When Pratibha Dudani moved to London from Bombay in 2022 to study a Masters in Business Administration at the University of East London, she searched endlessly for a place to rent that fit her budget.

“I found a shared house in Sutton, south London,” the 33-year-old tells The i Paper . “It was compact – there were 10 of us living in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house. I shared a dark box room with another person.”

For a year, Pratibha lived out of her suitcase, paying £700 a month in rent. “I was the only girl in the house,” she says. “A lot of the men were labourers. They were filthy, as was the house. They often used drugs. I was uncomfortable and felt unsafe.” New Feature

In Short

Quick Stories. Same trusted journalism.

Feeling anxious whenever she was at home started affe

See Full Page