Aidan Lewis a Masters student in Housing Studies running for Housing Officer this year. While having worked professionally in housing for over six years now in a variety of roles has led to Aidan being knowledgeable about housing rights, rent, and legislation that would allow him to support students with all their housing issues.
Brig discussed Aidan’s manifesto for the Housing Officer position – which is a position that is responsible for ensuring housing issues that students face are a priority to the Union.
Housing Officer Goals
Aidan opened the interview telling me about his goals as an Housing Officer.
“My main goal for this role is to advocate on behalf of students for all housing matters.
“This can involve answering questions, enquiries or just reading letters or tenancy agreements.”
This is at utmost of importance to Aidan, as he communicated to me that “housing is complicated and I’d want students to feel informed about what their rights are” and that he believes that “housing is a fundamental and any issues with a student’s housing can have dire issues on their studies.”
Experience working in Housing
A part of Aidan’s manifesto talks about his experience working in social housing and other areas, allowing him to have skills that would benefit students at University of Stirling immensely.
“Thanks to my experience, I have not only gained knowledge of housing legislation, I have gained transferable skills:
“Skills of negotiation, advocacy, empowering service users and arguably the most important, listening.”
Aidan specified that while his knowledge is important, these skills are what would help him support students when they need it.
Support for Students
These skills and knowledge that Aidan has will be used to work with the Union and University to make sure that relevant materials are being published and that they’re up to date.
Aidan communicated that he would: “Use my platform to ensure that students are up to date with their rights and any proposed changes that involve student housing are student led, the impact that changes to student housing could have on students is massive.”
“I will work with the University and review all publications that are promoted.
“I will ensure that they are up to date and are all relevant information.”
While Aidan specified that his course is a part time, online course and that it’s difficult for him to guarantee to be on campus at certain times – he is passionate about housing rights and he encourages all students to contact him using his email to discuss any issues.
Fair Rents
Rents are known to increase – private accommodation or on-campus accommodation – and Aidan, while communicating that rents are likely to happen, wanted to get across that there are methods to this:
“There are processes that must be followed and rents have to increase by an appropriate amount. I would ensure that students are not being priced out the area.
“Likewise, I will work on behalf of all students to ensure that any increases to on campus rents are fair and appropriate, ensuring students are not priced off campus.”
Despite the majority of Aidan’s experience is focused in social housing, he has 2 housing qualifications and numerous courses (including the one he is doing right now) that would allow him to help students in on-campus accommodation.
Voting opens on Tuesday, February 25 at 10am, and close on February 27.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Student Union