“SLEEP-DEPRIVED” university students have accused a student housing company of ignoring them in their battle against “months of noise pollution”.

Dozens of students living at the Abacus student accommodation in Baker Street, Brighton, claim they have been plagued by loud construction work and sleepless nights since moving into the site which opened in September last year.

Abacus, run by The Student Housing Company (TSHC), promises safe and secure accommodation for 351 students across three, four and five-bedeoom flats.

But the University of Sussex students, who pay up to £7000 a year for accommodation at Abacus, said building work on the site has continued for at least six months – half the duration of most of their tenancies.

Resident Tom White said affected students asked TSHC for some form of compensation, but the company has yet to reply.

He said: “We moved in late September and the building was still under construction, which we tolerated.

“But it’s been going on for six months now, which we weren’t told about at the start of our tenancy or while signing contracts.

“We’ve had managers up here to have a look and we were promised an amicable resolution but, since we mentioned compensation, they have completely abandoned any responsibility.”

PhD student Bas Barzenjy said he had emailed TSHC with “numerous complaints”.

He said: “It was so bad we thought someone was drilling underneath our beds and they literally were.

“I indicated this was a breach of contract since we were not given notice, both in our rental agreement or prior to moving in, about possible ongoing construction nuisance and noise pollution.”

Lin Meng-Chiu, a law graduate and masters student, added: “It became obvious they didn’t want to communicate their position to us and maybe they thought we would just give up. It’s been one disappointment after another.”

Some students staying at Abacus have withheld final instalments on their rental fees because of the problems. But they have since been threatened with potential legal action if they do not pay up.

Michelle Miles, operations manager at TSHC, said the commercial units below its site were not owned by the company.

She added: “Any work being done is that of individual tenants, which falls outside of our control.

“However, providing students with the best experience whilst staying with us remains of paramount importance, so we have made various representations on their behalf and it appears that the works are being carried out in full accordance with planning permission and during pre-agreed daytime working hours.“We will however continue to monitor the situation and liaise with our students to help minimise any inconvenience caused.”