Thursday 03-12-2020 - 10:08

You might have already heard that the University is reimbursing nine days’ rent for all students in University-owned accommodation. This covers the period Thursday 10 – Friday 18 December. 

We've been working with the University on a letter to private landlords too, asking them to consider giving our students a rent rebate. You can read the full letter below: 

 

Dear Landlord

As I am sure you are aware, the government is asking universities to help students travel home for Christmas during a specific window of 3-9 December.

Its aim is to manage any risk around the spread of COVID-19 as a result of the students travelling home to spend time with family and loved ones over the winter break.

To support this, at Manchester Metropolitan University we are ending face-to-face teaching this term by 9 December and also opening a testing centre for asymptomaticstudents on our campus.

Our term does not officially finish until 18 December, meaning the government is asking students to leave university accommodation nine days earlier than they may have planned.Therefore, we have decided to offer those who live in our owned and leased halls a nine-day rebate on their rent.

We write to you as an accommodation provider to our students, to ask if there might be a way for you to offer the same kind of rebate. We fully appreciate this may be a significant act on your behalf and would be entirely dependent on your own financial situation.

Our students contribute enormously to the cultural and financial capital of Greater Manchester, making it one of the largest and most vibrant centres of its kind in Europe. The availability of private rented accommodation helps them to live in, and contribute to, communities across the region. These are unprecedented times and student life has been significantly impacted. It has been particularly difficult for young people living away from home for the first time and anything you may be able to do to help would be greatly appreciated.

Professor Karen Moore, Chief Operating Officer, Manchester Metropolitan University

Evelyn Sweeney, President, The Union, Manchester Metropolitan University