BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FACE STRESS AND FINANCIAL PRESSURE UNDER COVID LOCKDOWN

Students of Bournemouth University are under pressure due to financial stress from the student housing provider that is not willing to waive the accommodation fee despite the fact that most of the students have returned home to their family members during the lockdown period and the student accommodations are mostly empty. 

The buzzword of this year – COVID-19 has stepped into Bournemouth University students’ lives. UK universities have shut their doors, closed all the campus buildings and other services such as access to the university library and labs following the Government’s procedures. All the anxiety and stress about finishing the semester, concerns about vulnerable family relatives, loans and future job prospects got worsened. 

Just two days before the final payment of accommodation fees, email was sent by the Campus Living Villages (CLV), the student accommodation provider who provides the accommodation services to most of the international Bournemouth University students. 

In this email, the student accommodation company announced their decision NOT to cancel the final rent payment as a response for students’ concerns about the third instalment payment for the provided halls. 

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, over 50 % students have gone home following the University’s advice to stay with their families during this uncertain period. Yet, the student hall provider has refused to cancel the rent charges. Despite the fact that the company has a detailed information about the number of tenants who stayed and who left the halls as all students have had filled their current residence status. What is more, students who have already left the accommodation (and their reasoning does not have to be related to COVID-19 but they might have planned to leave the accommodation for Spring break) will not be able to access the room to collect their belongings at this time.

This situation is unfortunately not exceptional. Although many private student accommodation companies across the country, under pressure from local councils and universities, have waived or partly refunded the last payment on rent where students have moved out due to the pandemic, many more have not and still demand students to pay their rent as normal, even though they lie empty during the lockdown. As a reaction, students have organised strikes as some private hall providers refuse to cancel fees despite many students going home due to coronavirus restrictions. 

OKEFORD HOUSE

credit by Student Crowd.com

One of the Campus Living Village’s student accommodation halls here in Bournemouth is located in Winton Area and it’s called Okeford House. The tenants, who are mostly postgraduate students from Bournemouth University, have been criticising the accommodation provider for their policy and demand to partly reduce or cancel the rent payments. 

Let’s take a look at the Campus Living Villages reasoning for rent payment demand. 

Sure, it is an unforeseen circumstance and it is no one’s fault. But how ridiculous it is to pay money for accommodation that students are not residing anymore. 

Furthermore, many Okeford House residents point out the fact that the services provided by the rental company have not been good enough, illustrating it on ongoing problems such as leaking ceilings and the garage area next to the house. 

On the day of the third installment (paid April 10th), the company took the final pay from all tenants that pre-selected the direct payment. However, many students refused to do that and have called for help from the Students Union of Bournemouth University. Why? Because it is unacceptable to pay for rent under these conditions.

What’s the next step? Bournemouth University is now in talks with accommodation providers about early contract termination and the update will be sent next week. Meanwhile you can support students and sign up the petition here or here. At 10,000 signatures, government will respond to this petition!

Khanh Ly Tranova