Bed bugs, rats, pigeons, a squirrel and even a mole have been reported in student accommodation at some of the UK’s leading universities. Conditions in the student accommodation at some of the UK's academic sites are up for debate after new research revealed the extent of complaints about animal infestations.
A Freedom of Information Act request discovered there were 857 reports of rodents at just 14 top universities during the three academic years 2018-19 to 2020-21. Meanwhile, 272 warnings of bed bug invasions were lodged and almost 3,000 complaints made about ‘other pests’ - including wasps, ants and carpet beetles - during the same time frame.
Housing expert Terry Fisher from We Buy Any Home said: “Dealing with these kinds of problems can be very unpleasant. While communal living does bring with it some risk of bugs due to food being left out and areas such as the kitchen not being kept clean, any issues of this nature have to be addressed quickly before developing into something more serious.
“The best advice for students searching for university accommodation would be to check out as many reviews as possible. It’s also worth looking at social media posts to get an idea if there are any recent problems to be aware of.”
The complaints including a mole spotted in University of Oxford accommodation and 80 pigeon-related problems reported at Sheffield University.
Undergraduates were also going nuts after complaining about a squirrel invading their digs at Queen Mary University London.
We Buy Any Home’s Mr Fisher added: “Historically, student houses were always considered to be a bit ‘grubby’ and chaotic - think of Neil and Vivian in ‘The Young Ones’ TV show in the 1980s.
“But standards have improved dramatically over the past few decades. Many university-owned student rooms now feature en-suite bathrooms and super-fast wifi.
“So it is a little surprising to see these figures and read about the students in Manchester withholding their rent as a protest against their situation.”
A spokesperson for the University of Manchester said: “The University has a nominated contractor who carries out eight proactive visits per year.
“They also provide a reactive response to issues raised by students, and may provide recommendations where building fabric may need to be attended to plus advice on student behaviour that may contribute to pest issues.
“If there is evidence of pest activity the company will take action and continue monitoring until there is no evidence.”
