The Cut the Rent campaign was launched in October 2016 to address the high cost of University halls. Over the academic year of 16/17, the campaign gathered over 2,500 signatures on a petition calling for a rent cut and cap, demonstrating the vast student demand for affordable rents. Aberdeen: Cut the Rent received local and national press attention, and has reached a massive online audience through the campaign facebook pages' memes. In March of 2017 students took action - staging a week-long camp-out on Elphinstone Lawn to protest extortionate rents. This action resulted in numerous meetings with University managers - far more than the University would have otherwise been willing to have - and the it was announced that week that the cost of halls would be frozen.
Aberdeen: Cut the Rent is campaigning to change the high cost of University halls, and is calling on the university to lower the prices on its halls. Our ultimate vision for what the University should its rent to are as follows:
1. Cut the Rent on all halls of residence and cap it at 50% of the maximum student loan of £6750 provided by SAAS
2. Cut the Rent on the cheapest three halls of residence (currently Adam Smith, Wavell, and Fyfe House) and cap it at 50% of the £4750 standard student loan provided by SAAS
Under these asks, all halls would cost no more than £86.50 per week based on a 39 week contract, and the cheapest three halls would cost no more than £60 per week based on the same length of contract. Students have a right to good quality, affordable housing - it is essential that the University of Aberdeen commit to providing this.
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