Over a half of university students are turning off their heating in a bid to save money – a new report by the National Union of Students has found.
The national ‘Homes Fit for Study 2018’ report looked at students in rented housing and found that 59% of students are limiting the amount of time they have the heating on to save money.
The study also revealed that 49% of students reported feeling uncomfortably cold in their home, and that 38% of students have damp or mould in their property.
The report comes in the wake of rising fuel bills – including a recent increase from British Gas which raised electricity prices by 12.5%, pushing the average annual dual fuel bill up by 7.3%.
It also follows comments made by Connor Delany, Vice President for Welfare and Community, who announced plans to crack down on bad landlords in his election manifesto last year.
Following the report’s publication, the University of Lincoln has defended its student accommodation.
A university spokesperson said: “All of our registered student accommodation fully complies with the new City of Lincoln Shared Housing Guidelines.
“Any student with concerns about their housing and utility bills should speak to the University’s Accommodation Service, Student Support Centre or the Students’ Union where practical help and support is always available.”
A full brief of NUS’ Homes Fit for Study report can be found online.
The Linc has contacted the Students’ Union for comment.