WITH RENT IN EXCESS of £130 a week, residents of Ramsay are not exactly getting what they pay for. Badly timed building work means they have to go to the Refectory for meals every day on top of having to pay a ‘proximity fee’ for the privilege.
The first Ramsay students heard about work taking place in order to refurbish the kitchens and dining room, was after their accommodation offer was confirmed, by which time it would be difficult or even impossible to find a place in an alternative halls. “I only found out after I applied,” one resident told The Cheese Grater. Of course they were also told they would have a bar, which they do, just not a license.
The refurbishment means an inconvenient trek to the Refectory two times a day, though on some days only “about 50%” make it to breakfast. At least the College have kept the students well informed; “It’s quite clearly stated on the website we won’t get any compensation.”
To make matters worse, Ramsay residents now have to pay a £10.50 weekly proximity fee bringing the total rent to £133.98. This charge, new for this academic year, has been introduced by College for those halls nearest to campus. Clearly the demand for halls close to the UCL main site was deemed high enough for College to increase rents by over 13.5% on last year. Students in Ramsay will, in the meantime, have ample chance to appreciate how close they are to UCL whilst walking there for breakfast and dinner.
No doubt Ramsay residents will be further pleased to hear that nearby Campbell House East is exempt from the proximity fee because of...building work. Refurbishment has not yet been completed and the Residences Office has chosen to waive fees in the meantime. Worse still, Education and Welfare Officer Ed Bray confirmed that Ramsay students can expect more disruption later in the year when work begins on a self catering block. Bray told The Cheese Grater that he will be raising the matter with the Accommodation Office at UCL and that in the meantime “Any students in Ramsay unhappy about the situation need to contact me so that we can work together to solving this issue.”
Proximity charges
The proximity fees are clearly unjust for those in Ramsay. Such a blatant attempt by College to squeeze even more money out of students is completely unacceptable if the accommodation is not providing its full service. The College cannot manage that, and neither can they manage a coherent and consistent fee policy which applies to all halls near UCL.