The students union asked student tenants to provide feedback about
local private landlords and
letting agents
and subsequently revealed the names of the better performing landlords
and letting agents. However St Andrews Student Union has now written to
the poorest performing operators to inform them that in next years
survey those private landlords and letting agents that have received a
consistent negative amount of feedback from local students will be
publicly named and shamed. The students group hopes that this act will
serve to improve the property standards in the area.
Local
students that provided their views of letting agents and private
landlords complained of poor property maintenance standards and the
tenancy deposits being withheld without good reason.
The
students union has previously compiled a tenants charter where local
landlords and students agree to minimum behavior and property
management standards.The survey found that thirty five percent of
students who rented from property management agents felt their rented
accommodation was not properly maintained. For private landlords the
comparative figure was just sixteen percent.