Friday 23-10-2020 - 11:55

If you’re a returning student at Durham University, you’ll likely already be aware of the common myth that in order to get a ‘good’ house for your next academic year, you have to sign early. If you’re a first year, perhaps this is something you’ve already been told or have read since starting your studies here just last month.  

The myth of the housing shortage

Housing has been identified as a major stressor for student mental health here at Durham, something which became even more evident during my time as a college welfare officer. As your Welfare and Liberation Officer, I strongly feel that we all have an important responsibility to challenge this myth and consider the potentially harmful impacts of feeding into this, particularly in 2020. Regardless of what you may hear, read or are told, I want to make it very clear that there is no shortage of student housing in Durham. 

Introducing the 'Take Time to Sign' campaign

Over the next week or so, your college welfare teams, livers out reps and other interested student groups will be running a campaign called ‘Take Time to Sign’. This is a campaign I initially developed last year in my role as Senior Welfare Officer at Cuth’s, and one which I feel incredibly passionate about. The message is simple – whether you are a returning student or a first year – you should always ensure that before signing a tenancy agreement, you have taken the time to fully and thoroughly explore your options, check your contract, know your rights and a tenant, and get to know your future housemates. Doing this can prevent unexpected issues further down the line, which could be costly and/or distressing.  

As part of the campaign, we’ll be sharing information on the housing market in Durham, what you should be looking for in your contract before you sign it, the things you might want to consider when finding your future housemates, the impact of Covid-19 guidance on housing viewings and the support available to you if you need it. We want to make sure that as student tenants, you are empowered to make informed decisions about housing through awareness of your rights and knowledge of the local market. We recognise that some of you will feel comfortable and ready to sign early, and that’s okay. However, we ask that if you do make this choice, please don’t put pressure on others to do the same.  

Check out your college welfare teams

As we now move into a period where housing will likely be a common topic of discussion, I’d urge you all to check out the work your welfare teams and others are doing in this area: attend their housing talks, read their resources, engage with their campaigning and ask questions or seek out your own answers. Above all, if you are unsure or hesitant about anything during the house signing process, we want you to feel empowered to take a step back and breath, assess your options, and take time to sign.  

For any further support or guidance on housing, the SU Advice Service is here for you. Visit www.durhamsu.com/advice-and-support.