It’s highly unfair that students should have to pay the full amount of rent this term when we have been unable, and will continue to be unable to use the facilities promised to us in our contract. Many chose Belaton house because of its facilities (gym, cinema) and otherwise would have been living in much cheaper accommodation if they had known that we would be deprived of them. Furthermore, even when those facilities are opened, they are managed poorly- with very few slots available due to the short window of time the gym is opened, when in reality it could be opened late at night.  

A part of our rent covers the running and the use of such facilities, therefore as we are not able to use these facilities, that part of the rent should be removed.

Whilst students understand that the reasoning behind the closure of these facilities is not at the fault of Belaton House or The Student Housing Company, neither is it students fault. And many students due to the pandemic and losses of jobs or parents jobs are struggling financially, so to be paying for a facility we can’t actually use is highly unfair, considering the student housing company is actually saving money by not having these room in operation (no staff cleaning them and no energy use).