Hundreds of hard-up students living in private halls are calling on landlords to waive final rent instalments amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Struggling students in Canterbury say it is "immoral and unjust" for accommodation providers to expect them to pay the full remainder of the year's rent for rooms they are no longer living in.

Several have spoken to KentOnline about their fears of not being able to pay the sum - which for many is upwards of £2,000 - as they and their families face financial hardship because of the pandemic.

About 800 students live at Palamon Court - a Rhodaus Town development owned by Ridge Holdings Ltd - and Canterbury Student Manor in Parham Road, owned by Graduate Two Ltd.

At Palamon Court, rent costs up to £215 a week, while at Canterbury Student Manor rooms go up to £190.

While universities have cancelled face-to-face lectures and students have returned to their family homes, many private accommodation providers have waived final rent instalments that usually cover the summer period, or have released students from their contracts early.

This includes Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), which has urged private landlords to follow its example in order to "mitigate the turmoil" Covid-19 has caused to students.

But Ridge Holdings Ltd and Graduate Two Ltd have refused to waive payments at the two Canterbury sites.

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) student Brooke Tilley described the situation as "very stressful and frustrating".

"We were advised by our university to return home because of Covid-19," said Brooke, who pays £612 a month for a room in a two-bed flat at Palamon Court. "For my own mental health and well-being, staying in this accommodation looking at the same four walls was not an option."

The 20-year-old usually works in a care home during summer to supplement her income. But having been forced to self-isolate, she is concerned about how she will pay rent for her final trimester, which is due this week.

"If I can't work and my parents can't work, what am I going to do?" she asked.

Brooke has asked her accommodation provider to waive or reduce the fee, but says her request was refused.

She is not alone.

Fellow CCCU student Beth Elwood has been forced to get a job at Tesco to help pay for her vacant room at Palamon Court - putting her immunocompromised (having an impaired immune system) dad at risk.

"My student finance doesn't cover my accommodation, so I normally have a job whilst at university," said the masters student, 22.

"However there is currently no work and the company have not given furlough. In order to pay the rent, I have had to get a temporary job in my home town working overnight in a supermarket.

"My dad is in the 'vulnerable' category, so by working I am putting him at great risk of catching the virus.

"However I am the only person earning in my household, so I have no other option."

Another CCCU student, who didn't want to be named, told KentOnline she is using the student loan she usually spends on rent to help buy food for her family during the lockdown.

Frustrated by the situation, and with no way of communicating directly with the building owners, first-year law student Molly Fitzpatrick has set up an online petition calling on landlords to scrap the fees, which has already amassed more than 850 signatures.

"My maintenance loan doesn't cover the cost of my accommodation, let alone living expenses," said Molly, who was forced to opt for private accommodation in Canterbury after failing to secure a room in university halls.

"Like the rest of the country, students, including myself, are out of work. Money is scarce for many families. In these times of uncertainty people simply cannot afford to pay obscene amounts for a service we are not using.

"But the owner expects the full amount paid, despite having told them that myself and other students are struggling financially.

"At minimum, we should expect a reduction in price due to the reduction in electricity being used.

"Palamon Court have ignored the morally correct way to handle the situation."

Palamon Court and Canterbury Student Manor are managed by CRM Students.

CEO Stewart Moore said that of the 60 student buildings CRM manages across the UK, about 55 have decided to waive final rent payments.

"I have complete sympathy with the students on a personal level," he said. "It's a really challenging time. We manage the buildings, but ultimately we don't make decisions on not collecting money without the client's say-so."

CRM was unable to provide contact details for Ridge Holdings Ltd and Graduate Two Ltd, bar mailing addresses. KentOnline has approached each firm by post for a comment. To sign the petition, click here.

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