More than 100 Durham students put into temporary accommodation days before arriving

First-year students at Durham University were told just days before arriving on campus that they were being placed in temporary accommodation.

Delayed building works and water certification have resulted in more than 100 freshers arriving at Trevelyan College for their first term at university are without fixed accommodation.

It comes as a student housing charity revealed that numerous accommodation blocks across the country have been delayed this term, leaving hundreds of students in the lurch.

At the college in Durham, students were told by email just a week before move-in day that delayed restoration work had meant 36 rooms were unavailable.

Meanwhile, a further 78 first-year students were only told the day before arriving at Durham that they would have to be temporarily housed elsewhere due to a delay in receiving water certification.

Kate McIntosh, president of Durham University Students’ Union, told student newspaper Palatinate: “The University has failed these students at one of the most crucial stages of their academic lives.

“Despite being assured that the University has been taking Trevelyan College’s delayed building work seriously, it’s clear that the disruption is more serious than originally thought.

“Over one hundred students are unable to stay in their college during their first days in Durham, and this represents a substantial, sustained failure to factor students into the strategic decisions that greatly impact students’ lives.

“It is equally unacceptable that hardworking volunteers have been left to fill the gap in support available to these students, stepping in to do vital work to make move-in possible with little recognition, at the same time as pulling off a fantastic freshers’ week welcome.”

Jeremy Cook, pro-vice-chancellor (colleges and student experience) at Durham University, said: “We regret that delays to the refurbishment of student accommodation at Trevelyan College have meant that a small number of our new Durham University undergraduates have been temporarily accommodated nearby.”

He added: “Of the 108 undergraduates affected, 84 were back in College within three days Induction Week commencing and we anticipate the remaining 24 will return within the next few weeks.

“Their alternative accommodation is in two adjacent Durham University Colleges less than five minutes’ walk away and all have full access to all meals, facilities, amenities and events with their peers in Trevelyan College.”

Last week, the BBC reported that almost a third of private student blocks being built across the UK have been delayed this autumn term, leaving some students temporarily in hotels.

Universities minister Chris Skidmore called the reports “deeply concerning” and he urged student accommodation providers to come together to “ensure these failures don’t happen again”.

On Monday, Mr Skidmore tweeted: “Student accommodation providers who have failed to complete projects on time and provide adequate alternative provision need to be held accountable.

“The wider system of student accommodation needs fixing too if we are serious about student welfare.”

Last month, a student said he was considering flying to Bristol from Amsterdam every week for his postgraduate course after failing to secure housing through the university.

Sohail Braakman, a University of Bristol student, made the comments after failing to find housing for the start of term due to a shortage of accommodation in the city.

It came after first-year students at the same university were left with no halls after being accepted onto courses – and some were offered housing in Wales to cope with demand.