We, the students at the University of Bolton, were recommended to go home at the start of December and are now strongly advised not to return to campus until late February, at the earliest. All while still paying the full price of rent for accommodation we are not living in. Furthermore, those who remain at Orlando Village are not allowed to use the common room, a facility included in the price we pay for.

We should not be expected to pay for living arrangements that we are not living in. The government is advising that students should not return to their accommodation. How is it fair that we have to follow their guidance and pay the full rent? Surely, you can sympathize with our situation?

Additionally, the majority of University students nationally are feeling neglected by the government and the policies being made in regards to us. Unfortunately, we can only hope that our University supports us in the way that the government does not. However, this has not been the case thus far.

We understand that the pandemic is not a fault of the University or the accommodation providers and the University itself has made an effort to its students over the break providing us with support in regards to mental health but this same University knows that their students are paying full price for accommodation that many are not living in and all are not receiving the same experience as previous university students, despite paying the highest rent ever required by Orlando Village.

We are those residents writing to you now.

We demand a full rent refund for the months of December and January.