Hundreds of UK students are protesting being trapped in accommodation due to the coronavirus.
UK university students have signed up to a rent strike in protest of having to pay thousands of pounds for accommodation where they have been forced to stay under the current UK quarantine measures.
Hundreds of students have so far joined this protest, with a Facebook group being set up in support of the strike already at over 650 members, stating that they are stuck on near-deserted campuses where all of the normal facilities and services have been forced to close. Additionally, many have said that they cannot afford to pay rent as a result of losing jobs which were vital to funding their living costs whilst studying away from home.
Among those who have signed the petition are international students who are now stranded in the UK and unable to travel to their home countries during the pandemic.
A spokesperson from the University of Sussex has said that students were told in March that rental payments for the final term would not apply for those who were no longer living on campus. While some students were able to return home, many found themselves stuck on campus as a result of lockdown restrictions after being urged to not attempt to travel during this period.
Students who are currently living in privately owned accommodation are also finding themselves in an equally difficult situation, with many tied into tenancy agreements which will cost thousands of pounds, even if they have travelled back to their family home for the duration of lockdown measures.