A big issue many students have faced is the inability to occupy rooms they are paying for. Similarly, those who have been able to take up places in student accommodation have had a very different experience from the one they signed up for.

Background

The Forgotten Students campaign, led by Bali (your Education Officer) and Laura (your Community and Welfare Officer), believes students should be compensated for the impact the pandemic has had on their educational (and overall student) experience. A big issue many students have faced is the inability to occupy rooms they are paying for. Similarly, those who have been able to take up places in student accommodation have had a very different experience from the one they signed up for.

If anything is clear from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that Halls of Residences were not built to be isolated in. With cramped rooms, shared kitchens and bathrooms, and often no access to gardens, green spaces or social spaces, Halls this year have been a nightmare for many students. Equally the financial cost of halls and private accommodation has had its toll on students, with the NUS finding that half of student renters spend more than 75% of their monthly income on housing costs*.

While LSE announced changes to their Halls of Residence contracts** in January, those in private accommodation were left behind. No one should be paying for rooms they aren’t living in or don’t need

Students need a way out. That’s why LSESU are campaigning for all Halls of Residence providers and PBSAs to offer the following to their student residents:

  • LSE to agree to compensating students where financially viable
  • To produce a guide for incoming students outlining the Covid policies of private accommodation providers
  • To secure an agreement with private halls that allows students to leave their contracts early at no further cost
  • To secure an agreement with private halls that allows students to suspend their contracts and return to their accommodation after lockdown ends 
  • For private halls to provide a 30% rent reduction in recognition of the reduction in services and social spaces

Find out more about how you can get involved on this website. We understand that this is a complex matter as it involves external providers, as well as LSE. We’re therefore keen to support grassroots campaigns that focus on individual providers so please contact us if you are leading your own rent strike.

* Refinery Students Deserve Better Campaign
** LSE Accommodation Coronavirus Guidance

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