'Fight the Rent Hike' Protest sees big LeadMCR candidate turnout

Students (including a number of LeadMCR candidates) marched from Whitworth Gallery on February 20, protesting the University of Manchester's proposed rent increases.

A post on the ‘uom_fight_rent_hike’ social media stated: “As students we’re sick of the University’s excuses for their proposals to more than double rent”. The event was described as a “demonstration against UoMs soaring rent prices”. 

What was once the rent strike group has now become ‘fight the rent strike’. The ‘Rent Strike’ movement gained national coverage in 2023 when an alleged 350 students withheld their rent, demanding a reduction in the price of student halls. University of Manchester student halls also have gained attention for their poor conditions such as mold and vermin problems 

Their campaign has been spurred on by the announcement of the proposed £235 a week pricing of the new Fallowfield redevelopment. Built on the old site of Owens Park and Oak House, the proposed housing would include communal areas and event spaces. 

Starting at Whitworth Art Gallery, students gathered to chant and listen to speeches. Members of the Greater Manchester Tenants Union and the Revolutionary Communist Party were in attendance. 4 members of campus security oversaw the whole event. 

Speech one set the tone for the evening's march. Believing that negative housing conditions “impact our mental and physical wellbeing” they mentioned the impact of “heating and fire alarms affecting sleep” and “silverfish infestations” in student halls. 

The crowd continued to grow as a speech was given on the gallery steps. An estimated 55 attendants were gathered. There was anxiety from members of the crowd as an unknown reporter started to film the group. It later transpired that some participants were familiar with his work and uncomfortable with his presence. 

The unusual route took the protest from the Whitworth Gallery up the Oxford Road. They then gathered outside the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons before looping down to the Main Library and up to the Manchester Museum. Marchers stopped for a speech before walking back to the Whitworth Archway. Due to the 5 pm start time there was a larger number of witnesses, many of whom were heading home from campus. 

As students marched in the middle of the road, down past the Manchester Hospital and Students’ Union Building, curious onlookers walking past stopped to record. During the walk towards campus, two separate bus drivers supportively honked and were seen flashing a thumbs up. 

Protesters carried signs with phrases such as ‘Fight Rent Hike’ and  ‘£200+ we can’t pay’. Another banner depicted the University of Manchester logo with ‘Manchester’ changed to ‘Scamchester’.

Noticeably two current Student Executive Officers were in attendance. City & Community officer Elliott Briffa read a statistics-heavy speech, focusing on the proposed £235 a week for “luxury flats” and the legacy of “neoliberalism”. Discussing the politics of the “national living crisis”, Briffa described the “so-called housing crisis [as] one that has been manufactured”. Speaking from his experience, he said “the reality is if I was to start at uni today, I wouldn’t be able to survive”. 

Activities & Culture officer Charlie Roberts read on behalf of another speaker. They commented on the University's unequal room requirements policy, stating that “less than 1%” of the proposed new development will be accessible. They also accused the University of framing itself as “a good samaritan” but failing “to notice its consistent ability to let disabled students down and leave them in dangerous and unsuitable housing”.

At least 6 attendants were identified as current candidates for various roles in the upcoming LeadMCR elections. Elements of pro-Palestinian sentiment have been expressed in multiple of this year's candidate campaigns. 

The usual protest chants could be heard with the famous ‘What do we want?’ met with loud exclamations of “low rent!”. Additional shouts of “the enemy is profit” and “education for the masses not just for the ruling classes” were scattered throughout their march. 

Standing between the Samuel Alexander Building and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons, another speech was given: this time focusing on the “outdated” attitudes of the education station. The speaker stated, “They [University of Manchester] can no longer turn their backs on students and line their pockets with our struggle”.

A member of the Greater Manchester Tenants Union discussed their struggle with affording accommodation and balancing full-time study. The case of a missed deadline (due to work commitments) was rounded off with a quippy comment of “well I wasn’t working for fun!” which was met with cheers. They described the University as “the cities biggest landlord”, suggesting to the crowd that prices of University halls influenced pricing in the rest of the student housing sector.