Robbie Davidson, Manchester Socialist Party

This September, almost 300,000 18-year-olds will enter the student housing market. Most of them will be making the first steps, praying a degree can secure them a stable job, into a spiral of debt which will follow them through decades of their working lives.

Putting themselves on average £50,000 in the red, students will hope against hope that they can cover their expenses whilst succeeding in full-time higher education. As young people suffer, Paragon Bank found that 91% of uni landlords reported positive returns – the highest of any sector. This has come by bumping rents up by 60% over the last decade, whilst cutting costs and leaving young people in cramped, mouldy houses.

On dozens of campuses around the UK, Socialist Students is already leading the way in putting forward what is needed to end market misery and housing hell at university. We are fighting alongside community activists and trade unionists for rent controls to cap rents and enforce decent standards, for a mass council house building programme, for living student grants not loans, and for fully funded, free education for all.

Rent strikes

At the beginning of the 2020s, a national wave of rent strikes erupted – and things have only got worse since. New struggles will come as the crisis of the profit-based capitalist system progresses.

It is clear that Burnham’s crumbs won’t offer any way out for young people under the thumb of the cost-of-living crisis. Socialist Party members will be taking part in Socialist Students activity at freshers fairs around the country, making the case that we need a party which will.

On 20 November we are planning to stamp our mark on our futures, fighting for affordable, safe housing and decent jobs – not more money for their wars. Fight for our futures!