The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Students priced out of St Andrews
HMOS: University taking legal advice over Fife Council policy
St Andrews University is taking legal advice over a controversial new Fife Council HMO policy that students say will make it more difficult for young people to live in the town.
The local authority has moved from a flat-based fee structure to one that takes account of the number of occupants in an HMO, which will see charges rise by almost 800% from £54,000 every three years to £512,000.
Students fearing increased costs and being forced from halls of residence into rented accommodation have branded the council’s stance as “bizarre and irresponsible”.
Council chiefs insist the new charging structure will cover the full cost of the HMO licensing service.
A spokesman for the university slammed the move, saying student anger is “entirely understandable” and revealed repeated requests for a resolution have failed.
He said: “To our students it appears that the council is effectively seeking to fill its own pockets, damage a key local employer and inhibit our ability to provide affordable housing for our students.
“It is inexplicable.”
University students in St Andrews have vowed to fight houses in multiple occupancy (HMO) fee rises of almost 800%.
They say the new council policy will make it more difficult for young people to live in the town.
Students’ Association president Jamie Rodney has slammed the local authority’s move to hike the university’s HMO fees from £54,000 every three years to £512,000 as “bizarre and irresponsible”.
It has emerged most of the increase applies to university student halls of residence, David Russell Apartments, where the council will now charge a separate HMO fee for each of the identical 224 purpose-built flats, rather than charging per block as previously.
St Andrews University has confirmed it is seeking legal advice over the move.
The decision has been formally condemned by the Students’ Association Student Representative Council, which has backed a motion calling for the council to reconsider the new charging regime.
Mr Rodney said: “The potential impacts of this are huge.
“It means increased costs for students, forcing them to move out of university halls and into rented accommodation.
“This means in turn that competition for rented accommodation will increase, making St Andrews less affordable and less liveable for local residents and students alike.”
Mr Rodney suggested if it is imposed at David Russell Apartments, it could happen at student accommodation elsewhere or any self-catered, flat-style accommodation.
In April, Fife Council rejected proposals to increase the number of HMO licences in the town, with approximately 86% of the 1,200 HMOs in Fife located in St Andrews.
Srdja Popovic, St Andrews University rector, has branded the fee increase as “ridiculous, an absolutely terrible idea”.
A spokesman for St Andrews University said: “For several months, we have been quietly asking Fife Council to
“The potential impacts of this are huge. JAMIE RODNEY
explain and justify this sudden move to impose a massive rise in fees.
“We have also repeatedly sought a sensible resolution.
“To date, they have been unable or unwilling to do so.”
He continued: “To our students it appears that the council is effectively seeking to fill its own pockets, damage a key local employer and inhibit our ability to provide affordable housing for our students. It is inexplicable.
“The council has now offered to talk to us, but these discussions have yet to take place.
“Meantime, we have been left with no option but to commission legal opinion.”
A spokesman for St Andrews Community Council has also called for a rethink.
Local Conservative councillor Dominic Nolan said: “The university and Fife Council must come to some arrangement on this issue, especially regarding the ludicrous charging of fees for every flat in David Russell Apartments.”