Largest UK student accomodation provider gives 50% off rent for lockdown

It comes as students are told to stay put until at least mid-February

Unite Students have offered a 50 per cent rent reduction for four weeks in light of lockdown (Google Maps)

The UK’s largest student accommodation provider has offered a 50 per cent rent discount in light of the new lockdown.

It comes after students were told to remain where they were - while many were still at family homes for the Christmas break - until at least mid-February, with teaching pushed online as part of stricter new measures over coronavirus.

Unite Students - which houses tens of thousands of students - said residents across the UK will be able to apply for a 50 per cent discount for a total of four weeks due to lockdown.

They will also be given a  four week complimentary extension of their tenancy agreement at the end of the academic year.

Both the discount and extension will be available to students checked-in but not living in their accommodation between 18 January and 14 February.

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Also this week, Student Roost, another large UK student accomodation company, said they would offer money off rent, in recognition of the fact many students are away from their university cities and unable to travel back due to government guidance. 

“To help them follow this important guidance, we’re writing out to our residents to offer a discount of up to six weeks’ worth of rent," a spokesperson said. 

““All Student Roost residents who have been away from the property they live in prior to 5 January 2021 and can’t travel back just yet to use their home with us can apply for this discount.”

Students told The Independent last week they were frustrated at the prospect of having to pay hundreds of pounds in rent for accommodation they could not use due to lockdown.

Some universities, such as Essex, Sheffield, Manchester and Newcastle, have already confirmed students in their accomodation will not have to pay rent if they are not coming back to their accomodation during lockdown.

But Universities UK said the “vast majority” of students do not rent university-owned accommodation, and were relying on decisions made by private landlords or other providers.

Richard Smith, Unite’s chief executive, said: “The new rent discount recognises the challenges and disruption that students face following the Government’s latest lockdown announcement, and we feel that taking this action is the right thing to do.”

Unions have said students should not be made to pay for accommodation they cannot live in due to lockdown.

Under England’s new lockdown, only students on certain courses – such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science – have been told face-to-face lessons will resume. All others have been told to stay put “wherever possible” and to do university online until mid-February, in government guidance.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said the department encourages universities and accommodation providers “to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, transparent and have the best interests of students at heart”. 

Students in Scotland have also been told not travel back to their term-time accomodation during the latest coronavirus lockdown, as universities move courses online until at least the end of February.