On Thursday 6 March, York SU Sabbatical Officers met with University decision makers to discuss campus accommodation prices for the next academic year. While the Sabbatical Officers opposed the increase, presenting a number of concerns regarding the welfare and financial wellbeing of current and future students, the University is moving forward with the decision to raise accommodation prices, with changes set to begin in the 2025/26 academic year.
Rent will increase by an average of 9 per cent across on-campus accommodation, resulting in base rent rates skyrocketing to just under £200 per week for about 5000 rooms. Some 1000 rooms are expected to rise further to over £200 per week, though actual figures may vary. The University plans to publicise these rates at the end of March.
This 9 per cent increase may come as a shock to arriving and existing students, as the 2025 annual inflation rate sits at 3 per cent and the University of York accommodation increase rates usually range from 5 to 6 per cent. This increase brings some on-campus accommodation prices up to the same costs as luxury private accommodation in the city centre.
Nouse understands this choice has been made in an attempt to raise University income to tackle the £15 million financial deficit.
The increase in rent figures is three times the increase in maintenance loan support. The quality of accommodation is not set to be improved, so standards will therefore be in no way equal to the rent charged.
The majority of first-year students at the University of York live in on-campus accommodation, so this change will dramatically affect all incoming students.
The University of York recommends students only work for twenty hours a week, whilst international students are legally unable to work more than twenty hours a week due to visa restrictions. If students work for £10 per hour alongside their studies, this would not cover the new accommodation costs and there is no feasible way for students to pay rent without external support.
York SU intends to continue fighting this increase for as long as possible.
The University of York SU Union Affairs Officer, Lewis Parrey commented: “It is unforgivable that the University is pushing their financial failures onto the student population, who are already struggling under increased cost of living pressures.
“Students have had to take on significant part time work burdens, with many struggling to afford to pay for groceries, rent, and other basic necessities. This increase to rent prices only worsens the immense pressure students are facing. The students of York deserve better than this from their university.”
The Community & Wellbeing Officer, Freddy Russell also commented: “This is a complicated issue, but it can actually be boiled down to a simple fact: Students have never been more financially vulnerable. Until the university demonstrates complete understanding of this through action, we will keep doing what students’ unions have always and will always do: fight for students.”
