Accommodation inflation: Rent on the rise

Warwick Accommodation has outlined its plans for the forthcoming academic year, the key changes including an increase in campus accommodation fees “in-line with inflation”, and the promise that it can accommodate the number of students expected.

The changes for the 2011/12 academic year mean a universal increase in prices of halls; weekly costs increasing between £2 and £5, and the opening of the currently uncompleted Bluebell accommodation, which will enter at £145 per week for a 39-week let.

The University is also confident that this new addition to the campus room capacity will prevent a repeat of last year’s accommodation deficit, which resulted in crisis decisions such as room sharing, temporary stays in bed & breakfasts, and the forcing of some students to find off-site accommodation.

The proposals have satisfied Students’ Union President Daniel Stevens, who had been involved in meetings with the University to ensure no unnecessary increases in prices occurred. Speaking to the _Boar_, he was adamant that Warwick still had “one of the best ladders of rent compared to most other universities”, and that he had received pledges from the University to maintain subsidised accommodation in halls such as Cryfield and Tocil.

Yet Bluebell, the new en-suite, self-catering residence, is still the dominant issue with its prices some £20 more per week than current en-suite accommodations Jack Martin and Arthur Vick. It has also caused some alarm that a fixed letting period has been implemented, making it by far the most expensive block, costing more in an academic year than a fully-enhanced student maintenance loan covers.

Stevens said: “The University is very confident that Bluebell will be full and it will help significantly with accommodation problems.” University spokesperson Kate Cox concurred: “we have been oversubscribed … applications are coming in for Bluebell at a similar rate to other accommodation”.

With respect to a prospective accommodation crisis, both the University and the SU were obstinate that another crisis, such as that in 2010 would not happen. Despite the 2011/2012 academic year being the last before the tuition fee hikes and many students choosing not to defer entries, the University is not expecting another significant jump in numbers. In fact, they expect the student population to be static.

“We won’t have a repeat of last year,” added Stevens. “There is no indication that an increase in the student population would happen… last year was well above the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) quota due to unusual numbers in the Maths Department”.

Speaking to the student community, accommodation was certainly a hot topic. The inflationary increases in prices were generally well-received, but there was some confusion about how the University was calculating increases. “Who’s to say what inflation rate they are using – PPI or RPI?” (Producer Price Index or Retail Price Index) said fourth-year MORSE student Rajinder Poonian. “I saw a jump of £10 in one year in my old accommodation so can we trust the University on these matters?”

Bluebell came under heavy criticism about its entry price. “If you’re just relying on the student loan then you wouldn’t consider it,” said second-year Maths and Physics student Becky Harris. “What does it have to offer that Arthur Vick doesn’t … AV’s like a hotel.”

“This encourages the attitude that only people from private schools can go to university because they can afford it,” said Livvy Wharam, second-year History student. She went on to highlight the inadequacies in the University’s existing residences: “I lived in Westwood which was cold, totally unsociable and far away – I didn’t even choose to go there.”

The majority of students said their accommodation was good value for money, but budgets were a common theme: “If I was a fresher I wouldn’t pay more than £100 per week,” said Matt Cooper, a fourth-year Economics and Economic History student.

The full details of next year’s price changes are available on Warwick Accommodation’s website page.