The University of Manchester has announced students who cannot return to their accommodation due to the national lockdown will not have to pay their rent.
It comes after the university introduced a 30 percent rent reduction until 31st January following a series of student protests in November last year, amounting to a six-week rent reduction in total.
Anyone who has been unable to return to university due to the national lockdown will not have to pay any rent until the restrictions end, or the student returns to their accommodation.
Students will also have the due date of their rent pushed back in January to allow for them to decide whether to stay in their accommodation.
From 1 February students will pay the full rate if they decide to remain in their university accommodation.
However this reduction only applies to accommodation owned by the University of Manchester and not private providers.
Professor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students and Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for the Student Experience, issued a joint statement on Friday 8th January.
It said: “We and the Students’ Union will be writing to private providers to tell them what we are doing for students in our halls and encourage them to consider rent reductions for those of you who aren’t able to use their accommodation.
“The pandemic has caused enormous disruption this year, so we want to thank you again for continuing to make the most of your experience and for following the rules that help protect everyone in our community.”
