially those from low-income backgrounds whose parents do not have a high enough salary or own property in the UK and thus cannot be a guarantor or, international students and estranged students who are also unable to have their parents be their guarantors. Some students have to turn to third-party guarantor companies, which can charge high fees. Therefore we want the government to end this so that students can access the accommodation they need to have a fulfilling university experience.”
“During the day we gathered with different SUs to meet with the MPs of different Universities in the UK. We all green carded MPs who could not meet with us due to busy schedules. The day was successful and a fantastic chance for SUs across the UK to come together to lobby for student issues.”
