Mould, damp and rats among ‘normalised’ issues

Mould, damp and pests in student housing have become “sadly normalised”, according to the body that represents students in Northern Ireland.

It comes as two students told BBC News NI about issues in their previous homes, including the discovery of dead rats, maggots and residents feeling the effects of breathing in mould.

Ben Friel, president of the NUS-USI, said that despite housing being the single biggest expense for students, the houses available are often “not safe” and “may impact students’ health long term”.

He added many students do not know how to find help and that “there is a real lack of education around housing rights”.

BBC News NI has approached the Landlords Association of Northern Ireland (LANI) for comment.

Dara Cunningham, 19, who is due to start his second year of studying financial risk management at Queen’s University Belfast, told BBC News NI that mould at his previous student rental was so serious it affected his housemate, who suffers from asthma.

He said it spread across the house “on the ceiling, beside the bathroom, in the bathroom and in some of the bedrooms”.

“It’s quite difficult to breathe and then it’s kind of just that constant icky feeling. You don’t really feel comfortable,” he added.

Dara also said that when he moved into the property his housemate cleared the yard, only to find dead rats and maggots.

It got worse when rats found their way into the floorboards between the ground and first floor.

When they died, maggots developed leading to them “falling from the light fittings into the kitchen”, an incident Dara described as “absolutely disgusting”.

The issue was “thankfully” resolved by the landlord, he added.

Mould was the main issue for Shannon, 22, a graduate from Queen’s – she told BBC News NI that the extent of the problem at her rental home caused her embarrassment and paranoia.

“I was scared of it spreading under my bed and onto my bed,” she said, adding that she could really “feel it” in her chest.

The Public Health Agency said that mould in housing “can pose serious health risks” particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma.

Mould is a microscopic fungus that grows in damp places and people living with it are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections and allergies.

It can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.

A survey of 633 students in Northern Ireland completed by the NUS-USI in November 2024 found that 92% of students had experienced issues with their student rentals, with 59% reporting pest infestations and 19% reporting having mould.

Landlords of social housing in England will be forced to investigate and fix damp and mould within strict timescales from October, with the government hoping to extend those rules to private landlords as well.

However those rules do not extend to Northern Ireland, where housing policy is devolved.

Ben Friel, president of the NUS-USI for Northern Ireland, said that there is “a lot to be done” to resolve the issues being faced by students.

Initially calling for the “stronger enforcement” of HMO legislation, he added “longer term though we need to consider how we think about student housing”.

He suggested alternative models such as student housing cooperatives and more affordable purpose-built student accommodation, so that students aren’t “forced to live” in such “poor conditions”.

Tony Carmichael, Ulster University’s Student Union advice manager, said students often don’t know where to find help for housing issues.

He said he had found local councils were often “the one effective bargaining chip students seem to have” and that, once contacted, most issues are “resolved within a matter of weeks”.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) advises students experiencing rental issues to raise the issue with landlords in the first instance.

Environmental health departments at councils can also assess properties in their area and offer assistance.

Belfast City Council said it would can carry out a property inspection for issues like pest control or mould, and provide guidance depending on the inspection results.

“We would always advise tenants to report any issues with the property to their landlord or agent directly, in the first instance.

“A mediation service is available to those living or providing accommodation in a private rental, managed by Housing Rights.”