Students in university face pressure, debt and mental health challenges both initially and throughout their studies. Student housing co-ops are a solution that can break the cycle of high-cost, poor-quality private rents that drive up debt and contribute to poor health.
Laura Wood speaks to two residents of a co-op housing scheme to find out what they are, why students should live there and how they can set you up for your future.
Patrick Wheelan and Fay Arnold are both living in student co-op houses.
24-year-old masters graduate Patrick Wheelan says that people should invest in student housing because “people treat the property more like home. In a student housing co-op, the residents have to look after the house they’re living in. They actually care about it. They make improvements to it – and make it a safe and comfortable place to live.”
Housing co-ops are non-profit homes that students manage and maintain themselves. There are no landlords and all the students work together for mutual benefit. These homes are more affordable than private rented homes, this is to help reduce the financial pressure on students and make universities more accessible to everyone.
Ph.D. applicant Patrick lives in a student co-op house in Birmingham. For him, there are plenty of compelling reasons to do so.
Patrick says:
“A lot of care is taken with people’s mental health here. We have a house meeting every two weeks and the first thing that happens is that we check-in and see how everyone is doing. We talk about how we’re feeling. It makes it easier in your head to deal with things.”
It’s a far cry from his previous student home. “Everyone would just snap at each other. We were tired and burned out from issue after issue with the landlords. We were miserable and at each other’s throats. The house was unsanitary; there was blood on the walls in one room. There was no smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. One person was being asked to pay more rent than they’d signed for in their contract. And we were constantly being lied to.”
The rent paid for these houses is only used to cover the upkeep of the house, i.e. bills, repairs, etc. and not for private gain. Any money not used in re-invested into the co-op in whatever way the students decide.
Living in a housing co-op teaches young people how to manage properties, take care of their finances and to work collaboratively.
Patrick’s been a member of Birmingham Student Co-op Homes since February, and he couldn’t be happier he’s no longer dealing with an unscrupulous private housing company. “I love the freedom. My room is my personal space and I can do with it as I please. It feels more liberating. It feels that it’s a home. And that doesn’t happen in private rented accommodation.”
For Patrick, there’s a financial benefit to co-op living too. “We do a communal shop and put in £12 a week for the entire house. And the rent’s cheaper too. It works out around £200 cheaper a month than living in a privately rented student house.”
Fay Arnold feels living in co-op housing had taught her many things.
“The amount of DIY, admin and finance knowledge I’ve learned, it’s amazing. I can do a simple DIY with no sweat now. It’s something I’m really happy about. And they’re skills I can use for my own quality of life further down the line, and to offer to other people.”
Fay is a 22-year-old Computer Systems Engineering Student at the University of Birmingham. Like the rest of the students in her housing co-op, she’s responsible for the upkeep and running of the house. And it’s a responsibility that’s inspired her to care about the environment she lives in.
For Fay, the sense of community she feels in the housing co-op positively impacts her life too. “From a mental health perspective – being connected to other people, socialising and communicating with them, they’ve become part of my support network. I’ve made a lot of really close friends through this house. I’d need a couple more hands to count them all on.”
“Living in a student co-op house is great for your self-motivation, and for reaching out and involving yourself with other people,” she continues. “For example, if we have work to do on the house, we can invite friends to come over and help. There are a couple of other housing co-ops in this street – with former students who used to live here, so it’s easy to get people involved.”
As well as her skills and social life – Fay’s health benefits from co-op living, as she explains: “I sometimes struggle with having an appetite because of my medication, so having regular house meals together means I’m eating properly. And I feel like I cook better when I cook for other people, so I eat and cook more healthily.”
Vivian Woodell, Director of student co-op homes says:
The more we raise the more properties we can buy and the more students benefit from living in student housing. Co-ops give students valuable life skills, better physical and mental health, less debt and a better start to their working lives.”
Fay says that she is urging her friends to take part in this scheme too:
“Now I’m trying to influence other students into co-operative living. There are so many bonuses. The sense of community is really helpful. I’ve met so many people, it’s been a boom.”
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