Plymouth City Council back students' rent strike demands

The City Council are calling on the Government to take action for Plymouth students who are not able to live in their accommodation.

Many students are not able to due to lockdown and travel restrictions - but still have to pay for rent.

The local authority has asked their Cabinet Member for Education to write to the Government, asking relevant departments to work with student landlords, both university-owned and private, to:

• Reduce student rent by 40% for the rest of the academic year

• Enable students who cannot occupy their accommodation to exit their contracts without penalty

• Reimburse students who have paid in advance and cannot occupy their occupation

• Reimburse lost income for student landlords whose tenants cannot occupy their accommodation

• Consider allowing students who cannot work due to lockdown to claim Universal Credit

Plymouth Marjon University has already waived rent and the University of Plymouth are setting up an 'enhanced hardship fund'.

Plymouth Rent Strike previously said "It feels like we're being bled dry to keep the universities afloat".

So far, Plymouth Rent Strike have 430 strikers, with more than £750,000 withheld.

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