Brighton Students Feared for Lives in ‘Nightmare’ Housing

University students recounted experiencing life-threatening conditions within their “nightmare” student residence in Brighton. Casey Galt, Lucy Taunton, and Kylie Cobine reported that the Kemptown property contained refuse, such as spoiled food and soiled bed linen, and a bathroom had a sewage leak that “absolutely stunk” upon their arrival in September. The students, along with an additional tenant, who jointly rented the house for £3,120 monthly, were subsequently compelled to vacate the premises after the fire service issued a temporary prohibition on its residential use due to a severe fire hazard. Brand Vaughan, the letting agent, did not provide a response to the BBC’s inquiry for comment. Ms. Galt, a resident of Folkestone, Kent, expressed her fear of perishing within the dwelling due to the absence of fire alarms and fire doors, and her bedroom’s lack of a fire escape. “I knew if there was a fire I would be trapped in the basement,” the 23-year-old said. “The windows had metal bars.” The BBC reviewed an East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service prohibition order, dated October 31, which is described as its most severe and infrequent notice. This order immediately prohibited the property’s use because the fire risk was “so serious,” following an inspection. The three students, enrolled at Sussex and Brighton universities, were forced to secure Airbnb lodging during a period of impending crucial assessment deadlines. “This whole situation put me in a bad place mentally,” said Ms Galt. “It was so hard to even take care of myself properly… let alone do uni work.” The 23-year-old, who has autism, alleged numerous additional problems at the residence, such as a flooding shower, obstructed drains, inoperable windows, unsanitary mattresses, and a boiler malfunction preventing sufficient hot water for showering. Ms. Cobine, originally from Michigan in the U.S., was required to pay six months’ rent upfront due to not having a UK guarantor. She asserts this sum has not been reimbursed. The students stated they remain bound by the contract, although the letting agent communicated that rent payment is not required while the property is uninhabitable. Ms. Taunton, who suffers from multiple health conditions, reported that her room was severely affected by damp and mould, impacting her respiration. She noted that the plasterboard in her ceiling became so saturated it protruded and began to drip. Although the letting agent performed some minor repairs on the property, the 23-year-old from Herne Bay asserted that contractors either failed to appear or neglected to resolve the identified problems. The students claimed Brand Vaughan disregarded their phone calls and electronic messages, through which they sought assistance, and Ms. Galt described some staff members as “extremely patronising.” The BBC made several attempts to contact the letting agent for a statement but received no reply. Government data indicates that Brighton ranks as the fourth least affordable location for renting in England. Statistics from the Office of National Statistics (covering the year ending April 2024) show that households in the East Sussex city allocate an average of 44.7% of their gross income to rent. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.