£1.3 million spent on maintenance of University of Manchester student accommodation

Table of Contents

Key Highlights:

1. The University of Manchester spent £1.3 million over the past three academic years on maintaining Oak House student accommodation, peaking at £477,922 in the 2021-22 academic year.

2. Students living at Oak House made a total of 140 reports of ‘rodent activity’ since January 2021, with a significant increase to 93 reports in the 2022-23 academic year.

3. Oak House rental prices have increased by over 90% since 2004-05, rising from £54 to £113 per week, with the current rent taking up 61% of the average maintenance loan for a student.

4. The National Union of Students (NUS) defines ‘affordable’ rent for students as being 50% of the maximum maintenance loan. Oak House is one of only two accommodations at the university that can be considered affordable under this definition.

5. Concerns have been raised over the affordability of new accommodation, such as Unsworth Park, which costs £188 per week, £67 over the amount considered affordable by the NUS, as part of the Fallowfield campus redevelopment project.

News in Details:

The University of Manchester has spent £1.3 million on keeping up Oak House for students in three academic years. This hefty sum marks ongoing upkeep issues for the uni’s student living spaces.

The breakdown of costs shows a troubling trend. Oak House’s 2021-22 upkeep hit a high note at £477,922. The previous school year, 2022-23, they spent £418,803, while in 2020-21, £405,263 was used for upkeep.

A big chunk of money was spent to sort out 6,574 problems over a three-year span. That’s around six daily fixes, highlighting tons of upkeep needs.

The Mancunion got details on these costs through a Freedom of Information request. It revealed the university’s work to keep Oak House livable for students.

But that’s not all. Students have had to deal with rodents. From January 2021, there have been 140 rodent reports. The latest school year (2022-23) saw a big jump, with 93 reports, compared to 31 in 2021-22 and 16 from January to August 2021.

These reports mean someone saw signs of rodents, causing the university to step in.

Student housing costs are also rising. In 20 years, Oak House’s rent shot up over 90%, from £54 in 2004-05 to £113 per week now. That’s a yearly rent of £4,633 for a 41-week lease.

This eats up a large 61% chunk of the average £7,590 student maintenance loan. The National Union of Students (NUS) sees ‘affordable’ rent as being half of the top maintenance loan. It raises questions about how affordable student housing really is.

In a city like London, student housing from the NUS costs about £4,989 per year. That’s like paying £121 for a week-long stay if there are 41 weeks in a year. Right now, you can live at Oak House or Whitworth Park for that amount. These are the only two places where a student can live within their budget, according to NUS.

Still, there’s a problem. New houses, like Unsworth Park, cost way more – £188 per week. That’s £67 more than the affordable range. The Fallowfield campus has this issue because they’re adding more student homes. These homes are being built where Oak House is now.

Because of these rising prices, the UoM Rent Strike student group has come forward. They’ve spoken out against the high cost and poor condition of current homes. They’ve asked that half of all new houses built in Fallowfield be affordable according to NUS rules.

The university knows there are problems with the houses they’re renting out. Always take care of any problems as soon as they’re reported. Their routine checks help ensure student homes are safe. Plus, skilled pest control workers visit these houses eight times a year to prevent any bug issues. When a problem is reported, they don’t simply treat it once. They keep coming back until the problem is completely resolved.

Despite trying hard, the University of Manchester struggles with ongoing problems. The issues range from spending a lot on maintenance to dealing with pesky rodents. Keeping the living conditions at a fair standard and making sure student housing is affordable is a real problem.

News Summary:

The University of Manchester spent £1.3 million over three years on maintenance for the Oak House student accommodation, including addressing 6,574 issues and 140 reports of rodent activity. Despite efforts, concerns persist over rising rental costs, with Oak House rent consuming 61% of the average maintenance loan and being on the cusp of affordability based on NUS guidelines. As new accommodations are developed, student groups demand affordable housing options to address the financial burdens faced by students.