Petition to allow students the choice of a 40 week contract at The Heights (Birmingham)

The reason for the petition is


1) To inform you of the amount of money we are expected to pay for the next academic year (2006 - 2007).


2) To cut down the price of rent by allowing a 40 week contract which is in the best interests of the majority of the student population planning to live at The Heights.





The weekly rent will be 81.25 per week, amounting to 325 per month. Previously we had the option of having a 40 week contract or a 51 week contract. However, for the following year we are not given an option therefore it is compulsory to pay 4143.75 for the whole year. Usually, this price includes all bills, however for next year we have to pay an extra 250 for utility charges (electricity, water, etc).


We also have to submit a 250 deposit. The total for a student would therefore be 4643.75 per student. If we wish to have access to the internet, there is an extra charge of 5 per week, which totals to 255 on top of that there might be a admin fee which is an extra 50 bringing internet charges to 305 (and thats only for 512kbps!). The total price for living in the heights with internet will total 4,948.75! The most a student can get from their loans is 4195!





May I also add that this price is if we book our rooms early; if we book after the Easter holidays then the price will dramatically increase! Some students living there this year are paying 94.50 per week; therefore one can only imagine how much later bookers will be expected to pay next year.





How is the average student meant to pay this much? Most people on average get a student loan of 3500. This loan is no where near sufficient to cover rent. On top of this, each student has to pay 1,125 tuition fees. All this is of course without standard living costs (i.e. food, books, and clothing). Student accommodation is only needed for the academic year which is from the 24th of September 2006 to the 9th of June 2007, which amounts to 38 weeks of accommodation. So then why do students like us need to pay for a 51 week contract? Unite can not brand itself as being a student accommodation company when it does not research in to what students want and need. The 51 week option is a great idea for certain students however it does not need to be imposed on all students.





The amount we pay seems very unreasonable, especially considering the accommodation is located in Birmingham and NOT in London, where one could expect to pay this much and therefore are offered a larger student loan of 5175 to cover rent charges.





If you agree with the above, and want the choice of having a 40 week contract which has a realistic rent price please sign this petition. Your views will be forwarded to the directors of The Unite Group PLC and The Heights Management Team.





Please let your friends know about this petition as the more people we inform the better the response we should get.





Feel free to leave any additional comments that you feel we have overlooked.