Dear Imperial Leadership,

We, the undersigned members of the past, present, and future Imperial community, are writing to express our collective astonishment at the proposed rent increases of c. 8% each year for three consecutive years for University-owned accommodation. An increase of this nature will, in practicality, mean an increase of 26% for students in three years’ time.

The proposals set out by Imperial’s leadership risk exacerbating the financial burden on students, undermining the accessibility and inclusivity of our institution, and contradicting the University’s stated commitment to widening participation, strategic mission, and ambition to deliver Science for Humanity.

We acknowledge the rising costs faced by the University – no institution is immune to impacts of inflation, Covid, Brexit, and other external factors. However, the proposed increases are excessive and out of step with what is reasonable or fair for students already contending with escalating living costs and tuition fees. We have calculated that:

The number of rooms under £200 pw in 2024/25 is 63%. This will decrease to 19% in 2027/28.

The number of rooms over £250 pw in 2024/25 is 27%. This will increase to 62% in 2027/28.

There are currently no rooms costing over £350pw but this will increase to 20% in 2027/28.

8% of rooms in 2027/28 will cost more than £1800 per month.

Furthermore, the process by which these rents have been agreed has not been transparent. In entering the negotiations, ICU have acted in good, collaborative faith with the University whilst also acting in the best interests of the student body. However, the Union President and Deputy President (Welfare) were presented with numbers without context and expected to agree to revised proposals at short notice. This does not align with the University’s value of ‘integrity’.

ICU was initially presented with a 30% rent increase to take effect next year. By challenging costs over a six-week period the ICU representatives managed to bring this down to 18%. They were subsequently presented with the phased approach outlined in this open letter, and have agreed to a final meeting on Wednesday.

We urge Imperial to adopt the following measures to ensure a more equitable approach to rent setting:

Limit rent increases to CPI + 1%: we call for a cap on rent increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%. This approach aligns with a fair and predictable adjustment mechanism, balancing the University’s need to account for inflation with students' ability to plan their finances effectively.

Ensure a transparent and fair rent-setting process: ICU should be assured a transparent rent-setting process that provides the students’ union with a clear breakdown of how rents are calculated, including maintenance, staffing, and operational costs and assumptions articulated.

Provide a range of affordable rooms: the current system could force students from underrepresented backgrounds into limited and less desirable twin-room options. We urge the University to ensure that a range of affordable accommodation options is available to all students, regardless of their background, in line with its commitment to widening participation.

Use summer income to subsidise student rent: revenue generated from letting halls during the summer should either directly subsidise term-time student rents or, at the very least, be used to offset shared costs. This approach would distribute the financial burden more equitably and alleviate pressure on students during the academic year.

The Union has already seen this feedback on the proposals:

“I am a Year 2 international student with medical needs and therefore will be staying in halls for the entire four years of my study…. Rent accounts for over 70% of my living costs as I'm only eating two meals a day to cut costs. Any increase in rent will be a huge impact and a deciding factor of whether I can afford my 3rd and 4th year.”

“I am currently a prospective student, and this is now changing my mind on Imperial. It does not seem possible now, which is a shame as it is my dream university. But due to coming from the lowest income background… the rent increase will make a large impact”

“I am using my own money saved from summer work and… maintenance loan. Many of the accommodation options I knew I simply could not have afforded while choosing. The one I am at is already a stretch. Increased rent money would drastically impact my finances and would mean that I would not have considered Imperial as an option when applying for university.”

Imperial College London’s reputation as a world-leading institution is built on its diverse and talented student body. Without the students, there is no Imperial. If you have the brains, the desire and the drive to secure yourself an Imperial offer, the price of its student halls should not prevent you from joining the Imperial community. However, this diversity is at risk if access to affordable accommodation becomes an insurmountable barrier. By adopting the measures outlined above, the University has an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to its institutional values.

We urge the Imperial leadership to reconsider the proposed rent increases and engage meaningfully with the student body via ICU on Wednesday to develop a more equitable rent policy. We remain hopeful that Imperial will act in the best interests of its students and uphold its values as a leading institution.

Sincerely,