LISTEN: Queens offering students studying from home three month rent holiday

by Q Radio News

Queen's University in Belfast has announced it is set to offer students who want to study at home and leave their university accommodation, a 'rent holiday' of up to three months. 

They have been told they don't have to pay rent if they want to move out of accommodation run by the university and study from home, with many students taking most of their degree courses online due to to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Around 3,500 students live in Queen's halls of residence. 

In the first two weeks of term at Queen's this autumn, more than 160 positive cases of covid-19 have been confirmed. 

Almost 400 students and staff were forced to self-isolate as a result and almost half of students are living in the Elms village halls of residence in south Belfast. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for Queen's said they understood if students would rather live at home during this time. 

"We recognise that this semester a small proportion of students may decide that they would prefer to complete the online elements of their studies from home and/or commute for study," a university spokesperson said.

"In these circumstances, the university will agree to pause their contractual obligations for the remainder of the semester so they do not have to pay rent between 9 October and 9 January.

"If asked to self-isolate, students will also not be charged rent for the initial 14-day period."

QUB also urged those who decide to leave halls for this period, to consider the risks of returning home to their family.

It's understood students are being informed of the arrangements tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, NUS-USI union president Ellen Fearon says the announcement from Queen's is welcome news. 

However, she added other universities must now follow suit with with purpose built university accommodation. 

Miss Fearon has called on the government and universities to do more to help students living in private rented accommodation. 

Many have signed on to 12 month leases but are unable to be released from contracts by landlords, if they want to study at home.