Wednesday 16-05-2018 - 16:18

I’m pleased to announce that the University has recently agreed to start work on a pilot Rental Guarantor Scheme for those renting in the 2019/20 academic year. I have been working to introduce the scheme after it was suggested by a student last year, and I am positive that it will prove invaluable to many students.

Most private landlords require students to have a third person act as a guarantor, who must pay the rent if the student fails to do so. For some students, this is no problem – it simply takes a signature from a willing parent or guardian – but for others, it’s a real barrier to joining those living out of college.

The new scheme will allow the University to act as a guarantor for students most impacted by rental guarantor issues, at the cost of £50 per application. This will significantly help students who struggle to find the required UK-based guarantor, and have to resort to other options. Research by NUS showed that over 90% of international students who cannot find a rent guarantor are asked for rent upfront instead – some are asked for as much as 12 months’ rent in one go.

Students might also struggle to find a guarantor for a number of other reasons. Care leavers and estranged students may not have relationships with family members who could act as a guarantor, while students from low income backgrounds may find a landlord will not accept their guarantor.

Durham SU began tackling this issue when student Weiling Tay suggested a Rental Guarantor Scheme through the Raise Your Voice section on our website. 80 more students liked the idea and the suggestion was put forward and passed by Assembly. This mandated an Officer to encourage the University to consider the scheme.

Since last summer, that Officer has been me. It has been incredibly rewarding to enact the suggestions of students, ensuring that the University is directly influenced by student voice, and that it makes change that is tangible for students.

Weiling Tay said, “If the university is to expand, then it needs to do more for a diverse group of students, and I'm glad that they're seeking to do just that. Accommodation is already expensive in Durham, and support for international students, students with low-income backgrounds, and care-leavers can be lacking. It's a positive sign that the University is trialling solutions.”

The scheme is particularly valuable for its positive impact on diversity and inclusivity in Durham. It will give more international students the opportunity to share a house with friends – a unique experience that many would say is an essential part of University life. It also means that future university students, who would struggle to find a guarantor, might be attracted to Durham by the scheme. As these students often come from less well-represented backgrounds, this is a win for improving Durham’s diversity.

The scheme will also make students safer from rogue landlords. Students without guarantors, who currently have to pay a large amount of money upfront, are vulnerable. Landlords might become complacent about the upkeep of their property, or not give back the rent if a student wishes to leave. The scheme will allow these students to rent a property with the same confidence of other students.