With the recent news that Lancaster University are cancelling 3rd term rent for on-campus and Chancellor’s Wharf students who have permanently vacated their accommodation, the attention must now turn to private student landlords and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation providers (PBSAs). Aparto’s Caton Court Accommodation has rightfully announced refunds for 3rd term rent already paid and rent cancellation for any students who move out by 24th April. It is now time for other private landlords and PBSA’s in Lancaster to follow suit.
Many other private student accommodation providers in other cities have wavered/refunded rent or terminated contracts for students who are no longer residing in the properties including Aparto, IQ, Unite and Student Castle - many more will hopefully follow in the coming days.
All university students, and especially those in their final year such as myself who now face final exams, online dissertation hand ins and the loss of saying goodbye to many of our friends - the last thing we need is the added stress of wondering how we will meet rent, in a city we no longer reside. CRM, and others, while being a privately rented accommodation not affiliated with LUSU or the University, still have an obligation and responsibility to the oftentimes young students they accommodate, to ensure they don't face additional mental stress and financial hardship as a result of their management of the building.
I, a resident of Damside student accommodation until the COVID-19 lockdown, reached out to CRM (the company that runs and manages Damside and many other PBSAs across the UK) to ask for a discount or cancellation of my 3rd term rent or at the very least a reduction to a rate that will be covered by the minimum student finance loans, which are as it stands, not enough. I outlined the financial and personal constraints I’d been facing as a result of no longer working my part-time job or even residing in the Lancaster accommodation, and expressed that I was unable to meet the due rent. I was responded to with a generic email, and an arrears letter the following day from CRM accusing me of breaching my tenancy agreement. I am just one of many students in this position. This cannot possibly continue.
It is no surprise that the COVD-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on all of us as individuals and the revenue generated for companies that operate in our communities. However, students at the beginning of their careers should NOT be bearing this financial hardship of this, while private landlords remain unscathed. Why is there no compromise?
Please sign and continue to urge your private landlord to waver/reduce/refund 3rd term rent!
