Fed-up students in Bristol have launched a campaign to introduce a TripAdvisor style review system for the city’s accommodation.

Student union newspaper Epigram wants to empower tenants and raise awareness about the growing mould crisis in Bristol’s student homes by allowing them to review the condition of their accommodation, share issues and rate how well their landlord or letting agent responds.

It hopes the fear of getting negative reviews - and potentially losing tenants – would incentivise landlords to focus on the quality of the service they provide to Bristol students. This should lead to better maintained properties, more responsiveness from landlords, and improved relationships between them and their tenants.

Mould breaking

The Break the Mould campaign also proposes to set up a landlord accreditation system – run by the student union - based partly on these reviews. Landlords would be encouraged to opt-in to this service on the basis that they abide by agreements, such as responding to issues promptly and effectively, communicating with tenants, and not wrongfully withholding deposits. It would be visible to all students, with updates if they are removed from the system or have improved their properties.

Epigram explains: “This should again increase the incentive for landlords and letting agents to be attentive and maintain higher standards within their properties.”

Bristol student union’s housing officer, Lucy Pears, says the issue of mould is damaging and widespread. She points to a Bristol SU survey ten years ago that showed 75% of students had problems with mould.

Adds Pears: “The situation is terrible, and it hasn’t been getting any better, so I’m pleased to see the Break the Mould campaign tackling this head on.”