As a direct result of Union lobbying and campaigning Imperial College Union is proud to announce that the College has adopted a new approach to Halls of Residence pricing that will deliver savings to thousands of new students.
pricing that will deliver savings to thousands of new students
Accommodation in London is one of the biggest financial challenges facing a large number of our members and for a long time we have been lobbying the College to be more transparent about how room rents are set in Halls of Residence and to engage with us on an approach to setting those rents that better benefits Imperial students.
Tom Wheeler, Union President, presented a paper that he had worked on with the College's Chief Financial Officer that outlined a number of options for how the College should set halls rents at Union Council on Tuesday. Union Council chose the option below where the average rents in Wilson and Woodward halls were reduced, thus making the point of entry to living in halls considerably lower. The lower price in Woodward Hall also allows for the cost of travel that will be a factor in the North Acton location.
Current average rents per hall
Hall | Average Weekly rent/person | Number of beds | m2/person | Rent/m2 | Rent/m2 compared Eastside | Travel time to SK |
Beit | £169 | 313 | 11.9 | £14.24 | 91% | 5 |
Eastside | £191 | 454 | 12.3 | £15.58 | 100% | 5 |
Southside | £174 | 407 | 11.8 | £14.71 | 94% | 5 |
Weeks | £156 | 64 | 14.4 | £10.84 | 70% | 5 |
Pembridge | £127 | 96 | 11.5 | £11.07 | 71% | 20 |
Wilson | £153 | 393 | 10.3 | £14.86 | 95% | 15 |
Woodward | £158 | 692 | 13.2 | £11.95 | 77% | 30 |
Total/Avg. | £166 | 2419 | 12.1 | £13.72 | 88% |
New model for average rents per hall
Hall | Average Weekly rent/person | Number of beds | m2/person | Rent/m2 | Rent/m2 compared Eastside | Travel time to SK |
Beit | £182 | 313 | 11.9 | £15.29 | 87% | 5 |
Eastside | £215 | 454 | 12.3 | £17.48 | 100% | 5 |
Southside | £200 | 407 | 11.8 | £16.95 | 97% | 5 |
Weeks | £170 | 64 | 14.4 | £11.81 | 68% | 5 |
Pembridge | £130 | 96 | 11.5 | £11.30 | 65% | 20 |
Wilson | £150 | 393 | 10.3 | £14.56 | 83% | 15 |
Woodward | £120 | 692 | 13.2 | £9.09 | 52% | 30 |
Total/Avg. | £166 | 2419 | 12.1 | £13.72 | 88% |
With 788 rooms available at the £130 price point or below, compared to only 96 before, we think this makes Imperial's Halls of Residence much more accessible to future students - whatever their financial situation.
Union Council also voted to mandate the Union to fight the proposed closure of Pembridge Hall whilst accepting that College’s decision to close Weeks hall was an inevitability.
Tom Wheeler said, "It is fantastic that as a result of our lobbying and campaigning we have secured lower rent for over 1,000 future students with the new approach to College accommodation. We admit that a reduction of 60 bed spaces close to campus is a loss, however it was a mature decision taken by Union Council to focus the lobbying and campaigning resources of the Union on saving a hall that potentially can be saved. To focus otherwise would be diminishing to the importance of the victory secured for future Imperial students during Tuesday’s Council meeting. It is indicative of the improved relationship that we now have with College that we are being given these figures, let alone that we are engaging on these difficult decisions."
The Union is proud that it has been able, through constructive lobbying and a joint approach with the College to make a positive, member-led change to thousands of future Imperial students. We commend the College for the transparency around this process and look forward to working with them similarly on other important decision that affect the lives of our 16,000+ members. We would particualrly like to thank Debra Humphris, Vice Provost (Education) and Muir Sanderson, Chief Financial Officer for their help in making this happen.
