Oxford students camped out on the street for 50 hours this week, braving sub-zero temperatures in order to secure somewhere to live for the next academic year.
The annual release of the Jericho student property list by North Oxford Property Services (NOPS), who operate on a ‘first come first served’ basis, has famously produced overnight queues for several years.
This week the queuing times broke recent records. One group from St. Anne’s College took to the streets at 7am on Monday in anticipation of the 9am Wednesday release.
NOPS moved the date of the property release forward from January to November for this year, following criticism over the system which resulted in students camping outside in wintry conditions. Unlike many other Oxford estate agents, NOPS do not warn against overnight queuing.
OUSU and college Welfare Reps have pointed out that North Oxford Property Services are not the only letting agency in Jericho and that students should not sign a deal without looking at a house first.
However, most students were unable to look at properties because NOPS’ viewing day is the same date as the list release. This, combined with the competitive nature of the release, has led to fears that there is too much pressure on students to sign deals without having time to consider properly.
Many students came prepared for the queue, with tents, sleeping bags, alcohol and even a television to while away the hours. Passers-by were confused by the spectacle, asking the campers what they were protesting against.
Sunny Gohel, a second year Psychology student, said, “It’s a terrible system. They could easily change it to a ballot or an online draw or something.
“It gets more and more hyped up every year – students think that if they don’t come down and queue they’ll be homeless next year. I have friends who have ended up making a decision based on two sentences and a thumbnail picture.”
However, some undergraduates praised NOPS for providing queue members with hot drinks and sandwiches, and a gazebo for shelter. A third year student from LMH said, “It’s not actually been that bad because we’ve made sure we stay warm enough. I’ve even managed to get lots of work done because there’s nothing else to do.”
Over a quarter of Oxford’s colleges cannot house undergraduates for the entirety of their course. Students with no choice but to rent alternative property pay between £300 and £450 per month for a single room in a shared house. The only eight bedroom student property let by NOPS costs tenants £500 a month.
Somerville student Jacob Williamson said, “All Somerville second years must live out. And given the proximity of Jericho to college, unless we want to isolate ourselves then we have little choice.”
St. Anne’s second year Jan Kaesbach said that NOPS had approached him and his housemates about renewing their tenancy for a second year just a few weeks after they moved in.
“They sent us a letter at the beginning of November asking us to decide whether we wanted to keep the house for next year when our tenancy doesn’t end until July. Term had barely started and we had no idea what we wanted to do next year.
“St Anne’s hadn’t done the room ballot yet so we didn’t know about college accommodation and we felt very rushed into either making a decision or going through the hassle of losing our house and having to queue again.”
