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NUS National Lobby Day for No More Guarantors

Tuesday 29-10-2024 - 13:59

NUS National Lobby Day for No More Guarantors

By President: Activities - Prince Ikechi

On 23rd October, I joined student officers from across the UK at the NUS National Lobby Day for No More Guarantors in Westminster.

The campaign is bringing together students’ union representatives to meet with their MPs, in order to advocate for an end to guarantor requirements, which particularly adversely affect international students.

In this short blog, I'll talk more about the issue and campaign, and share about the experience of taking part in the National Lobby Day.

President: Activities Prince Ikechi and student officers from other students' unions at the NUS National Lobby Day, standing in front of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London

President: Activities Prince and student officers from other students' unions at the NUS National Lobby Day

NUS Research

The National Union of Students (NUS) has released data from over 1100 international students that shows that 29% have experienced homelessness whilst studying in the UK, and are over twice as likely as home students to experience homelessness.

The survey also found that:

  • 70% of international students have jobs alongside their studies.
  • Three fifths of international students would like the 20-hour working limit removed. Respondents claimed that it prohibits their ability to support themselves and that it limits the work available to them, making it harder for them to get work experience in their field.
  • Two thirds of international students have seen an increase in housing costs. Over a third have been unable to pay rent and a similar proportion have been unable to pay bills.
  • The Cost of Living Crisis is having a major impact on the income of 63% of international students, while 51% have seen a major impact on the income of someone who supports them financially.

The National Lobby Day for No More Guarantors saw officers from over 50 students’ unions arrange meetings with their MPs to ask them to back the call to make it illegal for landlords to be able to require tenants to have a UK-based guarantor who either owns property or earns over a certain amount of money.

As international students often do not know anyone who owns property in the UK, they can be asked to pay up to a year’s worth of rent up front. This can make it extremely hard for international students to access housing, and contributes to their high rates of homelessness.

The National Lobby Day

The highlight of the day for me was the opportunity to meet with Lewis Atkinson MP for Sunderland Central. We discussed the financial strain and housing barriers student renters face and the need to support our student movement through policy changes to end housing regulations that discriminate against students’ rights to affordable housing.

We further discussed regional student issues relevant to Sunderland, including access to affordable and better public transport options for students and an increase in student support funds to assist students with the cost of living.

As a result of the day, I now also have the exciting opportunity to meet and discuss the campaign with Bridget Phillipson MP, Education Secretary and MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, scheduled in around a month’s time.

Overall, the experience of visiting and touring parliament was inspiring as it has expanded my appreciation for UK democracy and the opportunity of networking with other student leaders from across UK students’ unions.

Categories:

Campaigns, Featured, Officers

Related Tags :

NUS, Campaign, Guarantors, Housing, Westminster, Parliament, President: Activities,

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