We all know flatting in Dunedin can be a wild ride; from absolutely abusing free hours of power to keep the place warm, to seeing more fungi on your wall than at a bush doof. It has become a right of passage to wear three layers indoors and have that one window that doesn't close. But it doesn't have to be this way.
We hear horror stories every year, but how bad is it really? And more importantly, are things getting better? The honest answer is that we don't know. That is why OUSA is launching a flatting survey on the 26th, to get the data we need to push for better standards, accountability, and change.
This survey isn't just a moan box or a box-ticking exercise. It's about actually lifting the lid on Dunedin's rental market and showing with actual data what students’ living conditions look like, for better or for worse. Whether you're in a modern slum that hasn't seen a heat pump since the 90s or you're living in a double-glazed paradise with a landlord that knows your name (in a good way), we want to hear from you.
Your feedback will help us build a clear picture around student housing and supercharge our advocacy. The best part is it will only take a few minutes online and we will do the rest.
If you were worried that this survey would be a little impersonal, don't worry! Because on top of that next week Monday the 12th, we are teaming up with Tenancy Services to hit the streets of North D and chat flats, tenancies, healthy homes and more face to face. So if you see some tired old Exec members wandering your street, feel free to tell us to piss off, but we would love it if you stopped to chat.
Callum Hadlow
Residential Rep