New Fairfax House residents are to be charged more than their predecessors, despite a partly successful rent rebate claim by last year’s residents.
The former residents of the house, supported by a petition bearing over a hundred signatures, appealed for compensation of £350 each, bringing their rent from Band 2B to Band 1B. The compensation panel acknowledged that “there has been disruption to the residents of Fairfax House,” but compensated each ex-resident just £50.
However, despite this admission, the prices at the off-campus Vanbrugh accommodation block have increased for the coming academic year, rising to £101.01 per week from £96.18.
The compensation panel are not able to make changes to rent bands, and as a result Accommodation Services have instructed the claimants to begin a new process if they wished to make changes to the banding structure.
New residents have already expressed concerns on a ‘Fairfax House University of York 2011/12’ Facebook page, with one exclaiming “I was getting all excited… should this change my mind?”
One of last year’s residents Nicholas Dunn-McAfee told Vision: “It’s hardly fair that, in addition to the disappointment of not receiving the full amount that we requested in our justified claim, future students will be charged more for a house that still has many issues.”
On a more positive note, Campus Services have agreed to host a consultation group in Fairfax House next term in order to collect feedback from residents. David Duncan, University Registrar and Secretary confirmed that the facilities at Fairfax House were amongst those that are considered priorities for refurbishment in the coming years.