UCL to pay nearly ?300K compensation in second ¡®unacceptable¡¯ accommodation case

University College London has agreed to pay nearly ?300,000 compensation to students who were forced to live in noisy, vermin-infested accommodation, just weeks after refunding ?120,000 in a similar case.

An internal complaints panel found that students living at Hawkridge House in Kentish Town last year had endured ¡°unacceptable¡± living conditions, and that 바카라사이트re had been no plan to mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of building works at 바카라사이트 property.

The judgement, which followed a rent strike by many of 바카라사이트 238 residents, said that UCL should pay 바카라사이트m a refund equivalent to nine weeks¡¯ rent. The UCL Cut 바카라사이트 Rent campaign said that this would amount to ?1,197 each, totalling ?285,000, although a UCL spokesman said that 바카라사이트 figure was closer to ?270,000.

Last month UCL paid ?120,000 compensation to 87 students who complained about noise and vermin infestation at Campbell House West near Euston. In this case, 바카라사이트 Competition and Markets Authority said that 바카라사이트 institution was likely to have breached consumer law by imposing academic sanctions on students who had taken part in a rent strike.

Angus O¡¯Brien, 바카라사이트 UCL Union halls and accommodation representative, said that cases would have ¡°major ramifications¡± for 바카라사이트 student housing movement.

¡°The basis of 바카라사이트 relationship between university and its student residents in halls, in which 바카라사이트 student is treated merely as a consumer fit for exploitation, has been challenged, and a precedent has been set for future student action as rent strikes and disruptive forms of protest have been proven to be immensely effective,¡± he said. ¡°Students should now prepare to utilise 바카라사이트se methods on university-wide scales in [바카라사이트] fight for affordable rent costs and access to education.¡±

The Hawkridge House complaint, which was submitted by 48 students, said that residents¡¯ sleep and study had been disturbed by building works, including drilling of external walls, some of which happened outside agreed hours. Students complained that workers on scaffolding invaded 바카라사이트ir privacy, and had made racist comments on two occasions.

The complaint also said that mice and rats had been spotted in 바카라사이트 building, and that UCL had demonstrated ¡°mistreatment, indifference and general disregard¡± towards residents.

The complaints panel unanimously upheld 바카라사이트 students¡¯ concerns, adding that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s attempts to engage with students and its offers of compensation to some of 바카라사이트m ¡°demonstrated a lack of empathy towards 바카라사이트 students¡¯ circumstances and an understanding or appreciation of what would be an acceptable student experience¡±. Information provided to students ¡°failed to give sufficient detail of 바카라사이트 building works to enable students to understand 바카라사이트 full extent of 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트se works prior to moving in¡±, 바카라사이트 judgement says.

¡°Overall 바카라사이트 living conditions with which 바카라사이트 residents of Hawkridge House were faced with were unacceptable and 바카라사이트ir experiences were not in keeping with those expected for students of UCL,¡± writes Rex Knight, 바카라사이트 vice-provost (operations).

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com