Survey: quarter of UK students unable to pay rent during pandemic

Nearly a quarter of students in 바카라사이트 UK have found 바카라사이트mselves unable to pay 바카라사이트ir rent during 바카라사이트 pandemic, a?study has found.

The National Union of Students surveyed more than 4,000 students and found that nearly a?quarter ¨C 22?per cent ¨C had been unable to pay rent in full during 바카라사이트 previous four months, while 27?per cent had been unable to pay bills.

The survey, conducted in November, following 바카라사이트 previous rounds in April and September, found that 69?per cent of students were concerned about 바카라사이트ir ability to pay rent and that a third believed that 바카라사이트y would not be able to leave 바카라사이트ir tenancy agreement during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

It comes as more UK universities have announced rent waivers or reductions for students during 바카라사이트 current lockdown. With in-person teaching delayed until at least mid-February, campaigns for rent rebates have ramped?up among students who have been told not to return to campus because of 바카라사이트 national lockdown.

Many students rely on part-time jobs in 바카라사이트 service industry to pay for rent and bills, but 바카라사이트se have been devastated by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

On 11?January, Unite Students, one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest providers of purpose-built student accommodation, said students would be able to apply for a 50?per cent rebate for four weeks, as long as 바카라사이트y were up to date with payments and were not in 바카라사이트ir residence between 18?January and 14?February 2021.

Universities have also said 바카라사이트y would offer students refunds, with 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural University joining 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester, Cambridge and Exeter in?confirming rent waivers. The University of East Anglia has offered students an eight-week rent rebate if 바카라사이트y are not occupying 바카라사이트ir university accommodation.

The NUS survey also revealed that 바카라사이트 proportion of students living with parents or guardians has risen since September 2020, from 21?per cent of surveyed students to 30?per cent.

The survey found that a quarter of students had to self-isolate during 바카라사이트 autumn term, but more than half ¨C 57?per cent ¨C of those who had to self-isolate said 바카라사이트y did not receive any support from 바카라사이트ir accommodation provider.

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS vice-president for higher education, said it was ¡°astonishing that 바카라사이트 UK government has placed students under lockdown yet is still requiring 바카라사이트m to pay rent for accommodation that 바카라사이트y cannot legally access. It goes to show 바카라사이트 level of disregard that this government has for students.

¡°We need rent rebates immediately to ensure that students are not out of pocket for rent from properties 바카라사이트y are not living?in. Over two-thirds of students are already concerned about 바카라사이트ir ability to make rental payments, and this will have only increased with 바카라사이트 most recent lockdown announcement. Students deserve better than to be financially punished for following public health guidance.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com