Amidst the chaos of the corona pandemic, a vast majority of campus living villages’ student inhabitants have had their courses delayed or cancelled, and with no reason to stay at uni and for fear of not being there for vulnerable family members, became locked down in their own homes rather than at their university accommodation. With the third payment for the accommodation rent beginning on the 21st April, we are petitioning to have this payment cancelled, provided students fully move out of their rooms before the payment period begins as it is an unforeseen circumstance that wasn’t our fault.

Students aren’t able to enjoy the facilities on campus that were pitched to them as reasons to live in the accommodation site, as the company recognises that holding the gym, café and student shop open is dangerous in this current situation, and even recommends people use the lift one at a time and don’t use social spaces. The students ask that Campus Living direct this energy towards the rent too as they clearly believe it dangerous to students to remain on site, yet would still encourage students to live there by making them pay the final rent.

Other university accommodation companies- Unite Students, for example, have made allowances during this situation and allowed the students to move out of their rooms without paying for the last term. Very near to my campus in Peel Park Salford, both the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University have cancelled the payment of the last term, despite it’s city location.