Thousands of students could refuse to pay rent for university rooms they cannot use during lockdown
- Students are threatening to refuse to pay rent for university accommodation
- Told to stay at home for online learning unless taking a select group of subjects
- Cambridge, Sheffield and Birmingham City acted to head off potential protests
Thousands of students are threatening to refuse to pay rent for university accommodation they cannot use during lockdown amid rising calls for refunds.
They have been told to stay at home for online learning unless taking a select group of subjects – including medicine and education – where face-to-face classes will resume.
The all-party parliamentary group on students announced yesterday it is launching an inquiry into the impact of Covid, with ‘specific reference to student calls for rebates in tuition and accommodation payments’.
Cambridge (pictured, file image), Sheffield and Birmingham City universities acted to head off potential protests by saying they will not charge students for accommodation they cannot use during the lockdown
About 15,000 students at more than 40 universities including Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield are pledging to withhold rent, according to the Rent Strike Now campaign.
Saranya Thambiranjah, a first-year student at Bristol University who helps run the campaign, said: ‘We’re paying for accommodation we can’t use and there’s been no extra support from universities and government.
‘Rent striking is a great way to make our voices heard and get universities to listen to our concerns.’
About 15,000 students at more than 40 universities including Bristol (pictured, file image), Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield are pledging to withhold rent, according to the Rent Strike Now campaign
Cambridge, Sheffield and Birmingham City universities acted to head off potential protests by saying they will not charge students for accommodation they cannot use during the lockdown.
Universities UK, the umbrella group for vice-chancellors, said the Government should consider how to support institutions waiving rent.