As the start of trimester looms ahead for many of us uni students we have to start thinking about the practical things we will need to be able to survive another year, staving off malnutrition, scurvy, hypothermia, lice, and poverty in general. One of the most effective barriers to many of these horrible afflictions is finding a good flat. But what do you do when you can’t put a roof over your head?
This post was bought about in part by Conrad’s post and also the fact that I am moving out of my place. I advertised my room on Trade Me. Within 3 days I had over 600 hits on the auction and about 50 – 60 email responses. Most of them from university students desperate for the smallest shoe box to live in.
The Saint George Hostel closed down at the end of last year, leaving at least 200 rooms vacant. In my process for looking for a new place to live, I went and looked at a flat in Kelburn, right next to the university, it was an ok flat, but they didn’t want a 4th year honours student, even though it was highly unlikely I would be the party animal I usually am.
Another problem that is rampant in Wellington is that people are willing to buy investment properties and rape money out of their tenants pockets, but do very little to improve the property because they know the price will keep going up even if the place burns/rots down. There is always some sucker desperate enough to pay the excessive amounts to live in a freezing cold mouldy shoebox.
Students shouldn’t have to partake in higher learning, and worry about your lack of living arrangements. Most other universities world wide have on campus accommodation which is subsidised by the university, or off campus (but still close to campus) accommodation that is run as a partnership between the uni and private companies.
Rents in Wellington have sky rocketed in the last 4 years. When I first moved to Wellington $120 would get you a decent enough room in Kelburn/City area. Now you’ll be lucky to find one for under $140, and most probably higher. The government, the University and the Wellington City council need to get together to solve this housing shortage in Wellington. There needs to be affordable comfortable accommodation for University students.
Also it is handy to know your rights as a tenant just to make sure you’re not getting dicked.
Hope you all find places to live.