Rent Strikers WIN compensation from UCL

Rent strikers at Campbell House West, a UCL Hall of Residence, have forced the University to compensate a total of £75,000 following a dispute over living conditions.

Campbell House students campaigning with Cut the Rent last week

The cause of the dispute was down to building work at nearby Wates House, with the noise level causing considerable disruption to residents- the total compensation amounts to 20% of the annual rent, working out at £1,400 per student.

Lydia Hayman, a student in Campbell House West, stated that:

“Living at Campbell House this year has been almost unbearable with the incessant building noise from Wates House. It comes as a great relief that UCL has finally capitulated to our demands and admitted that the standard of accommodation is simply unacceptable.”

UCL Cut the Rent, which has been campaigning for fairer rents for student tenants across London- has called the rise in accommodation rent, “tuition fees by stealth”.

The ongoing building work at Wates House has been the cause of serious disruption to residents at Campbell House West

In a press release, Cut the Rent have said:

“In reopening the Hall of Residence [Campbell House West]…the university has shown more evidence of an inherent disregard for the welfare and wellbeing of its students.

“by taking this radical course of action students have successfully held the university to account for unbearable living conditions and extortionate rent prices.”

Last year, UCL was forced to pay out £100,000 in compensation to students at Campbell House West following a similar complaint regarding disruptive noise caused by building work at Wates House- the living conditions at Campbell House West were described by UCL as ‘unacceptable’.

A statement released by UCL has said:

“Residents at Campbell House West have been awarded a rent rebate for the 2015-16 academic year in response to a group complaint of unacceptable disruption and noise levels from neighbouring UCL construction work.

“This decision by UCL acknowledges and validates the claim of Campbell House West residents and the rent strike has had no bearing on the outcome.”

Campbell House West

Since the beginning of 2015, UCL has had to pay out nearly £500,000 in compensation to residents in its accommodation as well as agreeing to a 2.5% reduction in rent across all UCL Halls of Residence.

There are currently 1,000 students across London’s Universities campaigning for a cut in the rent of student accommodation.