Students at the University of Manchester will continue a rent strike into next academic year after increases in the cost of university-owned accommodation.
Strikers have been refusing to pay their accommodation fees since January as part of an ongoing dispute between students and University management over the cost of halls. The UoM Rent Strike group are demanding a number of measures, including a 30 per cent rent rebate for the year, and rents to be frozen at that level for the next 3 years.
They claim freedom of information request (FOI) data shows that the University spent over £150,000 on legal fees, bailiffs, staff overtime, and other costs to tackle student occupations this year. The University of Manchester denied the participation figures quoted by students, and told the Manchester Evening News they are 'here to help'.
