UCL students paying as much as £225 a week hit out at 'appalling' condition of their halls

 
A kitchen which students say is not fitted out as well as others in the halls
Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo10 November 2014

London students have demanded “immediate” action to improve their “appalling” university accommodation which is costing some up to £225 a week.

UCL students behind the RENTS campaign say they are “disappointed” with the facilities at Max Rayne and Ifor Evans halls in Camden, north London – suggesting their accommodation is “not good value for money.”

They complain of a number of issues including broken furniture, poor bathroom facilities, faulty heating and even a cockroach infestation which they claim “has been going on for at least five years.”

In a letter written to UCL accommodation services, the group additionally claim there is a “huge disparity” in facilities at catered halls Ifor Evans, where all residents pay £137.20 for a twin room, £167.30 for a single and £225.75 for a one-bed flat. According to one student, some kitchens in the halls “look like Ikea showrooms” while others “just have a small fridge and a wonky shelf.”

Another far superior kitchen in the same hall

The group say that, despite a multi-million pound investment in the bathrooms in Max Rayne - where a twin room costs £100.45 a week, a single £132.30 and a one-bed flat £225.68 - there are still issues with the facilities due to the “poor standards of the original work.”

They say that as inventories are not taken at the beginning of the year, many receive “unjust fines” for damage created by previous tenants.

Busted: A broken pool table in the students' halls

The group also claim both halls were “without heating or hot water” for two days last week due to boiler failure.

The students say the price of their accommodation is too high. They claim that, although maintenance grants increased by one per cent in 2014-2015, accommodation costs went up considerably more. In Max Payne, they say, a single room cost £94.10 in 2009 - which went up to £132 this year.

A broken door handle in the UCL halls

One student, Pascal Letendre-Hanns, 19, who lives in Ifor Evans said there were a number of issues with his room. The European social and political science student added: “When you put your hand up to my window, you can feel the cold coming through. I pay £170 a week and it’s just not good enough. Also my cupboard was damaged when I moved in and, as there was no inventory, I think I will be fined for it.”

Another, Angus O’Brien, 19, who is on the same course as Mr Letendre-Hanns added: “There are lots of small issues - like when we moved in the oven was pouring out smoke as it wasn’t properly maintained. But most of all we just want more transparency from the university about what they are spending money on and why. We spend so much money on accommodation and it is not clear where it is going.”

Stained carpet: Students want better living conditions for the amount they pay in rent

UCLU Student Halls Representative Maisie Harrison, 19, told the Standard: “I held a meeting after the heating and hot water went last week and so many people attended. There is a huge list of things that are wrong and a lot of students are, quite rightly, upset. They don’t feel like they are getting good value for money. It’s not just about us in the halls at the moment - but about future students coming here. Something needs to be done.”

Broken doors on the exterior of their building

Director of Student Accommodation, William Wilson, said: “We regret any issues students may be experiencing with their accommodation. We acknowledge that there have been some problems with maintenance which we have responded to with the help of specialist professionals.

"Most student feedback has said that these repairs have been carried out to a satisfactory standard, but some feedback states that this does not always happen quickly enough. We are addressing this point through an ongoing overhaul of our maintenance support to students.

An exposed pipe in the halls in Camden

“We have been reviewing the standard of service we offer to students and have insured that the elected hall representatives have been involved in the consultation process. It’s important to us that our service commitments are continually reviewed.

A door with a broken handle in the student accommodation

"We are dedicated to continued improvement of our Halls and major refurbishment is currently being planned – this is alongside our ongoing maintenance plan which includes £6 million of investment in summer 2015.

“Unlike private student halls UCL residences are supported with hall cleaning (over £1m per annum) and on call residential support (over 500k per annum). We are confident that although rents have risen, they remain competitive for Central London living.”

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