Monique Ford/Stuff Azaria Howell lived in Victoria University’s Capital Hall in 2020, and said it was being run like a business, not with students in mind. (File photo) Tertiary students say they are dealing with a massive power imbalance when it comes to accommodation rights, but institutions and providers say the current regulations are working. Students spoke to the Education and Workforce Select Committee on Wednesday as part of the inquiry into student accommodation, which was launched after Covid-19 exposed inequalities across New Zealand universities. Speakers told stories of being looked after by overstretched residential assistants, universities charging for accommodation they could not access during lockdown, and being told they could leave when they raised issues of homophobia and sexism.