Students held a protest outside a letting agent after the firm refused to sign a new ‘ethical lettings charter’.

Digs, a brand managed by Abode Property Management, closed its office as around 40 campaigners turned up to seek a confrontation which they did not get.

The protest, supported by Bristol University’s student union, was organised by a campaign group called Bristol, Cut the Rent.

A spokesperson for the group said that student accommodation across Bristol was often very poor, and it was targeting Digs first.

A student survey of 854 students found less than a quarter would recommend Digs first.

The ‘ethical lettings charter’, which is backed by the city council, is a voluntary code by which agents pledge to offer certain standards of accommodation, and to attend to repairs and maintenance in a “reasonable timescale”.

A spokesperson for Digs told the local paper it was not obliged to sign the charter, and pointed out that it was already signed up to ARLA and TPO.

The spokesperson said: “Abode Property Management are a very professional and ethical letting and managing agent.

“They do not feel the need to sign a charter created by lobbyists, rather than an official industry organisation.”