Magee People Before Before Profit Student Society chairperson Rachel Craig says students are demanding letting agents and landlords start taking their issues seriously.
Rachel Craig said "Inadequate housing is now a common concern for many Magee students living in Derry. We pay extortionate prices but the state of many houses is often totally unacceptable in terms of living conditions, health and safety. Too many students are stuck in cold and damp houses. Students are frustrated with dealing with broken and sometimes dangerous appliances.
"The fact that most of us have a 10 month lease gives the landlord and letting agents enough time to avoid sorting out on-going issues. They cover the damp with paint to give the impression that they've fixed the problem! It's often impossible to get agents and landlords to take problems seriously. They tell us a problem will be dealt with but then we don't hear from them for weeks! It's absolutely ridiculous.
"There's a notion students don't care or that we can't do anything. We're not accepting that. Students have a voice and we're going to make it heard when it comes to our issues too. We're active in all sorts of other campaigns like marriage equality, a woman's right to choose, opposing austerity and the Irish language. Most of us are working while we're studying. Magee People Before Profit Society has been surveying Magee students on housing conditions and other issues like rising parking costs.
"We want to see Magee University expand. It's a great injustice that we've been talking about this for 50 years. It's a great campus and Derry is a great city. If we want more students to come here to study, to work and to stay here we need to make sure there's decent student housing.
"We're encouraging students to join the movement and we're hoping the people of Derry will support us."
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