We have been striking since 24th October and are the biggest rent strike in the country, with over 1400 students signed up to not pay rent. And we are winning. So far we have won:

1. No repercussions for rent strikers - including NO INTEREST charged on late rent.
2. 25 days worth of rent rebate/rent refunds for all students in halls - adds up to 8.5% of yearly rent refunded.
3. Case-by-case compassionate no-penalty contract release policy.
4. Commitments around the provision of food boxes and sanitary towels for students self-isolating.
5. Transparency around the powers of security: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/life-in-bristol/accommodation/security-services/
6. More mental health check-ins, via phone, text and email, for students self-isolating.

But we can win more. The Uni needs to recognise the poor treatment of students in halls, with many of us experiencing being locked in our flats without decent and timely access to food, without mental health check-ins, without access to the outside, but still paying thousands of pounds in rent to the University. The Uni needs to recognise that they brought us to Uni promising blended learning, which most of us couldn't access due to isolation.

We continue to demand from the University:

1. No-penalty contract releases for anyone who wishes to move out of halls.
2. Return of international students' deposits if they cannot move into halls.
3. 30% rent reduction for the whole year for those who decide to stay in halls.
4. Regular mental health check-ins twice a week via phone or video call with everyone in a self-isolating flat.

We are calling on everyone in halls to join our strike on 24th April, and continue to strike if you have already joined us. We all need to stand together and get the compensation and promises from the Uni which we deserve.

For more information on rent striking, have a read of our FAQs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rHS0L72N5CxSD1WStKdoXcgJzN5gQ7OP2x0w1qmRpes/