UNIVERSITY students who staged a seven-month rent strike over “unbearable” conditions in their halls of residence have been awarded nearly £100,000.

Each of the 87 students living in University College London’s (UCL) Campbell House West were given a full term’s rent rebate of £1,368.

Students repeatedly complained last year about noise and dust pollution from works on the building, a rodent infestation and unsanitary conditions to no avail.

The university complaints panel unanimously decided there had been “serious failings” from management to solve the “unacceptable” situation during a hearing late on Thursday.

UCL student union halls and accommodation representative Angus O’Brien said: “For the now ex-residents of Campbell House West it has taken seven months for their voices to be heard by UCL management.

“Despite the clear, devastating effects on the residents’ daily life, studies and overall quality of life, no effective preventative action was taken by UCL.”

“Its priorities lay not in the education and wellbeing of the students but the monetisation of the estate.”

Rent-striking second-year student Kieran Howard said the outcome “vindicates” those who had since April been fighting university management on this issue.

During the hearing, the university complaints panel also criticised management for being “disingenuous” and “demonstrating a lack of empathy.”

The student-run UCL Cut the Rent campaign, which led the strike, said the victory demonstrated “the importance and validity of disruptive protest in holding university managers to account.”

UCL vice-provost Professor Anthony Smith sent a letter to student rep Mr O’Brien apologising for “the experience that the student residents of Campbell House West faced during 2014-2015.

“I would like to reassure you that UCL takes its responsibility towards its students extremely seriously and values highly its relationship with the student body.”

But he did not offer any apology for management’s threats of expulsion to rent-strikers in June.

Another hearing will take place in the coming weeks over the similar case of Hawkridge House residents.