Companies attacked for rent demand to students

Some are facing bills of £1,000 as they self-isolate away from properties

Student union leaders have hit out at companies forcing their members to pay for accommodation in which they are unable to live.

Most students travelled home to live with their families when campuses shut and lockdown began.

Some are facing bills of up to £1,000 for unused accommodation.

Josh Connor, Dundee University’s student president, said: “These companies need to show some flexibility and compassion.

“We are all trying to do the best we can but charging students exorbitant rates for places they are not living is not acceptable.”

Many students in the city live in purpose-built student accommodation, or PBSAs, often paying annual rents.

There are at least nine such properties in Dundee owned by a range of companies.

Mr Connor said Dundee University Students’ Association had been working in partnership with Abertay to contact all the companies operating in the city.

He said: “Some of the smaller ones have offered discounts or written off final bills. It makes me wonder why the larger businesses can’t do the same.”

Owen Wright, Abertay student president, said: “It’s freaking some students out. Students need this money so they can live on it during this crisis.”

Jamie Rodney, St Andrews student president, said students in the Fife university town are facing similar issues.

He said one company, Homes for Students, which owns the East Shore accommodation overlooking East Sands beach, still expects students to pay half of their final term bill.

“In the current economic circumstances there are going to be a lot of people who don’t have that money.”

A large en suite room in East Shore costs more than £8,500 for a 44-week academic year.

The Mears Group – which made a pre-tax profit of £17m in the first half of 2019 – owns the Old Mill block on Brown Street in Dundee. A spokesman said: “We have sent letters to state that if any resident has any issues then we will deal with this on a case-by-case basis.

“Students, as with any other renters sign a contract for a fixed period, so we expect people to honour their contract. They will still be in receipt of student loans which are intended to cover this.

“We are extremely sympathetic and will listen to any residents’ concerns and deal with them individually.”

Homes for Students did not respond before deadline.

Picture: Kim Cessford. St Andrews students who were lucky enough to graduate last December before the virus disrupted university life.