The academic year is well under way but a Leeds student Facebook group is showing signs of unhappy students already.
The page is saturated with pleading students desperately trying to find someone to replace their tenancy.
One student, Louis Jolly, has been forced to drop out of university due to financial struggles but is now trapped in Leeds through his tenancy agreement. He now works 40 hours a week to try and make the rent payment and doesn’t get to see his friends and family.
He said: “I’m lucky to see my girlfriend for two hours for a coffee.”
Louis also explained that when he first signed for the house he was told the rent would be £121 per week with bills included, however he soon found out this was not the case, in fact there was an extra £130 per week for bills to be paid.
Louis said he has had no help from his landlord in searching for a new tenant and after asking if he could make monthly rent payments rather than the typical quarterly lump sum for students, the landlord said no.
Louis Jolly says that he is really struggling to make his rent payments and it is now affecting his mental health.
Leeds student group is a page on Facebook where students communicate and more recently where they swap tenancies or try to find someone to replace them in their tenancy agreement.
Georgie Mason, Springwell Letting agents, said although not all landlords and letting agency are the same, Springwell do offer payment plans and offer to help find a replacement tenant. She said: “We want a tenant that actually wants to live in the property.”
She mentioned mental health in students being on the rise, and said, “The last thing we want to do is say you’re on you’re own, you’re going to have to find someone to replace you on your own.”
Gareth Cavill, Leeds Beckett well-being officer, says there is absolutely a link to external factors like finances on students mental health and academic performance. He said: “If you’re having to work over time to make bills and rent so you can’t see your friends or family that’s going to have an affect on your mental health.”
The government has been urged to reform the laws regarding tenants and landlords but any changes wont come soon enough for students like Louis.
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