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Rents Campaign 2000

In 1999-2000 a massive campaign was launched by CUSU and many of the Colleges on the issue of rapidly increasing rents, following a report of the Bursars' Committee shortly beforehand.

Cambridge University is set to become the most expensive University outside London.

Colleges are currently working together to force through massive increases which have already pushed the average Cambridge rent (excluding KFC) well above the national average.

The moves follow the recommendations laid out in the Bursars' report, "Addressing the Room Rent Subsidy", which calls for real term rent increase of between 33 and 47 per cent by 2004/05. These huge increases will push the average weekly fixed costs to £70 a week - compared to the current national average of £42.80 outside London.

The Cambridge University Students' Union totally rejects the notion that there is any justification for any rent rises, let alone such drastic hikes as are being enforced. Our reply to the Bursars' report, "The Cost of Studying at the University of Cambridge", proved that their methodology was so flawed and misleading as to rubbish their conclusions.

The Bursars' Report considered 'market rents' as a suitable benchmark by which to judge College rents. CUSU does not accept this comparison. Private accommodation is run for profit, and does not benefit from Colleges' economies of scale or their guaranteed occupants. Furthermore, Cambridge city rents are heavily inflated because of a housing shortage prompted by the dominance of colleges in this sector.

They also compared Cambridge rents to, "other Universities", by which they meant East Anglia, London and the South East. The latter two are the two most expensive regions in the country.

CUSU has produced the most comprehensive and up-to-date survey of rents and charges available for this academic year, surveying 47 universities. This proves conclusively that if the proposed increases go ahead, Cambridge will become the most expensive university outside London. All reports referred to can be seen on our rents web-pages.

CUSU also argues that when determining an appropriate level of rent, the total fixed costs of living should be considered - including the Kitchen Fixed Charge.

The opacity of College accounts has made it impossible to accurately estimate the actual costs of providing student accommodation. CUSU has challenged Colleges to provide transparent accounts to justify their actions. They have not.

Rent rises will hit hardest those groups already under-represented in Cambridge University. We cannot afford to let our reputation and abysmal access history be further eroded by these actions.