Thursday 26-03-2026 - 14:03

“Students have the right to a safe home as a baseline expectation” – Caitlin, Shelter Cymru

 

Sophie, our Advice Manager, Jennifer, your Carmarthen President, and Caitlin from Shelter Cymru sat down to talk about the different challenges students can face around housing, and the support available, offered through Shelter Cymru.

What challenges are students facing?

Jennifer has been out and about talking to students about challenges they might be facing around housing. The advice team have also seen an increase in housing-related queries. Challenges include:

• Sharing living spaces for the first time and managing difficult situations.
• Issues around disrepair or inadequate living conditions.
• Cost of living, and the impact this can have on a student’s living and housing situation, including the risk of homelessness. 
• Students not knowing what support is available or how to make the first step in getting the right support.

What is Shelter Cymru?

Shelter Cymru is a charity that offers free legal advice and representation, specifically around housing and homelessness. There is a broad range of advice that Shelter Cymru can provide including advice around rent arrears, disrepair, pests and vermin, landlord harassment, and evictions. Shelter Cymru can also offer advice around homelessness and poverty stigma.

What is the first step in raising concerns about housing issues?

The first step would be to talk to your landlord. Make sure you’ve reported any, and all disrepair issues, and try to have a positive, constructive conversation with them on how to move forward. If this doesn’t solve the issue, then the next step would be to contact Shelter Cymru for further advice.

What are some of the barriers to students reaching out?

For some students, navigating these issues can be really isolating. Some students worry speaking up might impact their relationship with the landlord, or affect their contract. Often students worry more where issues are tied to money due to feeling shame about reaching out. It’s completely normal to reach out and it’s not a situation that anyone should be worried, or ashamed about. Shelter Cymru’s service is completely confidential, and they only talk to landlords when requested. Reaching out will help you resolve the situation. By choosing not to reach out, nothing gets resolved. 

What support is offered through Shelter Cymru?

Shelter Cymru’s service revolves entirely around legal advice and representation regarding housing and homelessness. They have a helpline where caseworkers can give initial advice regarding your legal rights and actions to take to solve issues. If a problem is more in-depth you will be booked into an appointment with a caseworker who will give you detailed legal advice about your rights and what to do to solve the problem. Shelter Cymru will then advise and guide you in sorting any issues, and will carry out relevant actions.

How can I contact Shelter Cymru?

• You can contact Shelter through telephone by ringing 08000 495 495.
• You can view available surgeries for support local in your area here: Advice near you - Shelter Cymru 
• You can access pages of support and guidance around housing and homelessness on the website here: Students - Shelter Cymru 

Still unsure?

If you’re not sure whether you need support, contact su.advice@uwtsd.ac.uk for free, independent and confidential advice and guidance. If housing issues are affecting your studies, we can signpost you to relevant support services within the University.