" The University of Technology, Sydney, wants to more than triple the number of beds it offers by expanding one of its existing buildings and creating a village-style area that would house an extra 1100 students.
"The university was aware that students were living in apartments filled with many times the amount of specified occupants. "If we feel that we can contribute to the reduction of that problem we will do so," said a deputy vice-chancellor, Patrick Woods."
"I've seen 10 students living in a two-bedroom apartment. Some live in places like Penrith and Mount Druitt, traveling every day to the campus because they find it very hard to get accommodation close to the university in the city, either because they can't afford it or the real estate agent will not give it to them.
"A normal resident would not live in these places where I've seen some students living. It's dirty, it's infected with pests, cockroaches. I found it really hard to stay even a night where my cousin was living. They were sleeping on the carpet."
It was difficult to find real estate agents who would take them in the first place because most required references from previous landlords, Mr Singh said.
The proportion of international students in universities is growing. Margaret Edmond, director of student services at Sydney University, said this meant universities had to continually look for ways to accommodate them. Students liked to live next to their campus, but this was becoming less of an option at Sydney University as the surrounding suburbs gentrified, said Dr Edmond.
The university offers more than 2000 student beds through a mixture of residential colleges, apartment living and university-owned terraces. It also organises rental properties. "We're very concerned. I guess part of it is we want to provide quality accommodation for students rather than living on a train line, so a lot of it is wanting to create that student experience."
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