Urgent: NUS response to housing and planning announcement

Added on 28/01/2010

Yesterday the Government issued a response to its consultation on houses in multiple occupations (HMO’s) and possible planning responses, to which NUS and students ’ unions have given evidence and written submissions. The Housing Minister, John Healey, has announced new local planning powers to manage the spread of shared rented homes and to tackle pockets of unsafe and substandard accommodation run by bad landlords.

The Government proposes that new housing use for three or more unrelated people will in the future require landlords to obtain planning permission to ensure that the creation of balanced and sustainable communities with an appropriate housing mix. NUS has been assured that these proposals will not be used retrospectively, existing stock of HMOs will
not be affected by the proposed changes in legislation.

HMO Quotas are something that NUS has fought long and hard against, maintaining that they will not solve the problems facing our communities like noise, litter, antisocial behaviour, car parking etc. We fail to see how these changes will address the concerns of community members, or how local authorities will roll these changes out.

The Government does not require additional primary legislation to award these powers, limiting our opportunities to reverse this nationally. It is therefore imperative that local students unions escalate their engagement with local authorities, and NUS will be issuing further guidance and support on what can be done locally to minimise the negative impacts.

NUS have already written and spoken with the Department for communities and local government to ensure that new legislation does not raise rents, displace tenants and put huge burdens on local authorities. The Government’s response recognised the past failings of community planning, which led to expansions in student numbers and housing over a number of years without sufficient heed being paid to the problems this could create for students and their communities. Students have in the past too often been the victims of poor planning, the consequences of which have been to cause tensions in certain neighbourhoods, a lack of access to local services, and students paying over the odds for poor housing.

We also welcome the acknowledgement that unplanned expansion was in no way the responsibility of students and will be writing to the department to ensure that local authorities, universities and landlords all take responsibility at a local level for joined-up planning and licensing.

NUS and students’ unions will work to ensure that student housing is available, affordable and of sufficient quality. We will also demand a duty on local authorities to consult directly with students' unions, recognising their role as integral members of the community. 

It is clear that the problems of addressing future housing needs is best addressed with due attention to local circumstances. NUS will be providing support to assist students’ unions in resolving local tensions and identifying local solutions. NUS has long believed local problems require local solutions, and we will continue to assist students unions in their proactive community engagement.

NUS welcomes the Government’s announcement to empower local communities to improve the quality of rented homes and to take forward a new National Landlords Register, something which we supported in our response to the Rugg review. We have made the case and will continue to argue that consent from Government to pass powers to local authorities should contain a strict duty to directly consult students’ unions in any new licensing schemes in order that concerns over the availability, affordability and quality of housing for students can be voiced. As integral members of their communities, it is vital that students and students’ unions continue to be a part of finding local solutions to local problems and are empowered to build upon the strong links that have been forged and developed at a local level.   

NUS will shortly be sending out more detail on the announcement and briefings on the next steps to help support activity at a local level. If you have any questions or press enquires please contact NUS directly and we will be happy to support you.

Essential Gas Safety Advice

Added on 28/01/2010

 Living away from home for the first time, students are often unaware that their landlord has a legal responsibility to keep them gas safe. Gas Safe Register has some essential gas safety advice for students and their parents.

Poorly serviced, badly fitted or faulty gas appliances could put you at risk from gas leaks, fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. As a student, gas safety may not be your top priority when you move into your accommodation, but knowing the risks could save your life. To find out more, click here. 

National Student Interfaith Forum

Added on 20/01/2010

National Student Interfaith Forum

Sunday 14 February 2010, 10.30am – 4.30pm

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace & Reconciliation, London

The National Union of Students (NUS) invites students and students' union officers to attend the first National Student Interfaith Forum.

NUS’s Student Interfaith Project aims to improve the experiences of students of faith at further and higher education by increasing students’ unions awareness of the needs of students of faith through support, information and training; and developing strong inter-faith collaboration between students to enhance campus cohesion by creating space for inter-faith dialogue and activities.

Many students and students’ union officers are active in building understanding about different religious communities, and improving relations between different faith groups on campus. The National Student Interfaith Forum provides the opportunity for students and students' unions to network and support the growth and development of student interfaith activities nationally. 

The forum will bring together 30 students and students' union officers to share and develop ideas, gain new skills and knowledge, as well as support the development of training and resources for students' unions. The forum will meet six times over the course of the project (October 2009 – September 2011).

The first National Student Interfaith Forum is taking place on Sunday 14 February, at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in London. The event is free to attend and travel can be organsied and paid for by NUS.

If you organise interfaith activities at your university or students’ union we would like you to apply to participate in the National Student Interfaith Forum. The forum is open to students and Students' Union Officers. To apply please complete and return the application form by email to Kat Luckock, Student Interfaith Coordinator.

For further information about NUS’ Student Interfaith Project or the National Student Interfaith Forum please phone the Student Interfaith Coordinator, Kat Luckock on 020 7380 6662 or email Kat.Luckock@nus.org.uk

National Student Interfaith Forum

Added on 20/01/2010

National Student Interfaith Forum

Sunday 14 February 2010, 10.30am – 4.30pm

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace & Reconciliation, London

The National Union of Students (NUS) invites students and students' union officers to attend the first National Student Interfaith Forum.

NUS’s Student Interfaith Project aims to improve the experiences of students of faith at further and higher education by increasing students’ unions awareness of the needs of students of faith through support, information and training; and developing strong inter-faith collaboration between students to enhance campus cohesion by creating space for inter-faith dialogue and activities.

Many students and students’ union officers are active in building understanding about different religious communities, and improving relations between different faith groups on campus. The National Student Interfaith Forum provides the opportunity for students and students' unions to network and support the growth and development of student interfaith activities nationally. 

The forum will bring together 30 students and students' union officers to share and develop ideas, gain new skills and knowledge, as well as support the development of training and resources for students' unions. The forum will meet six times over the course of the project (October 2009 – September 2011).

The first National Student Interfaith Forum is taking place on Sunday 14 February, at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in London. The event is free to attend and travel can be organsied and paid for by NUS.

If you organise interfaith activities at your university or students’ union we would like you to apply to participate in the National Student Interfaith Forum. The forum is open to students and Students' Union Officers. To apply please complete and return the application form by email to Kat Luckock, Student Interfaith Coordinator.

For further information about NUS’ Student Interfaith Project or the National Student Interfaith Forum please phone the Student Interfaith Coordinator, Kat Luckock on 020 7380 6662 or email Kat.Luckock@nus.org.uk

Unipol/NUS updated Tenancy Deposit Protection Enforcement Pack available now

Added on 12/01/2010

An updated version of the Unipol/NUS TDP Enforcement Pack is available now

You can download the Unipol/NUS TDP Enforcement Pack here.

This pack gives tenants information about:

•     whether your deposits should be protected

•     how you can get their deposits protected

•     standard letters you can send to your landlords

•     court procedures you can use to get your deposit protected

This Enforcement Pack can be used by individual tenants and also student advice services. If you have any further queries or questions we would advise you visit your students’ union advice service.

For more information about tenancy deposit protection and deposit recovery, click here.