Vic does U-turn on empty room fee

Victoria University has backed down from controversial plans to charge students a $150 holding fee for rooms left empty because of the coronavirus.

The university had previously said it would delay the fee, which was due to kick in on Tuesday, for 10 days after widespread outrage and threats of a strike.

But yesterday in a statement, it said it would reassess its charges on May 11 when the Government will decide whether to extend alert level three or move New Zealand to alert level 2.

‘‘Following the Government’s decision on 11 May, the university will let students in its halls of residence know when the 100 per cent discount will end and charging will resume.

‘‘If students decide they do not want their room held, they can cancel their residence agreement with the university with no penalties incurred,’’ it said.

The university had waived fees for its halls of residence over alert level four and three.

About 3000 of the university’s 22,000 students live in the halls of residence. But since the alert level four lockdown was imposed last month, the university has prevented nearly all hall residents from living in the halls to contain the spread of the virus.

Green Party education spokeswoman MP Chloe Swarbrick said students weren’t ‘‘willing to take the crap any more’’.

Massey, Waikato and Lincoln universities have not charged students who have left accommodation under the lockdown.

Other universities have offered a rebate.