I went to the Student Housing department today as student accommodation is a big issue in Portsmouth South both for students and for residents.

While I have been canvassing I have met many first year students in rented houses as there is not enough accommodation for them in halls of residences. The university has plans to build a new hall of residence at the Victoria Swimming Baths site but only for 300 students, there is a shortfall of 1,500 rooms for first year students at the present. The Student Housing department has very good measures in place to help first year students find houses before the new academic year starts when they organise 3 weekends for students with socials planned and a minibus to take them round all the available houses. They are concerned that students are not reading the contracts with landlords carefully enough before signing so if you are a student reading this, also read your tenant contract before signing or ask for help at the Student Housing Department. All this info is online at http://www.port.ac.uk/studentlife/accommodation/

For existing students Student Housing has a list of registered landlords which they publish on 18th March and they recommend that existing students do not rush out before that and commit themselves to houses before this date.

Portsmouth City council have recently set up a registration scheme for landlords and will have a list of all the landlords who fit strict criteria so it is a good place to start if you want to look into private renting check out the website at http://www.las.portsmouth.gov.uk/ or contact the council if you have a problem with your landlord.

One of the main reasons that I went to see the Student Housing Department is that we get a lot of complaints from residents in streets which are increasingly being taken over by student houses. The biggest issue is noise and parking. It is not that students have wild parties every night or play loud music, most students seem to be plugged into Ipods, but the biggest problem is that they tend to walk down the streets talking loudly and waking up residents who have to work the next day. I came across one resident who now wears earplugs every night which is really sad. Unfortunately, bars and clubs now have cheap student nights throughout the week rather than just one night and alcohol is too cheap and soft drinks too expensive. It is tough for young people to realise the effect that this is having on their neighbours and residents but it is something that we are going to have to work on if this is not going to be a huge growing problem. I know the university is trying hard but the clubs and students must act responsibly too. Students who are continually creating issues in their street with noise or anti social behaviour can be excluded from the university so residents need to complain to the student neighbour liaison officer at the Student Housing department so they can deal with the problem – 023 9282 3214.

Students also have cars, Portsmouth is flat and compact so there should be no reason to have a car, it is easy to cycle or walk and the bus service is good. A student house with 2-3 cars makes a huge difference on our crowded streets, but as students are renting private accommodation and are adults, this is a difficult situation and not easily solved unless we have residents parking everywhere and limit the permits which would be irritating for everyone. Some other university cities ban students from bringing in cars so perhaps this is something that the university could consider. The university also ought to consider putting underground car parking in the Victoria Swimming Bath site which could be used by both students and staff to help alleviate the congested parking on local streets.