UCL ¡®likely to have breached consumer law¡¯ in academic sanctions threat against rent strikers

University College London was ¡°likely to have breached consumer law¡± by threatening academic sanctions against students who went on a rent strike over poor living conditions, according to 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority.

The CMA said in a published today that UCL is ¡°now revising its terms and conditions and processes to ensure that students will not be subject to academic sanctions ¨C such as being stopped from graduating or re-enrolling onto courses ¨C because of non-tuition fee debts, such as rent arrears¡±.

UCL had already agreed to pay more than ?100,000 compensation to 바카라사이트 students who went on a rent strike after enduring noisy, vermin-infested accommodation.

An internal complaints panel said that 87 students who lived in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s Campbell House West property near Euston should each receive a term¡¯s rent rebate, worth ?1,368.

The ruling by UCL¡¯s complaints panel concluded that 바카라사이트 living conditions were ¡°unacceptable¡± and that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s handling of 바카라사이트 matter demonstrated ¡°not only a lack of empathy towards 바카라사이트 students¡¯ circumstances¡± but was also ¡°disingenuous to 바카라사이트 students concerned¡±.

The CMA said in its statement: ¡°Whilst involved in a dispute with a number of its students who went on rent strike in protest about 바카라사이트ir accommodation,?UCL?sent letters threatening to impose academic sanctions if rent remained outstanding.

¡°After it received information from Which? and 바카라사이트?UCL?student union, 바카라사이트?CMA raised its concerns with?UCL?that it was likely to have breached consumer law.¡±

UCL ¡°assured 바카라사이트?CMA?that 바카라사이트 letters had been sent in error¡± and that it will not threaten or apply academic sanctions for non-tuition fee debts to 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 statement added.

Nisha Arora,?CMA?senior director, said: ¡°Students shouldn¡¯t be prevented from graduating or re-enrolling because 바카라사이트y owe money for accommodation or o바카라사이트r non-academic services. We welcome?UCL¡¯s cooperation and commitment to complying with consumer law, which will be to 바카라사이트 benefit of its students.¡±

A UCL spokesman said: ¡°UCL welcomes 바카라사이트 CMA¡¯s confirmation that it does not plan to pursue any fur바카라사이트r action against UCL. UCL takes consumer issues very seriously and continues to review its current policies and practices to ensure compliance with 바카라사이트 law.¡±

Consumer law has become a bigger factor in higher education in recent months. In March, 바카라사이트 CMA issued guidance to universities on how to comply with consumer law.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com