This campaign was passed via the SU Ideas Platform (‘Your Ideas’), you can view the full policy here.
Housing is a need for all of us. The standard requirements to have a guarantor, requires who; is based in the United Kingdom, has a separate bank account, is over the age of 21, and has a good credit history, and an annual income of at least three times the annual rent of the property.
Housing support for students has been a necessity for several years. The National Union of Students (NUS) calculated that the average cost of studying in London for a home student is £23,531; £6,143 was for rent, which would be £8,399 as of August 2023. The cost-of-living crisis has caused housing prices in London to increase rapidly, meaning that it is harder than ever to secure safe and affordable housing. Due to the eligibility criteria to be accepted as a guarantor, home and international students can find it difficult to find accommodation, those who cannot find a UK based guarantor are usually required to pay 6 to 12 months' rent in advance or find alternative accommodation.
Lobby UAL to implement a guarantor scheme for International & UK students who are unable to find a guarantor.