Students barricade themselves in University of Manchester building as part of rent protest

A group of around 15 students have barricaded themselves in the normally empty Owens Park tower in rent protest.

Students of the University of Manchester have occupied a building in protest against being told to pay full rent fees this term.

It comes after students found themselves quite literally fenced into their accommodation one morning, after metal fencing had been erected overnight.

The students who have occupied Owens Park tower unveiled a poster that read ‘this is an occupied building UoM Rent Strike’.

The students explain they have enough supplies of food and drink to last several weeks and that they will not leave until their demands are met. 

They are calling for discounted rental fees due to the current circumstances, which sees them paying around £1,500 on average for their rooms where they have been locked up and unable to use any communal facilities.

They are calling for a meeting with the university’s vice-chancellor, Dame Nancy Rothwell.

Speaking to the MEN one student who is taking part in the rent strike, 18-year-old Ben McGowan, said he and up to 200 other students have refused to pay the full amount of rent for the autumn term. 

He said: “The campaign has really ramped up in the last few weeks but the Uni has essentially just ignored us. They said they were going to fine us 3% extra per day that we didn’t pay the rent.

“Then they sent this email saying they could kick us off our course, although they can’t. We’ve tried to have a meeting and they’ve just refused. “

He continued: “We want a discount on the rent because of what’s happened this term, in terms of that facilities that meant to be covered by rent, things like common rooms – we’ve not got access.

“I think December should be wiped off when we’re not in. The entire campus is shut down, the cost of uni upkeep must be down, there’s no justification for the full fees.

“We are also calling for the university not to make any redundancies this year in solidarity with the staff.”

The students suggested a 40% discount for the 2020/21 year in a letter to Prof Rothwell.

It comes amid widespread concerns regarding the mental health strain being put on students who are being asked to self-isolate with little to no support.

A UK study found that suicidal thoughts have increased among young adults in the lockdown. A second study found that 80% of (medical) students with mental health issues felt under-supported, and that they had poor or moderately adequate support.  

A 19-year-old who was suffering from mental health issues was found dead in his halls in Fallowfield. His father slammed the lack of support for the young people locked down due to Covid-19.

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “We are aware of the protest by a handful of students in an empty residential building. We have made it clear to them that they shouldn’t be there and that they may also be in contravention of current national Health Protection Regulations.

“We are already engaging with elected Students’ Union representatives about many of the issues being highlighted by the protestors.

“The University is fully committed to freedom of expression.”