It is a known fact that students are among the most susceptible to the cost of living crisis. Many students struggle daily to choose between buying food and paying their rent. To make matters worse, the University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau has decided to increase the rent at its accommodations by an average of 8% in 2024. As an example, Waipārūrū Hall is increasing from $470 pw (2023) to $510 pw (2024).

This 8% increase is not in line with the rate of inflation at 6.7%. It makes the University of Auckland Halls of Residence the most expensive student accommodation in the country and is far above the market rate in Auckland Central. Student loans and allowances are simply not enough to cover rent. 

While the University made a record $130 million in excess profits in 2021, students have to work part-time jobs just to pay for necessities. This takes precious time away from attending lectures, doing readings and assignments, or having fun with friends. Students are being robbed of a uni experience because of their financial struggles. Even with a Student Loan, students would have to work ten extra hours just to cover rent, and that doesn't include other necessities or tuition fees.

We strongly oppose the University's unfair and disproportionate rent increases and urge them to stop exploiting their students by decreasing their rent. The University is a tertiary education institution, not a business, and its students are not consumers or customers. They must prioritise student wellbeing and make the students their focus. We demand that the University of Auckland lower the rent at their student accommodation to ease the cost of living pressures on students.

We also want the University to impose the following metrics as a measure of fair rent:

• Using the rate of inflation as a guide of how much rent is to be increased (e.g. not exceeding the rate of inflation)
• Measuring the rent against the average rent prices in the Auckland Central area (e.g. not being higher than the average rent by a certain amount) 
• Calculating the income support given by the Government (i.e. Student Loans and Student Allowance)

With these simple metrics, the University can ensure its students have access to safe, secure, and affordable accommodation on campus, which students rely on to provide. 

 

Here are some powerful quotes from a survey we did:

“It has become difficult as I've had to decide whether to pay rent or buy food. It is stressful.” - Second-year student

“If rent was lowered at university accommodation, it certainly would have made my first-year university experience a lot more enjoyable and would’ve removed the extra stress caused by financial worries. Students already pay upwards of 7,000 a year on university fees alone. If the rent at Halls were reduced, it would certainly make it more appealing for me to move back into university accommodation as it is convenient to live there. But it begs the question of what is more important, financial security or day-to-day convenience?” - Third-year student

“Alongside feeling as though the price I am paying is not properly justified for a self-catered accommodation, I also have an internal feeling of guilt that my parents have to help. I work 21 hours a week while studying full-time to ensure that I can keep up with other additional expenses. The price for a safe place (particularly as a young woman) should not be this expensive.” - Second-year student

“It has made me need to overwork and miss classes just to pay bills by working weekends (10 hours) and weekdays (10 pm - 2 am, 4 nights a week).” - First-year student

You can find a summary of our findings here. 

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