SU renews support for Break the Mould at Student Council

By Lenny Osler, News Reporter

On April 16, the Student Council convened and passed a single motion: for the SU to continue supporting Epigram’s Break the Mould campaign calling for Rent Review and a landlord accreditation system.

Rent Review is Epigram’s proposed ‘TripAdvisor’ for student housing, allowing students to rate the quality of their housing and incentivise landlords to improve the quality of their services.

Epigram also encourages the SU to create a landlord accreditation system alongside Rent Review which landlords could opt in to.

‘If a landlord is willing to participate, it shows they take their tenants seriously’, James told Student Council, adding ‘students will begin choosing those [landlords] with accreditation.’

Dear landlord, we are done asking nicely

Romina Treviño observes how hard it can be as a student to get through to your landlord, and posits community-based union: Acorn, as a place where students struggling with housing can get their voices heard.

EpigramRomina Treviño

Break the Mould’s petition ‘has over 700 signatures on Change.org.’ James called on Student Council to ‘vote for this motion if you care about student housing in Bristol.’

The motion called on the SU to ‘explore partnering with an existing accreditation scheme/online rent review system’ and create ‘a signposting mechanism for students to report their renting experiences to Bristol City Council’.

Epigram also proposed for the SU to work with them to ‘raise awareness on rent reform’ legislation such as the Renters Rights Act, parts of which will come into force this May.

The SU was also asked to use the resources they have at hand to help students ‘make informed renting decisions’, prevent tenants signing contracts too early and make it easier for them to move out if they wish to.

James said that working towards Epigram’s proposals would ‘ensure that students who face housing issues have a seat at the table.’

Outgoing Student Living Officer Lucy Pears discussed housing issues with students after the motion had been passed. 

Her pledges included lobbying the University to improve clarity of information about first-year accommodation landlords and also improve their complaints procedures.

Lucy also promised to address Bristol’s student housing market to reduce instances of students signing too early, which can, according to students, lead to ‘interpersonal issues.’

Break the Mould wins Best Project or Initiative at the SPA awards

By Miles Gilroy, SciTech Deputy Editor After five months of incredibly hard work, over 600 signatures, coverage from the BBC and The Big Issue, official acknowledgement from the SU, and endorsement from Lucy Pears (among many, many other feats), Break the Mould has won Best Project or Initiative at the

EpigramMiles Gilroy

Housing Officer Lucy Pears endorses Break the Mould

The Break the Mould campaign has received the backing of Lucy Pears, Bristol SU student living officer, putting us one step forward to making our ‘Rent Review’ system happen.

EpigramSofia Lambis

Featured image: Epigram / Emma Jonner