‘Appalling’ housing leaves students depressed

One in five students share their homes with rats, mice or insects while almost half report mould or damp in their properties, the National Union of Students has found.

In its annual survey on rented student accommodation, the NUS revealed that 20 per cent of students renting in the private sector are suffering infestations of vermin or insects such as rats and slugs. A further 42 per cent lived with damp or mould and 16 per cent reported electrical hazards. Some 9 per cent disclosed gas safety problems.

In the survey of more than 2,000 UK students, 36 per cent said the poor condition of their rented homes made them feel anxious or depressed, and 17 per cent said it had made an existing health condition worse. More than one in ten (12 per cent) said the quality of their accommodation had resulted in a new health problem.