Mihita Parekh is the Education Officer at Middlesex University Students' Union. She gave this speech to 10 MPs, a Lord, and 50 student leaders in parliament at the APPG for Students on 29th January 2025.
Good evening, everyone, I am Mihita Parekh, Education Officer at Middlesex University Students Union and I stand before you today to address a challenge that goes far beyond housing one that touches the very heart of fairness, equity, and the sense of belonging that every student deserves.
This issue is personal to me, not just because of the role I hold and my own experiences, but because I’ve heard countless heart-breaking stories from students who are struggling to find a place called home, simply because of the requirements that hold them back from their potential. This is not just a housing problem. It is a problem of systemic inequality. It is a problem that isolates students when they should be supported, and it is a problem that erodes the sense of community we should be fostering in our society.
Let me share one such story that is sadly all too common. One of our students, Ali, was living in student accommodation. But when his contract ended for his first year, he found himself in a nightmare scenario that is sadly not unique. The demand for student housing was overwhelming, and he couldn’t renew his contract through student accommodation. He was forced to seek housing elsewhere, finding a studio apartment over an hour from the university. The easy part was done, but then came the insurmountable hurdle: the landlord demanded a UK-based guarantor.
Without one, Ali was left with no option but to pay for an expensive third-party guarantor service. And that was just the beginning. The landlord then demanded several months’ rent upfront. Ali had no choice but to pay out of desperation to stay in his studies. He scraped together the money, but it came at a cost. Finding money through his family, friends and any other means he could find.
Now I ask you to imagine the physical and emotional toll that Ali faces each day commuting for hours not just for him but for all the student’s wallets, health, opportunities, and ability to succeed academically, that suffer because of this.
This is sadly the reality that countless international students face both internationally and domestically. Ali's story is just one example of how these policies disproportionately impact students who are already some of our most vulnerable. They arrive at university with dreams and aspirations, only to be faced with a system that makes a necessity like housing feel out of reach.
And this isn’t just a problem at Middlesex and London — it’s a nationwide issue. According to a report from WonkHE, guarantor requirements have become a massive barrier for international students across the country. Many international students are forced into expensive third-party services or to pay months of rent upfront, while UK students are rarely subjected to such conditions. This creates not only a financial burden but also a sense of exclusion—these students are made to feel like outsiders in a place they’ve come to build their future and call home.
Let’s break this down into 4 issues that face all students in Higher education today:
- Guarantors and financial backing: For many students especially international students, the inability to provide a (UK-based) guarantor often means losing out on fair and affordable housing. The only option left is to overextend their finances or settle for housing far from campus, which in turn impacts their academic and social life.
- Financial Exploitation: The third-party guarantor services charge hundreds of pounds for a service that shouldn’t be necessary. Add to that the upfront rent demands, and you have a situation where students are being financially exploited.
- Lack of appropriate housing: Many students have no option but to live far from campus which means wasting valuable hours commuting time that could have been spent studying, engaging with university life, or simply contributing to the rest of society through work or (wider opportunities to get involved in the community). Instead, these students face an exhausting cycle of travel and stress that takes a toll on their well-being.
- Mental Health Impacts: The stress of housing insecurity, the financial strain, and the feeling of exclusion weigh heavily on the mental health of students. These students should be focusing on their studies and enjoying their university experience, but instead, many find themselves overwhelmed, isolated, and unsupported.
So let us remember this truth: housing is not just about bricks and mortar. It’s about more than just a roof over one’s head—it’s about the foundation for academic success, mental and emotional well-being, and creating a sense of belonging.
Students come to university and higher education with hopes and dreams. They contribute immeasurably to our society's diversity, enriching our lives with their experiences, perspectives, and talents. But when they face barriers like these—barriers that students should not have to contend with—it’s not just their housing that’s at risk; it’s their entire future.
As a society, as a university, and as a community, we need to ask ourselves: What values do we stand for?
Are we a higher education sector and government that champions equity, fairness, and opportunity for ALL students, regardless of where they come from? Do we truly champion widening participation within our universities? Or will we allow systemic financial barriers to dictate who thrives and who struggles?
Let’s not be the ones who ignore the challenges that our international students face. Let us ensure that every student, whether from the UK or abroad, feels supported, valued, and above all, that they have a safe and secure place to call home.
Thank you.
