[4] The students said issues included rat infestations, leaks, mould, and high rent during the cost of living crisis.

11 students underwent a disciplinary procedure for alleged involved in occupations related to the rent strike, though the panel dropped 2 cases entirely and the remainder were asked to write letters of apology and watch "Health and Safety" training videos.

[11] The University switched off heating and WiFi in the John Owens building on 15 February 2023, which was being occupied by students at the time.

[15] On 24 March 2023, the rent strike group posted on social media that they had occupied the University's security office.

[17][18] The Simon Building was first occupied on 13 February 2023, with those inside stating that they would not leave unless bailiffs forced them to, or the University negotiated directly with the protesters.

[citation needed] On 3 March 2023, a petition was published and successfully reached the required 400 signatures allowing students at the University of Manchester to call for a referendum.

[28][29][30] On 9 March 2023, strikers received emails from the University of Manchester informing them that they would be fined £25 for the delay in paying rent and threatened students with third-party debt collectors if the overdue payments were not paid by 3 April 2023.

[31] On 19 April 2023, those who did not pay the January instalment of their accommodation rent were referred to the debt collection company STA Unify.

On 31 March 2023, leaked emails showed University executives looking into the financial backgrounds of students in the rent strike group.

This gave notice to the occupiers that the university had begun the process of repossessing the building to force them to leave, citing health and safety breaches as their justification.

[40][41][42] The University started disciplinary action and sent emails to 11 students involved in the John Owens occupation on 28 February 2023.

[13] The university said the students broke the "Conduct and Discipline" regulations,[15] and specifically caused damage to the property and injuries to staff.