Students at an English university who had signed accommodation agreements set to begin in September have been told to find somewhere else to live after the building was taken over by the Home Office to house illegal migrants.
A total of 168 students had already made payments to the landlord ahead of moving into the luxury HD1 studio flats to start attending their university courses next month; some students had already been residing in the apartment building after extending their stay from last year.
However, the property manager, Prestige Student Living, has now confirmed that their agreements have been “terminated with immediate effect.”
This follows an agreement reached between Hudd Student Management, the property’s landlord, and Home Office contractor Serco to repurpose the accommodation for migrants arriving in Britain from the English Channel.
“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,” the property manager said in a statement.
“We deeply sympathize with the students affected by the news and will do all we can to support them,” it added.
The luxury student accommodation comprises “boutique studio rooms” with a “comfy bed, private en-suite bathroom, a large study space, ample storage space, and modern kitchenette,” according to a website advertising the accommodation.
It boasts, among other things, a cinema room, a games area, a gym, and a communal lounge.
In response to the news, 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,” they added.
The U.K. government has sought to relocate hundreds of asylum seekers from expensive hotel accommodations to more sustainable living arrangements in recent months after it emerged taxpayers are paying more than £6 million per day to house new arrivals.
Migrants are being moved to disused army bases, student accommodations, and floating barges in a bid to reduce the financial burden on the Treasury.
