A group of students who barricaded themselves inside a university building for five weeks in a protest over rent prices say they 'will not stop until they win'. The strikers have been refusing to pay their accommodation fees since January, and have this week claimed more students have joined the cause.
Demands made by the University of Manchester Rent Strike group include a 30 per cent rent reduction or rebate for this year; a rent freeze across university digs for at least three years; and that at least 40pc of university halls cost less than half of the maximum student maintenance loan within the next three years.
They also want assurance that those students who took part in the 37-day stand-off with campus security face no punishment for their actions.
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The UoM Rent Strike group claims that since January, more than 350 people have refused to pay rent and that in recent weeks, an additional 300 have also been withholding fees. A spokesperson for the university said the figures were 'wholly inaccurate'.
The rent strikers also state that due to '650' students withholding rent, the UoM is now £2m out of pocket. This is disputed.
"Participation figures quoted by this group have been consistently incorrect. They are based on people filling in an open form online and guesses about costs this incurs to the University," a UoM spokesperson said.
University bosses did confirm that as of April 21, 49 out of more than 8,000 residents had declared to the university’s credit control department that they are withholding rent as part of this campaign.
"Figures are not available for rent payments from the most recent collection – this group is making a guess," the university added. "The rate of payment in the most recent collection was consistent with those both in this and previous years.
"We are here to help and have contacted students about payment options and support."
The group says 11 of the students are facing disciplinary action for their involvement in occupying university buildings from February to March.
UoM says disciplinary action is being taken against a 'small group' of students who had been involved in 'the illegal occupations of university buildings over many weeks'.
Reasons for this, the spokesperson lists, include injury to and intimidation of staff “who are doing their jobs” which UoM ,”cannot accept.”
Students who have not paid rent have been contacted by residences staff to explore payment options and any support they might need – financial, advice or wellbeing.
University bosses say they understand the effect the ongoing cost of living crisis has on students, who they know many of which 'are worried or in difficulty'.
"Working together with the Students’ Union, we have taken unprecedented, sector-leading financial support totalling a £9m package. Our support includes offering registered students a one-off payment to help with the cost of living.
"Full-time students received £170 and part-time students received £85. In March we announced that 10,000 students will receive a further payment."
The university also reminded students who are struggling to apply to the Cost of Living support fund - which is a grant of up to £2,000 which 'does not need to be repaid'.
The university has also ended library fines, supplied free eBooks, and provided free hot water, microwaves, period products and warm spaces.
Despite this, students show no sign of ending the strike. On Sunday (April 24), another protest was held outside the John Owens Building which saw a banner hung between the buildings reading "WE WILL NOT STOP TIL WE WIN".
A rent striker, who has been involved with the occupations, added: "If the university continues to ignore us and place profit over its own students who are struggling with the cost of living, we will be forced to take more action to make them listen to us. It is time for the University to negotiate and support its students."
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