A group of predominantly first year students at the University of Bristol are planning on withholding rent, in response to a lack of support for those in isolation, as well as insufficient teaching provisions. According to the movement’s twitter account, the strike has the official support of 1,100 students as of 22nd October which, according to Epigram, makes it the biggest student rent strike in UK history. 

The strike has gained considerable traction, with corresponding efforts in Manchester and Glasgow also being made.

Rent Strike Bristol published a set of seven demands via Twitter on 16th October, consisting of a 30% rent cut for those who continue to live in halls as well as improved provisions for the protection of the physical and mental health of those in isolation. 

These include time spent outside (which in many cases, has been restricted outright), improved food boxes which cater for any dietary requirements, mental health checks by ‘ResiLife’ (the University’s support network) and greater clarity regarding the ‘powers, role and actions of any security staff enforcing lockdown in halls.’ The withholding of rent is in action as of 24th October.

The Bristol movement hasn’t gone unnoticed and has drawn political support (shared on its Twitter page) from grassroots left-wing organisation Momentum, newspaper columnist and Labour activist Owen Jones and Green Party Bristol City council representative Carla Denyer. Denyer, who contests the Bristol West seat at elections, called on ‘the government to do more to support students and the Higher Education sector.’

Appeals have also been made to current MP, Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire to address the rent strike, though he has declined to comment.

This comes amid widespread unrest among students taking issue with the prospect of paying full tuition fees and rent in spite of sometimes drastic changes to teaching methods, including exclusively online learning and less ‘blended’ learning than expected.

The ‘Students Before Profit’ tagline and movement has attracted support from across the nation, including at the University of Birmingham, where a peaceful and COVID-19 regulation-abiding protest from students against paying full tuition fees was prevented from entering campus. While last month students in Manchester were offered a degree of financial compensation after being forced to isolate, it is unclear what the wider stance from universities will be, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drastically alter everyday life for students and people from all other walks of life.

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