The national student housing market is broken. Landlords view students as fair game for exploitation as many have little to no experience of renting, creating a toxic power imbalance which leaves students with little control over their living situation. Most, if not all, landlords demand guarantors and extortionate deposits which further make renting inaccessible. On top of this, most students have to pay extortionate rents, leaving many facing financial hardship. Many student homes are also riddled with damp, mould and vermin. Student housing is often transient and impersonal, so it is difficult to build a sense of home.

Last year at NUS (National Union of Students') Conference, reps voted through a policy to fight for better housing and the establishment of a national tenants’ union to allow us to take the fight to landlords. However, there is only so far that the current housing market can be transformed to make it work for students. Landlordism is inherently exploitative as it is monetising shelter, something which should be a basic right, and takes away from tenants basic autonomy over how they live. We need to support an alternative way of living which is democratic and puts power back into the hands of the renter. Student renting can be reimagined as a network of housing co-operatives.

Housing co-operatives are not-for-profit, democratic organisations which own housing, run for and by their members. Membership of the co-operative is restricted to tenants, so tenants own, run and manage their own accommodation. There is complete freedom to set the rent, decorate and upkeep the building, and create a home together without landlords. The NUS is also running campaigns for it it's high time we show them our support as well as it is very important for students.