On behalf of University of Chester student residents, we the Students’ Union are writing to all landlords to highlight our concerns regarding the impact of the current Cost of Living crisis on students, and to seek your help and support. Students at the University of Chester are not immune to the Cost of Living crisis that the country is experiencing currently. This situation is affecting some students harder as there has not been an uplift in the maintenance loans for students, leaving students on average £439 short in their budgets each month. I am sure you would agree this is not sustainable.
The University of Chester has always offered financial and welfare support to students and has increased this provision and extended it due to the Cost of Living crisis. In addition to what was offered before the University is now giving free toast and coffee at certain University outlets. Being involved with the ‘too good to throw’ Initiative, cheaper basic meal deals at catering facilities, and warm food at a cheap rate too. The Students’ Union is also running free ‘Toast Tuesdays’ and Commuter Breakfasts at other University centres to try and make lives for students a little bit easier.
We, as the Students’ Union representing the students at the University of Chester, are calling on landlords to help in this crisis in two ways.
First, we want to see landlords passing on the financial support they are receiving from the energy bills support scheme, which gives each household a £400 discount on their energy. We want to see a pledge and evidence that this financial support is being passed on to students.
Second, we are concerned to hear reports that some landlords are sending out contractual amendments which place an energy spending cap on student houses. We are deeply concerned that if this continues to happen, then students would be left with bills they can’t afford to pay, in addition to a potential increase in household disputes as to who is responsible for the bill. Any legally binding contract signed in 2021 for the 22/23 academic year should still stand as signed.
During the past few years during COVID, students were not allowed to amend contracts after their studies were moved online and, in many cases, this meant students were paying for rooms they couldn’t use. We are asking that the same standards are shown now to students.
These are exceptional circumstances, and we appreciate what we are asking may be a significant act on a landlord’s behalf and one that may be entirely dependent on their own financial situation.
However, we believe these two steps would make an enormous difference to our students, many of whom are experiencing hardship, and ensure that they do not suffer as a consequence of this Cost of Living crisis.
