Students plan for ‘Biggest rent strike in 40 years’
Coronavirus tensions mount as rent strikes sweep over 20 universities ahead of spring term.
Students are preparing to withhold rent at 20 universities across the UK. Preparing to return for the Spring term, students have stated they have been forced to pay what they feel are “extortionate fees” given the reduced quality of both their studies as well as “poor support” from most institutions.
At the moment, students must still pay for accommodation even if they are away from it, unless agreed otherwise. “It feels like we were lied to, lured back to campus just so they could charge us rent even though we’re now stuck here,” explains one student from King’s College, London.
Speaking to the me via zoom, Lauren Moss revealed her experience so far. “I’m just gutted. They said we’d be able to do a lot more in person than we’ve been able to, so yes, it feels like they lied to us. They just wanted to exploit us for our loans which isn’t fair with everything else going on in the world right now.”
Lauren is not alone in feeling this way. Another student from Oxford Brookes, Sophie Turner, shared that a recent petition was circulated from their Students’ Union, calling for a 30% reduction in tuition fees for the year, as well as 50% off rent during Lockdown.
“At least it feels like somebody’s looking out for us. I mean, why should we be paying the same amount for half the resources and teaching? I could have stayed home as all my lessons have been online this term, and not had to pay rent. However, the university told me I needed to be here. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Currently, thousands of students across the country have returned home or to visit loved-ones over the festive season. To allow for this to happen as safely as possible, the Government announced a “travel window” which lasted from the 3rd until the 9th of December. During this time they offered students the opportunity for rapid testing to limit the possibility of spreading the virus as they travelled home for the holidays.
Whilst grateful for the opportunity to be reunited with family and friends, many are concerned about the rent they will be paying during this season despite not being in their halls of residence. As Sophie puts it: “Who knows if there will be another Lockdown after Christmas? If so, we’ll be stuck paying for halls we aren’t able to live in.”
The latest guidance from the Government means some students will be unable to return to their accommodation until at least February. The initiative has called for a staggered return of students to campuses, prioritising different groups and asking for them to return in waves. They will also be offered testing upon their arrival back onto campus to once again help limit any possible spread of the virus.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan has said that “The health and wellbeing of students, staff and local communities is always our primary concern and this plan will enable a safer return for all students. But we must do this in a way which minimises the risk of transmission. I know students have had to make sacrifices this year and have faced a number of challenges, but this staggered return will help to protect students, staff and communities.”
The Government have also announced a one-off fund of up to £20 million to help students most in need during these exceptional times.
Despite this, according to Rent Strike (a student-led umbrella campaign group), there will still be action planned for early in Spring Term. The proposed action will be the largest student rent strike in Britain since the mid-1970s and is said to have been inspired after the well-documented strikes at The University of Manchester earlier this term, as well as widespread frustration from students all over the country.
Frustrated at a lack of ‘compassion’ for their mental well-being, students at The University of Manchester reacted to the erection of fences around student accommodation as part of the university’s measures to ensure students obeyed guidelines during lockdown.
Taking to social-media, students documented their responses, including tearing down the fences as well as sealing themselves inside one of the university building’s in protest. Their TikTok account @toweroccupiers received over 17,600 followers and over 2 millions views in under a week.
One video in particular posted to the account provoked a strong outpour of support as it captured campus security staff members preventing other students from passing their classmates provisions, including pizza which was knocked from their hands as they attempted to pass it in via a window.
“Absolutely disgusting” one comment exclaimed, “what’s wrong with these people? Threatening kids like that when they’re just trying to get themselves heard.” Other viewers were not necessarily as sympathetic to the situation, claiming “they’re just being selfish. They’re the ones who have been out spreading this thing since going back. No wonder the uni is trying to take action.”
Despite the mixed public response to the protest, The University of Manchester apologised to students for the “concern and distress” caused by the fences. The President and Vice-Chancellor, Dame Nancy Rothwell explained in a statement that “The fencing was intended as a response to a number of concerns received over recent weeks from staff and students on this site about safety and security; particularly about access by people who are not residents. There was never any intent to prevent students from entering or exiting the site”.
The university, along with several others, granted concessions to their students, agreeing to student demands to cut 30% of halls rent for the autumn term. This success, as well as widespread frustration, has lead to hundreds of students at other universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Sussex, Goldsmiths, and Edinburgh to vow to stage rent strikes in the New Year in the hopes of emulating the success.
The NUS (National Union of Students) has announced that they will be backing these strikes, as well as holding training sessions to encourage others to organise. In a statement on their website, the organisation explains that their aim is to encourage students and institutions to advocate for the best quality of education possible during these difficult times, as well as highlighting the need for support for students, including rent rebates.
According to research conducted by the organisation, the average rent for student accommodation accounted for 73% of the student loan in 2018, up from 58% in 2012. Furthermore, universities across the country generated £1.9 billion from residential operations (including student accommodation rents) in the last academic year.
NUS president Larissa Kennedy has stated that “If students are advised not to be in their accommodation from December — February, then the Government must put up more money to support student renters who will be paying hundreds or thousands of pounds for properties they are being told not to live in for months.”
As it stands, a recent poll of over 1,000 students by the Higher Education Policy Institute showed that just over half are satisfied with their online teaching. Half of students are also worried about their return to university in the new year.
“Students today are faced with unique concerns compared to students in the past” explains Jade Yap, a research officer for the Mental Health Foundation. According to the organisation, university students have always been, and continue to be, a high-risk group when it comes to developing mental health problems. It is a time of transition, with students becoming independent adults, living alone, financially supporting themselves, as well as facing new academic pressures. This often results in the development of mental health problems.
In fact, before the pandemic began, Save The Student revealed that as many as one in four students experience mental health issues while at university. Since the beginning of the pandemic, however, this statistic has only worsened with many students unable to socialise as normal and form friendships and support networks.
In response to the proposed strikes, most universities have expressed sympathy for the students involved as well as the difficult situation they find themselves in. In fact, Bristol University has said it will be offering students a 30% rent rebate for seven weeks to reflect the staggered return in 2021, along with penalty-free contract releases for students whose health has been impacted.
“It’s really encouraging that universities seem to be responding to the strikes,” claims Chlöe Gathergood, a veterinarian student at Liverpool University. “A rent reduction would really help to take some of the pressure off considering I would normally have been working during this term. I haven’t been able to do that, considering my job has only just started letting us go back to work again. Not having that income has been really worrying, so to have less rent to pay would be a massive help.”
“My parents have also been let go from their jobs, so it’s not even like I have a safety net to fall back onto. My loan and my ability to work part time is all that’s keeping me afloat. I know lots of people who are living like that right now.”
The ability to work will be dependent upon the tier in which students find themselves after the holiday. For instance, Liverpool is now in Tier 2, which means many businesses are able to open but will be operating in a manner that complies with the current guidance and keeping social distancing in place. More information regarding tiers and guidance can be found on the Government website.
Recently, a report conducted by The Guardian shows that, of 105 universities polled across the UK, 28 institutions have issued fines since term began in September. Students at the University of Nottingham have been fined most severely, with 91 students fined a total of £58,865, with 1,898 students in total paying the £170,915 in fines. The university has explained that a portion of the money taken would be redistributed via a hardship fund for students.
The report revealed a wide variety in the severity and frequency of penalties issued by institutions. It also revealed a wide discrepancy in the amount of support being offered by universities for those students in isolation or struggling with mental health during the pandemic.
A Department for Education spokesman told the Guardian recently that: “We understand this has been a very difficult time for students, which is why we have prioritised their education and wellbeing from the start of this pandemic, supporting universities to provide a blend of online and in-person learning in a Covid-secure way.”
Be that as it may, a recent NUS poll has found that 65% of students polled did not agree the government has adequately considered the difficulties that students are facing as a result of the pandemic.
“The education system should prioritise the welfare of students and staff, but universities are not going to come to this conclusion on their own,” says Laura Hone from Rent Strike Cambridge. “Students have to make them listen and rent is the most powerful leverage we have.”
• If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article please remember that support can be found via Samaritans, who can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. You can also contact the mental health charity Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or by visiting mind.org.uk
