A desperate mum who has been house-hunting for son in Bristol fears he may have nowhere to live when he returns to study in September.
Patrícia Silva has called over 200 agents, and most of the time never hears anything back. She lives in Portugal but is planning to travel to Bristol to look for housing for her son as she's getting nowhere online.
Rodrigo is studying abroad this academic year but needs to find accommodation in Bristol for this September. During his second year of studying at The University of the West of England he was forced to spend his first two months living in a hotel, paying around £500 a week.
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Finding a home in Bristol is proving harder and harder, but it's even worse for foreign students who need an English guarantor. Patrícia has paid for this service, however most agents do not accept this form.
She said: "It's been a nightmare. We have called so many people and no one gets back to us. I will have to go over there, it's very hard to even arrange an appointment. In Portugal, we have a service in which you can pay for them to find your accommodation. There needs to be something similar in Bristol.
"It's a big worry for me and my son. We don't know where he will live. We are happy to pay up-front, no one seems to want international students."
She has reached out to the university but says they have not been able to offer any support.
A UWE spokesman said: "We are sorry to learn this student has not managed to secure accommodation in Bristol for September 2023. Bristol has become an increasingly popular city to live in and has a very competitive marketplace for accommodation in the private rental sector.
“We recommend that students begin their search for private rental housing in November or December, ahead of starting their course in September. UWE Bristol’s Accommodation Services team supports students in their first year to find university-owned accommodation.
"Students in later years of study at the university are supported by the Students’ Union Advice Centre, which offers independent advice on private renting issues: https://www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/advice-centre/contactus/.”
Sadly, their situation is echoed across the city, with hundreds of renters struggling to find somewhere to live. One woman told Bristol Live she couldn't rent a small one-bed flat because she was not earning £29K.
What has your experience been like renting in Bristol? Email emma.grimshaw@reachplc.com
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