Relief in sight for student flat-dwellers

The era of students freezing through the winter in dingy Dunedin flats could be on the way out, with the development of a star rating system similar to that used by hotels and motels.

The system is still in its planning stages, but the institutions putting it together hope to have it operating by 2011.

The poor condition of some Dunedin student housing has been an issue for years but is traditionally an accepted part of student life. The new scheme could help to change that.

The initiative has been developed under the tertiary precinct development plan, which sets out a series of actions for the city council, Otago University and Otago Polytechnic to complete to make better use of resources and reduce duplication of services.

Today's council finance and strategy committee meeting will discuss a report on the plan, which seeks agreement on one part of that work, a joint venture for quality ratings for flats.

The report said the vision of the scheme was that all students would have access to affordable, sustainable and good quality housing appropriate to their needs.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES