Improving the condition of student flats is one of the seven issues the Otago University Students' Association wants political parties to act on.
OUSA president Hugh Baird said many student flats did not have a "basic level'' of insulation or a substantial heating source.
"I think a lot of students are getting fed up about the lack of those sorts of things in flats.''
He attributed this to the number of flats that were mouldy or otherwise in poor condition, and called for landlords to be held more responsible for the condition of their properties.
"We feel the onus should be on the landlords to provide the bare necessities, such as insulation or means of heating, for the tenants of those properties.''
Landlords in North Dunedin needed to be held to greater account regarding the quality of accommodation, he said.
Weekly loans and allowances needed to be increased, as rising rent made it difficult for students to get by each week.
At present, an individual can borrow $178.81 a week, while the maximum weekly allowance is $218.
"There's only a third of students that are actually getting that student allowance from week to week and everyone else is having to fork out [and] pay back that money.
"We think that it should be more accessible to all students.''
Students who were not eligible for the allowance often worked part-time and/or received living costs, which had to be paid back.
"Even those who are working part-time are still struggling to keep up with the costs of living while balancing studies.''
Other goals included the removing the student loan cap for postgraduate students, a greater focus on students' mental health and wellbeing, introducing a first-in-family scholarship and ensuring the new hospital would be built in the centre of the city.
JESSICA.WILSON @thestar.co.nz
