A university sent in “dozens of bailiffs” to physically evict students striking over rent payments.
The University of Manchester has been slammed by students for unaffordable rents that they say drove them to strike and occupy a number of university buildings.
But this morning, starting around 5.20am, the university sent in bailiffs to haul out the students from the Simon Building, which they had been occupying since February 13.
Videos and pictures from inside the building showed students being picked up and hauled from the building.
The university said they “regretted” having to send the bailiffs in but had to make the decision as the situation had been ongoing “for a significant amount of time”.
After securing a court order on Monday, the university gave notice to the occupiers Tuesday before officers of the High Court entered the building and removed the students today.
The Occupiers said: “The University has made it clear that they would rather drag their students out of a building than listen to our concerns.
"The cost of living crisis isn’t going anywhere and neither are we. Occupations are only one of many tactics, and this eviction will not slow down our campaign one bit.”
Then, later this morning, University of Manchester Rent Strike, in a tweet where they shared footage from inside the building, said: “UoM have just used dozens of private baliffs to physically evict student protesters.
"Shame on @OfficialUoM that they would rather do this than consider basic demands for affordable rent. Any pretence that these scum care about student welfare is clearly bull****."
The strikes came about, according to the students, because of “ridiculously high” rents and in January they claimed that 350 students withheld rent.
Before occupying the Simon Building, the students took over a number of other properties across the campus.
It began on February 8, when they occupied areas of MECD, Samuel Alexander, and the whole John Owens building.
While the former two were vacated after a few days, the John Owens building was occupied until February 16 and, during that time, students moved into the Simon Building in protest, before they were removed today.
During these occupations a number of campus and security staff were injured on two separate occasions when students rushed the doors to force entry, the university claimed.
While the university has said it is offering students extensive support during the cost of living crisis, the rent strikers slammed the latest action as an unprecedented “crackdown” on students.
They also blasted the university, which they say is making an operating surplus of £119million, for increasing “already sky-high rent”.
A number of prominent left-wing Labour MPs, including Jeremy Corbny, John McDonnell and Nadia Whittome, expressed their solidarity with the strikers.
As did a large number of University of Manchester staff, including lecturers, technicians and more.
None of the students were arrested or fined, but the university said they were processing evidence and would notify those affected if they faced formal disciplinary action.
The students are understood to be planning to keep up their rent strike in line with the next payment date on April 20, where they are aiming for 1,000 students to take part.
Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Manchester said they recognised the difficulties around student housing nationally and in Greater Manchester and agreed the government’s 2.8 per cent maintenance loan rise was “insufficient”.
A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “This morning officers of the High Court attended the Simon Building to enforce a court order on a small group of students who had been illegally occupying rooms there since 13 February 2023.
“This action follows multiple requests to those occupying the building to leave, and court hearing papers being served on the occupiers on 15 March 2023. The Court granted the University a possession order on Monday, and copies of the order were served to the occupiers.
“We very much regret having to do this, but the situation has been going on for a significant amount of time and has caused ongoing disruption to students and the people who work in the building.”
