UNITE Students, the UK's largest owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, has announced that they are to extend their half price rental discount to March 8 2021.

The addition of three weeks on top of the accommodation provider’s original offer of four weeks rent discount, announced on January 11, means that provides eligible students will receive a 50 per cent rent discount totalling seven weeks.

Students who pay their rent directly to Unite Students, and who successfully applied for the original rent discount announced earlier this year, will now receive the additional 50 per cent rent discount automatically, providing they have not returned to their Unite Students accommodation since January 18, 2021.

Richard Smith, Chief Executive of Unite Students, said: “Supporting students has been our priority throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and we will continue to play our part during these exceptional circumstances.

“We recognise this is a challenging time for students which is why we’ve extended our current 50 per cent rent discount period.”

All of Unite Students’ properties, including Purbeck House in Bournemouth, remain open and operational with current occupancy levels at approximately 50 per cent.

The three-week rent discount extension is being announced in light of the continuation of lockdown restrictions to at least March 8, 2021.

In addition, the four-week complimentary summer tenancy announced on 11 January 2021 is still applicable to students with a contract end date prior to 1 August 2021.

To be eligible for this extended rent discount period, students need to be up to date with their rent payments as of February 14 and not be in residence in a Unite Students property between January 18 and March 7, 2021.

Students who applied for the original four-week 50 per cent rent discount will receive an email confirming their eligibility for the three-week extension. There is no requirement for students, or their guarantors, to contact Unite Students again to apply for this extension.

For those students who haven’t yet applied for the original rent discount, they will still be able to do so up until February 14, 2021 and will be reminded how to do this directly by email.

Mr Smith added: “All our properties remain open for the tens of thousands of students who are still living in their accommodation, with our staff on hand to help.

“Our focus is on keeping all our students and our staff safe across all our properties.

“We also continue to work closely with our university partners and will review any material changes in government guidance on universities remaining open.”

Should further Government guidelines on lockdowns be issued prior to March 8, a further review will be carried out.

For more information about Unite Students, visit https://www.unitestudents.com/bournemouth.