London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

Bristol University students set to go on rent strike as halls lockdown

Students at Bristol University are set to go on rent strike after accusing campus bosses of not living up to their promises.
They say there is no need for them to be in local accommodation because many lessons are online – and are demanding a 30% rent cut for those who decide to stay and refunds for time spent under lockdown in their flats.

Organisers are urging ‘everyone in halls’ to join the strike and not pay their rent from Saturday, October 24.

They have a list of six demands including: ‘No repercussions for rent strikers; no-penalty contract releases available for all those in halls and a 30% rent cut for the whole year for those who decide to stay in halls.’

It is not clear how many students have so far signed up to take part in the action, with an online call for participants ongoing.

In a statement, organisers wrote: ‘Students were sold coming to Uni being promised blended learning, so many of us signed contracts with halls and moved to Uni.

‘Now, we are finding that most of our learning has moved online and we are essentially paying thousands of pounds in rent for a room we wished we’d never signed for.’

It comes as coronavirus cases at the University were yesterday said to be nearing 650, according to Bristol Live.

The statement continued: ‘Many of us are being locked in our flats without decent and timely access to food, which the Uni knew would happen.

‘This is affecting all of us and we think that the Uni should refund our rent for the weeks we are in halls lockdown.

‘We cannot access the blended learning we were promised, nor all the halls facilities we are paying thousands for.’

In response, a Bristol University spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘The health and safety of our students is a top priority, and our Residential Life teams are available 24/7 to offer help and advice.

‘Regular support and contact with students will ensure everyone is kept up-to-date and can ask any questions.

‘We welcome further discussions with representatives from Cut the Rent and Bristol Students’ Union, but this is an issue that is affecting all universities at the moment and our actions are guided by Public Health England and the authorities.’

The University says it is providing cleaning supplies, laundry services and free food boxes with fresh goods which ‘we understand some other universities are charging students for’.

But the spokesperson said security and support staff within residences are ‘essential to remind students of the need to behave in a responsible and lawful manner’.

The strikers’ other demands are: ‘outside time’ – involving allowing students in flats with no positive cases to run for an hour each day; having food boxes that cater ‘for all dietary requirements’ delivered; and regular check-ins from welfare officials.

Thanking students for following government advice and ‘fully acknowledging’ self isolating is ‘stressful and challenging’, the University spokesperson continued: ‘Self-isolating students have full access to wellbeing and mental health support services, and our blended learning provision has been created to ensure they can still continue with their studies online.

‘Students who aren’t having to self-isolate are still able to attend face-to-face learning and move around freely within Government guidelines.’
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×