Exeter College, part of Oxford University, is located in Oxford, UK
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg
The national blockades in the UK have left many students who have returned home for holidays stuck there to pay the rent for the empty rooms in the school.
The added frustration – and in many cases expensive – for British students fuels the threat of rent strikes.
What annoyed them was the moment. In December, the government said it would relax Covid’s restrictions during the Christmas holiday. Many students followed the safety protocols implemented by the government and their universities and returned home.
But last week, officials announced a blockade that barred most students from returning to campus. For many, this will mean the start of the new university term – which, in most cases, would start after the announcement of the blockade – from home, even if they still pay for accommodation back to school.
Their plight is parallel to that of students around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, many were suddenly told to return home and study online. The US has threatened to limit student visas. And this fall, many universities have tried to open in-person courses, only to see outbreaks.
“If you paid for any other service and it didn’t happen, you would be reimbursed,” said Katie O’Kelly, a master’s student at University College London.
The 23-year-old signed a 12-month contract last year for a privately rented room in London. He went home for Christmas, assuming he could return to the accommodation after the holidays. But the sudden announcement of the blocking rules means that the rented room is still empty because it is at home in Berkshire, about an hour away from the city.
O’Kelly estimates he will pay a total of £ 7,200 ($ 9,700) this year in rent for a room that has so far been used much less than he imagined.
Similar frustrations are pushing thousands of students across the country to threaten strikes. Organizers say about 15,000 have joined the Rent Strike Now campaign, which encourages students to withhold rent for accommodation they cannot use during the Covid lockout.
On Monday, United Students, the UK’s largest private provider of student accommodation, announced a 50% reduction in rent for eligible students for four weeks. (In the UK, it is not uncommon for students attending public universities to live in dormitories run by private companies.)
Some universities have also begun to respond. University College London has said it will not charge rent to students who cannot return to dormitories or other university-run accommodation. The University of Manchester, Cambridge and the University of Exeter said the same thing.
The problem is that the accommodation market for students in the country is fragmented. This makes it difficult to impose unilateral change. Private companies such as Unite Students offer 25% of housing in the UK, but 20% of students rent directly from their universities. About 25% are commuter students and 30%, including O’Kelly, live in private homes with multiple residents, often run by smallholders, mom and pop.
“Now is the time for the government to seriously consider the financial implications for students and institutions and what support they will provide,” said a spokesman for Universities UK, a representative organization for British universities. he said in an emailed statement.
Last week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested at a press conference that the government be considering some kind of support.
“I think we have to look very hard at the business that students get,” he said. “We need to see what we can do more to support students and help them through what has been a very, very difficult time.”
If and until this happens, this is what experts say that students stuck in limbo should consider:
- Understand the terms of the lease. Be sure to check your lease, as some agreements have “exit” clauses that allow tenants to reduce their rent.
- Contact the owner. It is worth talking to the landlord to explain the situation, as they may agree to offer you a discount or come up with an alternative payment plan. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive. Having a polite conversation can also keep the temperature low, which may not be the case if you start by threatening to withhold the rent.
- Check to see if you qualify for student assistance. The government is providing a fund of up to £ 20 million to help students studying in England who need support during the pandemic. Many universities also offer funding for difficulties.