Nottingham students to strike against 'immoral' rent payments for unused accommodation

The students feel it is 'worth the risk' of legal action

A group of Nottingham students staying in private accommodation have decided to strike against paying the final instalment of their rent for rooms they were asked to vacate due to Covid-19.

Students at the University of Nottingham who have mostly been staying at Madison Court, Raleigh Park, on Faraday Road have said Derwent Students - who manage the property on behalf of a landlord - have largely "ignored" their emails and they will withhold their rent payments because of this "immoral" approach.

Some of those who have been told they are still liable to pay the rent have put together defences as to why they feel they are not entitled to pay the rent considering the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic

A petition challenging the rent payments has received more than 350 signatures against Derwent, who advised students on March 19 to "please return to your permanent home if you can", but have also said concessions the rent payments would only be made if examples of 'financial hardship' are given.

Lauren Hawkins, who started a Facebook group for the rent strikes that now has over 60 members, previously spoke to Nottinghamshire Live about how she thought still being charged for rent was "cruel."

The 19-year-old University of Nottingham law student has been living at Madison court in Raleigh park for her first year.

Lauren said: "On the advice of Derwent Students, I vacated my room on March 20 and went back home.

"We have been emailing them a lot but they've been very slow to reply or we're just ignored all together. They will say they need to charge us but not say why.

"Under the Law Reforms Act of 1943, in Section 1(1), it states 'when a contract governed by English law has become impossible of performance or been otherwise frustrated... the parties thereto have for that reason been discharged from further performance of that contract.'

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"In Section 1(2) it says all sums payable should be 'discharged'. Covid-19 is not something that the residents of Derwent Living took into consideration when entering the contract."

Lauren - who is originally from Bexley - said she has emailed Derwent Living about how this act applies to the situation of tenants at Madison Court but has not received a reply.

She added: "I asked them what some of our payments are going towards, considering we're not using any utilities, but they haven't said anything to me on that either.

"I started a Facebook group to get a little more organised about our response as students and see how many people feel the same way.

"I feel us doing this is worth the risk of legal action because I have looked into this and feel that what we are arguing is valid. Anyone can read the contract and see that.

"It's stressful to deal with this and with everything else going on with our assessments, it's so frustrating to have to keep on emailing them."

Students who are striking against their payments have begun to receive emails from Derwent Students saying they have outstanding payments

Rhiannon Davies, 21, is a criminology first year student at the University of Nottingham who is also striking against paying her rent.

Originally from Twyford, Rhiannon said: "The fact that courts near us are not having to pay the rent but those of us who live in Madison do because of our landlord is not right.

"Having to pay the rent is something I've raise with my local MP (Theresa May) and my MP in Nottingham, Lilian Greenwood.

"On the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) website, it says 'where a contract is not performed as agreed, the CMA considers that consumer protection law will generally allow consumers to obtain a refund.'

"As a criminology student I'm very interested in morals and for me this is very immoral and taking advantage of students. I feel like Derwent are being very stubborn and unwilling to negotiate.

"They said in emails that only in cases of 'financial hardship' would rent be waived or reduced, so I told them about how I come from a single parent household and my mum is unsure if she will be kept on after the pandemic. They told me I need proof of redundancy and to send them bank statements which I think is very invasive.

"As a family we are never relaxed with money and the money for this rent could be used for something more important right now."

A 'communtiy union' - ACORN - that supports tenants and workers in Nottingham, has said it is looking to support the tenants in their dispute here and Lauren and Rhiannon have already joined the union.

Sam Harris, communications officer at ACORN Nottingham, said: "So the situation as far as I'm aware is that the students are still awaiting responses from Derwent and it looks like they are being ignored.

"We feel that because the students were told to leave their accommodation, that should void the contractual agreement because they have said that. It feels like Derwent think students will just give up and pay.

"ACORN hope to help the tenants by raising their concerns and publicising their efforts. We're a union so people have to join us to access our support and some of the students with Derwent have started to now.

"We've been able to contact local MPs about the issues and specific concerns because of the influence we have as an organisation."

Chloe Cadman, 19, is another tenant at Madison Court who is in her first year studying law at University of Nottingham, who was also thinking of striking against her rent payments but has now decided to pay and seek an immediate refund.

She said: "I decided to pay the money because they said we would face increased charges if we didn't and I don't want to give them any more money.

"I paid yesterday (Monday 25) and straight away asked for a refund - or a partial refund at least.

"I think it's so shameful and arrogant that they wouldn't respond to us. We have exams this week and we're having to worry about all of this."

A spokesperson for Derwent Living said: "We are committed to providing all the support we can to students who may have difficulties or concerns.

"We will consider individual needs on a case-by-case basis and agree payment arrangements for the summer term that are appropriate and not detrimental to the students or their longer-term desire to study.

"We will release students from their contract where hardship can be demonstrated. We will continue to keep the decision to release third term rents under review."

A University of Nottingham spokesperson said: "The University of Nottingham has already contacted students in our own halls of residence to say we will not charge for unoccupied rooms in the summer term.

"While it is for individual private student accommodation companies to determine their policies, we applaud the many partners and providers who have done the same both locally and nationwide."