Students today called on Parliament to toughen up the law and force landlords to provide decent accommodation.

A survey by the National Union of Students released earlier this week showed 16 per cent lived in housing that was infested with vermin, 40 per cent reported mould in their rooms and 50 per cent had to live in damp conditions.

About 60 students were converging on the House of Commons to lobby MPs to support a private member's Bill that if passed would force landlords to get a licence for renting out property for multiple occupation.

It will be presented next month by Brighton Kemptown Labour MP Des Turner.

NUS vice-president welfare Claire Kober said since 1992, ten students had died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty appliances.