Lockdown students threaten University of Nottingham rent strike

Some Nottingham students are calling for rent reductions following the imposition of an England-wide lockdown

Students in Nottingham are threatening to withhold rent for accommodation they cannot use due to the lockdown.

The new rules mean thousands are not allowed to travel back to university but are still being charged rent.

Hundreds of students from University of Nottingham halls have pledged to join the rent strike, with one saying it was "disgusting" she was being asked to pay £161-per-week for an empty room.

The university said it was awaiting guidance from the government.

A campaign group called Notts Rent Strike is encouraging students who cannot get back to their accommodation not to pay rent.

They are also calling for full deposit refunds for anybody choosing to move out of halls before the end of their contract and a 40% reduction in rents for students in university halls.

Organisers said the rent was due in the next fortnight and, with more than 900 now pledged to join the strike, they calculate about £1.8m will be withheld.

Organisers began their campaign in November but it has picked up hundreds of new signatures since lockdown was announced

A group spokesperson said: "We have been asked since September to pay for services we are either not getting in full or not receiving at all.

"It is beyond reasonable for us to refuse to pay for services which we cannot access.

"Students are confused and scared, we have been left to seek a way out for ourselves."

'Disgusting'

One first year student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was nervous about participating in the strike but felt something needed to be done to make the university act.

She left Nottingham on 3 December and is now having to work on an improvised desk because she cannot leave her London home.

She said: "I'm paying £161 a week for a room I'm not allowed to go back to - it's disgusting.

"I'm disappointed the university hasn't done anything to help us."

The Students' Union's community officer is supporting the strike action, as is Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome.

A University of Nottingham spokeswoman said: "Nottingham, like many universities around the country, is expecting further clarification from the Department for Education on a number of key issues.

"We will update our student community as soon as we have this and can better understand the full impact for universities."

The plight of students stuck at home or in halls during the pandemic has led to numerous protests.

In Manchester students took over university accommodation to raise concerns over rent, while in Bristol rent payments were withheld to highlight problems students faced in paying their bills.

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS vice president for higher education said students should be offered rent refunds and if universities and landlords needed help doing this, the government should step in.

She added: "It is simply unacceptable that students are being told to not live in housing they have paid for, on public health grounds, yet are receiving no government support."

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