Accommodation unsatisfactory

Press, 29 August 1984, Page 8

Accommodation unsatisfactory

Significant numbers of Lincoln College students are in housing they find unsatisfactory, according to the president of the college Students’ Association, Mr Forbes Elworthy, in a report presented at yesterday’s meeting of the College Council.

A survey of 445 students conducted by the Students’ Association this year showed, that the ideal accommodation for students was flats in the Lincoln area, and halls and flats on campus, he said. But because there was a growing shortage of rental accommodation in Christchurch, and a dearth of cottages in the surrounding Ellesmere County, a significant number of students found house-hunting difficult and time-consuming. In his report, Mr Elworthy said that there was “a short-term crisis” in rental housing, and that the Students’ Association had set accommodation at the

highest priority. More than 17 per cent of students reported having had some degree of difficulty in getting accommo--dation. Almost 1 per cent had had to live in temporary accommodation for the first four months of the university term. At present 530 students lived in college halls, 95 in college flats, and 1100 students off campus. Mr Elworthy said that most second-year, thirdyear, and fourth-year students lived off campus, but they felt that unless they lived close to the college they missed experiencing its sporting and cultural life.

The Students’ Association would like the college to build more flats for students on campus or in the nearby Lincoln and Springston townships, he said. It suggested that the college build five four-bedroom flats each year for the next five years.

Short-term relief could also be given by the college’s employing an accommodation officer to match students to accommodation, and also undertake sub-lett-ing.