Adequate Housing in the Context of International Education Sharon Smith, Helen Forbes-Mewett, Simon Marginson, Chris Nyland, Gaby Ramia, Erlenawati Sawir Introduction This paper based on our submission to the 2007 Victorian government Inquiry into Residential Accommodation in Melbourne. The paper addresses specific issues outlined in the Residential Accommodation Issues Paper and includes some of the recommendations we made to the review. 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 1
Introduction Data collected via interviews with 200 international students from nine public Australian universities. Part of larger study looking at social/economic security of international students across Australia and New Zealand Size of interview population enables us to derive some statistical data as well as individual accounts. Two books in 2008 Background Problems faced by international students are often different to those faced by domestic students or if similar, can have a more severe impact on their life and study. International students: Must keep education providers up-to-date with address details or risk visa cancellation Not able to move back home if situation becomes difficult Often have difficulties accessing necessary documentation, such as proof of income or rental references; Commonly have language difficulties and inadequate knowledge of the cultural expectations associated with rental housing; 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 2
Background Consistent with international literature, we found a positive correlation between the length of time students have spent in Australia and their satisfaction with living arrangements. Graph 1: Are you satisfied with your current living arrangements? 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 3
Background This article focuses on international students experiences in attaining satisfactory living arrangements beyond their first year in Australia. Student Housing 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 4
Student Housing Most interviewees live in flats or apartments, 2-3 bedrooms if sharing and 1 bedroom if alone. Many single students live in share houses and of the 45 married students nearly one in 4 were in a house while 3 in four were in an apartment. Following not unusual It s a two bedroom flat and now me and my daughter and husband in one bedroom, another couple in one bedroom. (S20, Female, 33, Bangladesh) Homestay and Campus Accommodation Very few students in homestay situations but a number started their time in Australia in either on-campus accommodation or in homestay, and chose to move out after a year or so. Invariably, students residing in on-campus accommodation recommended that this is a good introduction to student life in Australia because: it provides food and shelter without the weekly responsibility of rent expenses and utility bills. provides a good social environment 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 5
Homestay and Campus Accommodation I think if they re international students, I think I would definitely encourage them at least for the first year they should stay in the college because I think that really helped me in so many aspects to not worry about food, and therefore time, I have more time to study, helped me to integrate into Australian society like I said in a very fast way, helped to socialise, make friends with people. It takes care of a lot of my other worries like living as well. It s definitely more costly I think than if you were to live outside but I think if you want a real experience, and real overseas study experience you need to live in a college for an amount of time. (S155, Male, 24, Singapore) But on campus housing is expensive and often simply not available because many education suppliers are unwilling to outlay the investment needed to provide this form of accommodation - RMIT does not have even one room. Share-Houses Distinction between rooming and share houses not always clear Some of the living arrangements of our interviewees may in fact be unregistered rooming house arrangements, which according to the RT Act Victoria, leaves students unprotected under the law. We found over 60% live in sharehouse arrangements that often suggest they in fact live in rooming house situations: we have about 10 or more people inside a house, that divided by partition so I live by my own a shared house. The house is specially designed to accommodate students. (S114, Female, 25, Malaysia) I rent a room, it s a shared house but it s pretty big house there are ten people one room each...there are students from Indonesia, Chinese, Pakistan, Germany and Australia, it s a shared kitchen we have our own shelves in the kitchen the owner provide several fridges two bathrooms and two toilets (S197, Female, 34, Indonesia) 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 6
Housing Information Provision Many students reported they were not provided with accurate pre-departure information despite the ESOS Act requirement that institutions provide this information. I didn t know that I had to buy furniture in apartments you know. (S78, Female, 20, Malaysia) I get the accommodation myself the university didn t really help because the accommodation they provide us to expensive especially the college it s really different with other countries where the college is the cheapest place to stay here it is the highest the most expensive yes that s really really weird. (S124, Female, 21, Vietnam) Housing information Provision Predeparture information often only included on-campus or student housing accommodation while others not informed about housing services. it s only accommodation thing which you can get on the net, from the universities is mainly about residences they have on the campuses. The only thing which you can do is when you come here then you can contact the international students union for helping you find some accommodation, so that s something which should improve. (S109, Male, 30, India) Information provided seldom caters for students with accompanying families. One student with children advised to rent two apartments. 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 7
Purpose Built Student Housing The Transnational and Temporary Project, by Fincher et al (2007) when commenting on the student apartment accommodation available in Melbourne noted: this purpose-built student housing close to two large university campuses in inner-city Melbourne is more expensive than equivalent housing in the broader private rental market, and much more expensive than the traditional (though declining) option of student share houses. We are unable to support these views. Sharehousing is not declining a studio student apartment, furniture and utilities included would be $250 per week while a one bedroom apartment in inner Melbourne, unfurnished, with no utility bills included was rented for between $200 and $300 per week. Residential Tenancy Requirements International student accommodation often exempt Data provides many examples of international students in private rental situations exposed to unsatisfactory living circumstances, exploited, discriminated against or not provided with sufficient information regarding their rights and obligations despite the requirement that all private rental properties comply with the Tenancy Act. 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 8
Residential Tenancy Requirements With exemption there is no requirement for: specified bond amounts, restrictions on extra fees and charges, beginning and ending lease outlines such as condition reports and inspections, provision of urgent and non-urgent repairs to the rental property; full grievance and appeal procedures Removing the exemption for off-campus accommodation, whether affiliated or not, would alleviate these problems and entitle all students to protection under the relevant tenancy Acts. Support Available For Students with Housing Difficulties International students can find themselves in difficult situations and are empowered to solve their problem if they are able to access adequate support services at their education institution. I ve just been staying there for two months and they re trying to kick me out and I feeling like I m spending too much money and that s what I m thinking. I don t know I was going to the student union now, and talking about my legal rights and stuff are they able to kick me out or maybe I can get some compensation or anything, that s what I m thinking. (S43, Male, 22, India) The interviewees provided evidence that in many situations they have access to a variety of housing help and advice services but it proved very difficult to gain a clear understanding of the quality of the services provided and a benchmarking of the services available as in the UK is needed. 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 9
Conclusion International students awareness of their rights and obligations under tenancy law should be deemed a priority in for all education providers and in particular for those with few support or specialized housing services. Education programs should be initiated to advise international students of potential problems associated with sub-letting rental properties. Informing education providers and international students of the difference between share and boarding house arrangements should be prioritised Exemption from the Residential Tenancy Acts should be amended to include only on-campus residential colleges The Guide to minimum standards in rental properties project currently underway in the Victorian Department of Consumer Affairs, should produce and distribute the Guide to all institutions enrolling international students, student associations, housing services and all international students considering rental accommodation. Student apartment housing needs to be included as one of the different types of rental accommodation with clear information about exemptions or non-exemption for student housing providers. 2007 www.idp.com/aiec 10