Peter Lazenby
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BAILIFFS broke into a University of Manchester building today and forcibly evicted students who were occupying it demanding rent reductions.
Police were present as bailiffs broke through a door and carried or dragged the 20 occupiers from the building ending the six-week occupation.
A court granted university authorities a possession order to take back control of the building on Monday.
The occupation is part of a students’ campaign for lower rents for university accommodation, a rent refund and grants from university reserves to help them through the cost-of-living crisis.
The campaign also involves a rent strike which students say has so far cost the university at least £500,000 in unpaid rents.
Students have accused the university of increasing hostility towards the protests, with 11 students involved in a previous occupation under disciplinary investigation and facing possible expulsion from the university.
The students said in a statement: “The recent crackdown on UoM students is unprecedented as no other known occupation or protest has been subject to threats of expulsion or use of bailiffs before in UoM’s recent history.
“Over the weeks of this occupation, security guards have blocked off kitchens, hot water, food supplies and fire exits, at various times.”
The occupiers said the evictions would cause more students to join the rent strike when their next monthly payments are due on April 20.
The students want a 30 per cent rent reduction, rent freeze and a guarantee that 40 per cent of student halls will be “affordable.”
They also want a cost-of-living payment of £1,500 to compensate for government cuts in student maintenance loans, a guarantee of no punishment for occupiers and rent strikers, and that the university authorities publicly support a favourable settlement with the University and College Union in the lecturers’ pay dispute.
A University of Manchester spokesman said: “This morning officers of the High Court attended the Simon Building to enforce a court order, on a small group of students who had been illegally occupying rooms there since February 13 2023.
“We very much regret having to do this, but the situation has been going on for a significant amount of time and has caused ongoing disruption to students and the people who work in the building.”
