Students protested against potential rent increases for student accommodation managed by the University of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 13 November.
This comes amidst fears that the university will once again raise rent costs following an eight per cent increase last year, double the rate of inflation at the time.
Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s Sabbatical Officers organised the protest, which was spearheaded by Vice President Community Ruth Elliiot.
The protestors gathered at the university’s Bristo Square before marching to the Old College to spread their message there.
The VP Community is tasked with assisting students with off-campus issues, the majority of which are housing related. Along with the protest, Elliot has written an open letter to the university which students can sign online.
When asked by The Student about the motivations behind the protest, she commented:
“Studying in Edinburgh is already very expensive, and the university should be doing what it can to keep costs low for students when they are already struggling.”
While she acknowledged that rent increases are mainly a result of inflation and “out of [their] hands to an extent”, she said “severe” rent increases were “unnecessary and detrimental to so many students”.
John Rappa, Vice President Activities and Services, voiced another often-heard concern that the quality of university-managed student accommodation is not high enough standard to warrant a price increase, let alone its current price level.
They recalled an experience at Kincaid’s Court, where hot water would turn off every three days, but could only be repaired by staff members if it remained off for 4 or more days.
Other students shared similar stories in which their heating or other utilities were unsatisfactory, regardless of their high rent costs.
The cost-of-living issues fuelled by high rents were the main fear of students who spoke to The Student.
The protest itself made a large point of this, brandishing signs with statistics on them to raise awareness for the economic struggles faced by many students.
One such sign pointed to a study showing that 56 per cent of surveyed students were forced to skip lunch in order to pay for living.
The maintenance loan “barely covers the cost of accommodation, much less living”, first year student Isla told The Student.
A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said that decisions on rent increases are “never taken lightly”.
They noted that the university provides support for those facing “financial difficulty” and is working with Local and Scottish Government on consultations, such as the New Deal for Tenants and Review of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation
“Our rent prices remain below the average for the higher education sector and commercial purpose-built student accommodation providers,” the spokesperson added.
Image via Ellen Breen