NLA slams councilor over students' vendetta

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has moved to strongly criticise a north-east councillor for a "continuing vendetta" against students.

Ron Armstrong, a councillor for North Jesmond in Newcastle, recently published comments on the Jesmond Residents' Association website explaining how "taxpayers contribute to university student finance".

The comments, also distributed in a newsletter, claim that taxpayers "make good the loss" of the city's revenue from student-only properties being exempt from council tax.

"This is in effect a subsidy to the landlords," he claimed.

"It is not reflected in the high rents which the landlords charge, which are typically £80 per week per person in."

Johnny Lighten, the NLA's regional representative for the north-east, claimed the councillor's comments could damage the "thriving areas" of Jesmond and nearby Heaton and result in a loss of the student population.

He said that students are one of the area's "proudest assets" and their contribution to the economy and many other areas of civic life should continue to be celebrated.

"This latest attack demonstrates just how out of step Cllr Armstrong has become. His vendetta against students must be brought to an end before further damage is done to Newcastle's reputation as an international centre of learning excellence," he added.

According to council figures, the number of students in the city has risen by around 12,000 over the last ten years.

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