The University of Birmingham (UoB) has recently announced that they will provide a rent rebate for all students who are in University owned accommodation or those owned by partner organisations, such as Unite Students.

UoB has followed similar steps to those put in place at the start of the pandemic in April 2020, when students were offered a similar option of rent refunds. The university has recognised the financial problems many students are currently facing as a result of the pandemic; whilst also understanding that due to new government restrictions, many students cannot return to their accommodation at the university. They have also added further support to students unable to use their rooms, by not charging students in accommodation that includes meal-plan for their food during the period. Whilst government restrictions are still in place, students have been recommended not to travel. 

Whilst the current government lockdown guidelines prevent students from returning to their accommodation, the university maintains that students on certain courses requiring in-person placement or teaching, such as Medicine & Dentistry and Education, can return to their term-time accommodation. Furthermore, other cases of students returning have been approved. For example, if a student needs to return for wellbeing or safety reasons. 

Tom Wood, an organiser of the University of Birmingham Rent Strike initiative, gave his thoughts regarding the issue before the news was released: ‘There is a lot of resentment brewing amongst students at the minute and rightly so. The University has continuously lied to students about the safety of returning to campus and has failed to provide a proper education throughout the pandemic. 

‘We feel we have been ripped off and students want to know how to fight back against this injustice. Students want their money back for the accommodation that they have been unable to live in for most of their time at University. They also want their rent reduced for the rest of the first year as a form of compensation.’

Subsequently, the University has recognised the difficult situation that students have been put in due to the ongoing lockdown and financial problems created by the pandemic.

The University states that the rent rebate will last from the 11th January to the 12th February. In an email to students, they communicated that ‘this remains a fast-moving situation and as such when government guidance has been updated, and in advance of the 12th February, the position will be reviewed and shared with you.’

They have provided a deadline of 20th January for students to claim for the rent rebate.

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