Manchester students living in halls of residence are going on strike once again throughout January. Amidst the cost of living crisis, students are faced with maintenance loans that fall below rates of inflation. With rents increasing across the UK, students at the University of Manchester have chosen an approach that has worked for them in the past: threatening to refuse to pay rent altogether, in a unified protest against rent prices that can take up as much as 70% of their maintenance loans.
The organisation leading the strike, UoMRentStrike, is asking for a 30% reduction in rent prices that are due on January 19, as well as for 30% to be refunded from the October payment. They are also campaigning for the university to adopt a no rent increase policy, which would cap rent prices as they currently stand, and to make at least 40% of accommodation affordable. The NUS’s standards for affordable student housing state that rent prices. should not exceed 50% of maintenance loans. Support for the strike has come through online, with the number of students who have signed up in the hundreds.
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‘Rent increases at UoM halls are pushing more students into financial struggle- during a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting millions!’ the group Tweeted.
The group has successfully held strikes in the past, winning £10.8m during the 2020-2021 academic year. These initial strikes came as a result of lockdown procedures causing students to have to pay for housing they were unable move into in some cases, as well as student accommodation being fenced in. Now that students are facing unprecedented financial difficulties as a result of inflation, the organisation, led by first-years, is hoping the university can meet the demands out of their £117.9m surplus.
A spokesperson for the university has said the University of Manchester has a £9m support package which offers a grant of up to £2000, and £170 payments for all full-time students. ‘We have worked closely with our Students’ Union and implemented a whole range of measures to reduce the financial impact on our students. Rents at our University accommodation are lower than similar private sector accommodation.
‘Working with the Students’ Union, the University is providing more jobs for students on campus, easier and increased access to short-term emergency financial assistance, and funding a new Money Advisor post to be created in the Students’ Union.’