Students scramble for new housing as ‘luxury’ accommodation is reallocated to asylum seekers

Students scramble for new housing as ‘luxury’ accommodation is reallocated to asylum seekers

0:03 AM, 1st September 2023, About 9 months ago 27

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Around 170 university students in Huddersfield have found themselves in a desperate scramble to secure new accommodation after being abruptly evicted from what was once touted as ‘luxury’ housing.

The purpose-built student accommodation, which boasted a cinema room, gym and other student amenities, is reportedly being repurposed to house hundreds of asylum seekers.

The affected housing complex, known as HD1 student halls, is just a short stroll from the University of Huddersfield campus in West Yorkshire.

The student block, designed to accommodate 405 students, had been promoted as a haven of opulence, with rooms available for rent at prices up to £200 per week.

The 150 students, who had already committed to tenancy agreements and were gearing up for the academic year, now find themselves having to find somewhere else to live.

They have been refunded the cash they had handed over.

‘Building will not be opening to students in September’

The studio flats are managed by Prestige Student Living and a spokesperson said: “Hudd Student Management, the landlord for HD1, informed us that the building will not be opening to students in September.

“This decision is beyond the control of Prestige Student Living.

“Our team took immediate action to inform students and help them secure alternative accommodation in Huddersfield and return all payments made to us.

“We deeply sympathise with the students affected by the news and will do all we can to support them.

“Our agreement with the Hudd Student Management has terminated with immediate effect.”

The landlord declined to comment.

‘Genuinely shocked’ by the news’

Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, added he was ‘genuinely shocked’ by the news.

He told the Daily Telegraph: “It’s one thing for the Home Office to block-book an empty hall of residence that is brand new or empty but to let students down like this just before term starts seems pretty outrageous – especially when Huddersfield was identified earlier this week as an amber risk in terms of a shortage of student beds.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being put on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country.

“We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options.

“The government remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process.”


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Comments

Darren Peters

7:31 AM, 2nd September 2023, About 9 months ago

If the students had contracts I’m surprised the NUS & Shelter isn’t kicking off ( actually I’m not)

Alternatively the local council could shut it down as an unlawful change of use under planning. Or at least kick up enough of a stink to get a nice payoff from central government.

NewYorkie

8:46 AM, 2nd September 2023, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Darren Peters at 02/09/2023 - 07:31
Anything to do with asylum seekers will get nodded through without question.

Beaver

12:16 PM, 4th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Darren Peters at 02/09/2023 - 07:31
I'm suspecting that if the Council is agreeing to have asylum seekers housed in their area they get some kind of financial benefit from that, and if the Home Office is housing asylum seekers in student accommodation they benefit because that's cheaper than housing them in hotels. It's probably already ticking a box for both local and 'central' government.

But given that occupancy was apparently less than 50% I still can't see any villains in this story: It's probably far less controversial than sticking asylum seekers on a barge.

If there are losers here then these will be people who've been on council house waiting lists for a long time in what they deem to be unsuitable temporary accommodation for them and their children. And the villains if there are any are the politicians and 'public servants' in both central and local government who through policy decisions designed to curry favour with the electorate ("....bash the landlords, that's always popular, that always gets us votes") made it unattractive for the PRS to house these people in decent accommodation.

Suzy Clarke

19:47 PM, 4th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Then someone is selling out to the Home Office for short term gain....shame on them.

ResOfHudds

10:50 AM, 5th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 01/09/2023 - 10:29
This accommodation is made up of 3 blocks, the fire service deemed them unsafe. I suspect that only one block has been made safe with other two blocks still having work done.

NewYorkie

11:10 AM, 5th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by ResOfHudds at 05/09/2023 - 10:50
Doesn't really answer the question. Did the students have contracts, and if so, how were they allowed to be cancelled in favour of asylum seekers?

Beaver

11:21 AM, 5th September 2023, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 05/09/2023 - 11:10
It has always seemed to me that the fundamental problem with this thread is that there is not sufficient detail to make any judgements or draw any conclusions.

If ResOfHudds is correct (and I don't know where he got his information from) then it could be that the reason for figures showing less than 50% capacity is that although this property was marketed as luxury accommodation only 1 of the 3 blocks was deemed to be sufficiently safe for students. There is insufficient detail to know whether the asylum seekers are being housed in the safe block or in all 3 blocks.

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