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<p>Universities and private accommodation providers are autonomous and responsible
for setting their own rent agreements. The government plays no direct role in the
provision of student accommodation.</p><p>This has been a very difficult time for
students, and we encourage universities and accommodation providers to review their
accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, transparent and have the best interests
of students at heart.</p><p>We recognise that in these exceptional circumstances some
students may face financial hardship. The Department for Education has worked with
the Office for Students to clarify that providers are able to draw on existing funds,
worth around £256 million for academic year 2020/21, towards hardship support. The
government is making available up to a further £20 million on a one-off basis to support
those that need it most, particularly disadvantaged students. As my right hon. Friend,
the Prime Minister, said on the 7 January 2021, we are considering what more we can
do to provide further support to students.</p><p>Maintenance loans are available as
a contribution towards a student’s living costs while attending university. The system
targets the most living cost support at those from the lowest income families, who
need it most.</p><p>Students undertaking courses that would normally require attendance
on-site, but for which learning has moved either fully or partially online due to
the COVID-19 outbreak, will qualify for living costs support in the 2020/21 academic
year as they would ordinarily, provided they continue to engage with their higher
education provider. This also applies when the student is prevented from attending
the course physically and is required to study online due to shielding.</p><p>If students
have concerns about their accommodation fees, they should first raise their concerns
with their accommodation provider. If their concerns remain unresolved, and their
higher education provider is involved in the provision of the accommodation, students
at providers in England or Wales can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator
for Higher Education to consider their complaint.</p><p>If a student thinks their
accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can raise a complaint under
the accommodation codes of practice as long as their provider is a code member. The
codes can be found at: <a href="https://www.thesac.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.thesac.org.uk/</a>,
<a href="https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain" target="_blank">https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain</a>
and <a href="https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml" target="_blank">https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml</a>.</p>
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