STUDENTS have won £64,000 compensation after living for months in rodent infested university halls of residence.

The conditions at King’s Road Halls, in Brighton, were so bad students threatened to withhold rent.

This forced the University of Sussex to promise to repair the damage and pay student more than £500 each.

Students, led by tenants’ union Acorn , called the pay out a victory.

Brighton Acorn organiser Duncan Michie said: “This deal is an impressive victory for the union. We’re proud to have been able to protect our members’ interests and prove that real power comes from organising and taking action.

“It is a shame it has come to this, but credit to Sussex University, as they have listened to students and given significant compensation to the tenants and they have agreed they will repair the problems before next term.”

Students put up with rats, broken toilets and ovens and poor internet connection in the halls where 120 students pay £506.44 per month to live in shared accommodation.

Five weeks ago students joined the Brighton branch of Acorn and launched a campaign threatening to withhold their rent for the autumn term.

First year student Ethan Richold, 20, originally from Leeds, said the hall was a “disappointment”. He said: “There was scaffolding blocking fire exits and we had a rodent infestation.

“The builders were saying they were doing work on our rooms and we had to be out. But then they never came.

“When we first moved in September one of our toilets was not working, so we had one toilet between six of us until December.

“Then our oven was not working for the first few months of living here and they did not replace it.

“And when the internet cut out we had to go to coffee shops and pay to travel to campus when we wanted to study.”

The university promised to make the repairs by the start of next term in January.

A university spokeswoman said: “Through constructive discussions with our students and the Students’ Union we have been able to reach an agreement today.

“The university takes great care to ensure that its students experience a high quality of accommodation – if this is not being met, then we will take swift action to rectify matters. Listening to our students on the issues they care about will always be our top priority.”