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Proud parents Francoise and Veronique Janssen, have enrolled their daughter Ilka into a prominent University in the UK. Despite the distance away, Ilka made it clear that it was her wish to study at an English University in order to realise her dream of becoming an accomplished author.

International students like Ilka (and by default, their parents) already have their work cut out for them. These challenges include seeing to the substantial administration requirements for a young person to study in a different country.  

Furthermore, the arrangements required for accommodation in the private sector become an added concern considering this must be done remotely by Francoise and Veronique who will be paying for it.

Outgunned by Bad Letting Agents

The Janssens are vulnerable to being exploited and falling victim to unscrupulous landlords and unsuitable living arrangements due to their inability to ensure quality and suitability from a distance away.  They want Ilka to feel safe and comfortable and also be assured that what they are paying is a reasonable amount.

In the event that Ilka was to be unhappy and feel unsafe or in any way compromised in her place of residence, Francoise and Veronique would not be able to do much to assist her from such a distance away and would expect the University to act on their behalf.  

Parental Concern

The University has a duty to help students like Ilka to ensure they are not being taken advantage of or are placed in vulnerable situations?. This can be achieved through accreditation services, recommended accommodation providers, contract checks at Universities or information provided by the University through talks, literature and resources.

Ilka, like most other students, requires accommodation but with concern about undersupply, she may be pressured to considering sub-standard or less secure options.

The scarcity also makes the Janssens prone to signing a tenancy agreement and putting down a deposit on a property without the necessary assurances due to the fear of all the good properties being taken.

Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Ilka is fortunate that she has such supportive parents.

Some international students from disadvantaged backgrounds would be even more vulnerable than Ilka.

Bursaries and scholarships greatly benefit these students but psychological support structures and the assurance of healthy learning environments would also be required.

Freezing Hire - Overworked, Underpaid Staff

University staff are encouraged to minimise spending and maximise profit wherever possible within reason. Funding cuts and other constraints are a reality for any higher education facility, resulting in staff being asked to do more with less and provide more services and support for fewer benefits in return.

Alternatively, ensuring reliable accommodation for international students like Ilka and the substantial income they bring would do much to lighten the load of University staff and ensure more stabilising income for the establishment too.

Political Uncertainty

Initially, Francoise and Veronique were not completely convinced that the English University Ilka had chosen was right for her. In the wake of the UK’s increasingly complex relationship with the rest of Europe, Ilka’s parents were worried that these complexities could potentially compromise their ability to support her financially in the future.  

Since the European Union referendum (Brexit) result in June 2016, there has been a slight drop in the number of first-year students from other European Union countries. However, the number of first-year students for 2017/18 are still higher than they were in 2013/14.

What is concerning is that the University funding sector still reported a collective deficit of £1bn in 2017.

Now more than ever, the University needs to reassure families like the Janssens that they are doing the right thing by allowing Ilka to study there.

Business vs Education Provider

Universities offering student accommodation or managing the relationship with Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) need to balance the business of being a landlord and their relationships with large scale property investors with the obligation to provide a solid education.

Universities have become trapped on one side by government controls and deregulation and on the other by rising costs and rapid expansion in institutions needing to make up for this financially.

Most University administrators don’t feel comfortable evicting a student for non-payment or other transgressions because they know this will disrupt or even terminate the student’s education.

The first purpose of the University is to offer education, so the job of the administrator would be made much simpler if the financial risk of default or damage to rented accommodation were to be offset to a rent guarantor.  One less thing to worry about.

The University and families like the Janssens alike would benefit from such systems being in place.

Housing Hand has processed more than 60,000 applications in the six years it has been in operation and works directly with the majority of higher education institutions and over 3,000 accommodation providers across the UK and Republic of Ireland to offset these challenges and reassure students like Ilka that they have made the right choice.

Find out more here.