The Otago University Students' Association exposed the gulf
between the best and worst student flats in Dunedin
yesterday, with the top flat described as a "beautiful
mansion" and that judged the worst a "turd".
OUSA awarded $200 to the tenants in the top flat, a restored
mansion in Stuart St, and gave away five full-body sleeping
bags to the brave occupants of that judged the worst, a
said-to-be damp and cold graffiti-covered villa in London St.
Dunedin dentistry student Jamie Lockyer, one of six males
living in the London St flat, said his flat "definitely"
deserved to be judged the worst in Dunedin.
"It's pretty average to live in; cold, damp, pretty smelly,
breezy and there's holes in the wall," Mr Lockyer said.
Asked if the appalling state of the flat was part of the
reason they did not bother tidying up, he said, "Yeah,
definitely. You can't polish a turd, as they say."
The six each paid $80 a week rent, he said.
Marketing student Kristin Borley, one of eight women living
in the top-ranked flat, said it was difficult to "pinpoint"
the best thing about their flat.
It was a toss-up between the tasteful way the villa had been
decorated and the quality of the flatmates, who had all known
each other since first year, Ms Borley said.
"It's a beautiful mansion, basically," she said.
The flatmates had enjoyed their living experience so much
they all had rings engraved with the flat's address.
Other flats in the running for worst included one in Riego
St, which had a permanent drip in the kitchen, and one in
Ethel Benjamin Pl, where the landlord had converted a pantry
into a cramped bedroom, which had a fitted see-through glass
door opening out on to the kitchen.
Among the flats in contention for the best was one owned by
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, who also happened to be judging the
awards.
Out of earshot of Mr Cull, tenant Lucy Hudson (21) said it
was good having the mayor as a landlord.
"He's really cool. He comes around and changes our light
bulbs, because we can't reach them," Ms Hudson said.
OUSA campaigns manager Angus McDonald said it was important
students realised they did not "need to sign up early, and
don't need to sign up to a rubbish flat".
An award for best landlord was picked up by David Ojala, who
owns a flat on Union St (west).
- vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz
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