Invicta News

Read all about it

Feature Top Story

Outrage grows amongst university students in accommodation row

Around 30% of university students live in private rented accommodation, according to House of Commons 2020 Library data. Many of whom make up this figure are continuing to pay their rent, even if they are not staying at their accommodation. Many students in this situation are calling for rent rebates as their peers living in university-owned halls are being offered this solution.

The National Union of Students (NUS) said it was “simply unacceptable” the lack of financial support for students and landlords. Aurora Rory Buccheri is a student at the University of Aberdeen, who ordinarily stays in private accommodation. She says she hopes for an open conversation between the university and landlords to help reach an agreement.

The Department for Education said in a statement that they had announced funding of £20m to help students “most in need of support in these exceptional circumstances.”

As many students are left with the financial burden of paying rent for a house they are not using, more are becoming political. An NUS poll found that 65% of students did not agree the government has adequately considered the difficulties that students may face.

Meghna Amin is currently in her final year of study at Durham University. She said the situation has made her feel frustrated and without choice.

The chief executive of the National Residents Landlords Association told the BBC: “Many landlords are reliant on rental income for their livelihood and pension and cannot afford just not to be paid.”

Ben Beadle said the association had encouraged landlords to show whatever flexibility they were able to provide. He said the solution to this growing issue lay on the government. “They need to provide a package of compensation,” he said.

Invicta News approached Universities UK the representative body for the UK universities for a comment on what universities were doing to mitigate the burden on students. They said in the statement that UK educational institutions are providing increased financial and other support as a result of the pandemic. They added that they are also actively looking at ways to ensure a fair deal for students and that many decisions or refunds will be made by private landlords and other providers.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *