Accommodation fee waiver update

With the current national lockdown restrictions, we have been working closely with the University as this is a particularly challenging time for all our students.

Some of you have already accessed your University of Derby accommodation this year, whether that has been to attend teaching sessions for certain courses, if you returned to us before the new lockdown was announced, or because you chose to stay over the winter break. We’re also aware that many of you have not returned to campus due to government guidance and aren’t currently using your University of Derby accommodation.

We are pleased to let you know that:

• The University will not charge you rent for any time you have not used your accommodation due to COVID-19 restrictions between 11th January and 22nd February 2021
• All students in University of Derby halls of residence, who are eligible to do so, will also receive a two-week reduction in rent. This is due to the impact of restrictions during the end of 2020
• These reductions will both be applied as waivers to your Term Three rent payment (due April 2021)
• The University will be working with you on an individual basis to understand your situation

What do I need to do now?

Please continue with your second term payment (due Friday 15 January). The University will send you a form which asks about the dates you will use, or have used, your accommodation between 11th January and 22nd February 2021. You must complete this form by 31st January. The University will then apply a rent reduction to your account for the dates you’ve not used your accommodation. All eligible halls residents will also automatically receive the two-week reduction. These credits will be deducted from your third term payment (due April 2021). More details about this offer, including eligibility for the two-week reduction, are available from the University.

The University will get in touch with you to organise this. Please do be patient as we work through this.

We understand some of you may be experiencing financial difficulties. If this is the case for you, please contact our SMART Team at Student Wellbeing for advice and support. You can reach them by telephone on 01332 592000 Monday–Friday 1.00pm–2.00pm. If you're an international student and you're in financial difficulty you can find advice and guidance at UKCISA.

We’ll be working together with the University to contact local landlords and owners of private accommodation to encourage them to consider similar concessions for students.

Thank you for your patience so far while we work with the University to implement these changes.