Dead rats and maggots among student housing horrors

Dara Cunningham, a young man with short, wavy, brown hair, is standing outside. We can see a close-up of his face and shoulders. He is wearing a white t-shirt. The background is out of focus, but we can see a road junction and some parked cars.

Dara Cunningham told BBC News NI about mould affecting his roommate and maggots falling through the kitchen ceiling

Conor Burns
BBC News NI

Dead rats, maggots in light fittings, damp and fungus are among the issues students have told BBC News NI they have had to put up with in their accommodation.

Some said their health was affected by the problems, and they were left feeling uncomfortable in their term-time homes.

The organisation that represents students in Northern Ireland said that while such problems had become "sadly normalised", people should not have to put up with it.

Ben Friel, president of the NUS-USI, said that despite housing being the single biggest expense for students, the houses available were often "not safe" and "may impact students' health long term".

He added many students did not know how to find help and there was "a real lack of education around housing rights".

BBC News NI has approached the Landlords Association of Northern Ireland (LANI) for comment.

A close-up of a rat on a tile floor. The rat has brown fur and is standing on its rear paws, with it's front paws clasped together just under its head. Getty Images

One student told BBC News NI about discovering dead rats in their rented home

Dara Cunningham, 19, who is due to start his second year of studying financial risk management at Queen's University Belfast, told BBC News NI mould at his previous student rental was so serious it affected his housemate, who suffers from asthma.

He said it spread across the house on the ceiling, beside the bathroom, in the bathroom and in some of the bedrooms.

"It's quite difficult to breathe and then it's kind of just that constant icky feeling. You don't really feel comfortable," he said.

Dara also said when he moved into the property his housemate cleared the yard, only to find dead rats and maggots.

It got worse when rats found their way into the floorboards between the ground and first floor.

When they died, maggots developed leading to them "falling from the light fittings into the kitchen", an incident Dara described as "absolutely disgusting".

The issue was "thankfully" resolved by the landlord, he added.

What are the health risks of mould?

A young woman is smiling at the camera. We can see her head and the tops of her shoulders. She has brown hair, which looks to be pulled back possibly into a ponytail. She is wearing a pink jumper and a metal necklace. She appears to be sitting in a booth, there is an upholstery behind her back and head.

Mould was the main issue for Shannon, 21, a graduate from Queen's - she told BBC News NI that the extent of the problem at her rental home caused her embarrassment and paranoia.

"I was scared of it spreading under my bed and onto my bed," she said, adding that she could really "feel it" in her chest.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) said mould in housing could pose "serious health risks" particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma.

Mould is a microscopic fungus that grows in damp places and people living with it are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections and allergies.

It can also trigger asthma attacks and cause coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.

A close up of two house walls intersecting at a right angle. On the left and right walls, black, furry patches of mould are apparent. The patch on the right wall is larger than the one on the left.Dara Cunningham

Mould on the walls of Dara Cunningham's rented student home

A survey of 633 students in Northern Ireland completed by the NUS-USI in November 2024 found that 92% of students had experienced issues with their student rentals, with 19% reporting pest infestations and 59% reporting having mould.

Landlords of social housing in England will be forced to investigate and fix damp and mould within strict timescales from October, with the government hoping to extend those rules to private landlords as well.

However those rules do not extend to Northern Ireland, where housing policy is devolved.

Ben Friel said there was "a lot to be done" to resolve the issues being faced by students.

The head and shoulders of a young man, Ben Friel, who is smiling at the camera. He has short red hair and stubble. He's wearing a dark-coloured fleece and green t-shirt underneath. In the background is an escalator and a brick wall. NUS-USI

Ben Friel, president of the NUS-USI for Northern Ireland

Initially calling for the "stronger enforcement" of HMO legislation, he added "longer term though we need to consider how we think about student housing".

He suggested alternative models such as student housing cooperatives and more affordable purpose-built student accommodation, so that students aren't "forced to live" in such "poor conditions".

Tony Carmichael, Ulster University's Student Union advice manager, said students often did not know where to find help for housing issues.

He said he found local councils were often "the one effective bargaining chip students seem to have" and that, once contacted, most issues are "resolved within a matter of weeks".

The PHA advises students experiencing rental issues to raise the issue with landlords in the first instance.

Environmental health departments at councils can also assess properties in their area and offer assistance.

Belfast City Council said it would carry out a property inspection for issues like pest control or mould, and provide guidance depending on the inspection results.

"We would always advise tenants to report any issues with the property to their landlord or agent directly, in the first instance.

"A mediation service is available to those living or providing accommodation in a private rental, managed by Housing Rights."

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