Newcastle Labour

We are very alarmed by the tone of recent public debate around students and Newcastle and believe the time for claiming 'action has be taken to stop a student scourge' should stop. The Liberals have not developed an effective response to the challenges associated with students in our communities, and their whole approach of shifting problems from one ward or wards to others by endorsing the building of new, huge purpose built units in the middle of existing communities, is frankly incomprehensible.

The current Shared Housing Working Group is not adequately addressing the challenges faced by students and other people living in shared housing. We also believe that the council is not using sufficiently the existing government powers to control the Private Rented Sector, and discussions about the private rented sector have become dominated by students when there are a number of other really important issues in the sector. The private rented housing provision in Newcastle is under regulated by the council, and this must be tackled. The Liberals should stop talking only about students in private rented housing and re-focus work on the challenge of private rented housing across the city. We also need to find ways to bring empty properties back into use for affordable rent, particularly when the demand for housing in the city is so chronic. Therefore, we call for the Shared Housing Working Group to be replaced with a Private Rented Housing Taskforce, to tackle the problems in the shared and private rented sector, from issues like letting boards (in its current remit) but also encompassing broader issues around tenant welfare. It should also pick up the issues around HMOs and private rented accommodation more broadly in the city, many of which have nothing to do with students. Or other areas in the City with large numbers of students, and where the students are critical to the local community. This group should have a remit to consult with tenants and residents groups across the city representing tenants in the private rented sector and Student Unions when looking at the specific sub-set of issues affecting private rented housing and students.

In addition, we demand the council takes all issues around students and the community more seriously and sets up a Student Forum to deal with them, with equal representation from Councillors, Student Union’s and with an Independent Chair. With issues like access to higher education from low income groups into the city's universities, the economic impact of the students here, community safety issues and building good neighbourliness, it is essential these issues are taken more seriously by the council. The council needs to call time on simply moving students or problems around – and start trying to actually improve outcomes for communities on the ground. It also needs to realise that it’s not only students who live in private rented housing, and start using many more of the powers that have been made available by central government.

Please sign our petitions below to call for a Student Forum and for greater regulation of private rented housing in Newcastle.