On Thursday, the York SU sabbatical team, led by the Union Affairs Officer and the Community Wellbeing Officer, met with university decision-makers regarding their choice to raise on campus accommodation prices for the incoming 2025-2026 academic year.
Despite entering the meeting expecting “an open conversation with the potential for negotiation”, the Sabbs said that the University made it clear from the beginning that their decision to raise rents was final.
The University of York has decided to raise rent costs to an average of 9% across campus accommodation, resulting in base rent rates skyrocketing to just under £200 per week for about 5000 rooms, with some 1000 rooms due to be raised to over £200 per week.
This choice is far above the annual 2025 inflation rate of 3%, and above the typical average percentage increase of 5-6% that we have historically seen in York.
In a press release sent by the Sabbatical officers, they said: “this choice has equally been made as a poorly veiled attempt to raise university income in an effort to tackle the £15 million shortfall they have found themself in.”
“Ultimately, students should NOT be made to pay for the University’s financial failures.”
the Sabbatical Officers
During this meeting the sabbatical team said that they made it clear that they opposed the increase,
presenting a number of concerns regarding the welfare and financial wellbeing of students,
both current and future. These reasons include:
- The increase in rent is three times the increase in maintenance loan support.
- Accommodation rent is one of the only non-means tested tool – increases dramatically affect all students.
- The quality of accommodation is in no way equal to the rents that would be charged.
- The University recommends students only work 20 hours a week – this would barely cover new accommodation costs. Furthermore, international students are legally unable to work more than 20 hours per work due to visa restrictions. If all these students earn the typical £10 per hour minimum wage, there is no feasible way for students to pay rent without external support.
- The increase would bring some on-campus accommodation up the the same price as luxury private accommodation in York
The sabbatical officers have reassured that: “The team intends to continue fighting this increase for as long as possible, despite the University intending to publicise these rates at the end of March. York SU will continue to fight for students’ basic needs… so watch this space!”
Union Affairs Officer, Lewis Parrey, said: “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 University of York Students’ Union 07/03/2025 immense pressure students are facing. The students of York deserve better than this from their University.”
Community & Wellbeing Officer, Freddy Russell, acknowledged: “This is a complicated issue,” but added that, “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.”
We have reached out the University of York for comment.