Over half of the undergraduate body at Robinson College have signed a petition calling for cuts in rent.

Organised by the Robinson Cut the Rent campaign, the petition sent to Robinson College Council last Wednesday was signed by 225 students, including 195 undergraduates. This petition has gained more signatures than a similar one created last year, according to Robinson Cut the Rent.

The primary demand of the petition is a 25% rent cut across every room band for current students. The petition also calls for capping rent increases for the next ten years at an inflation rate, a comprehensive review of room bandings and ending the prioritisation of conference guests over students both during and outside of term.

A Varsity investigation last year revealed that Robinson had the second-highest average weekly room rent of all colleges, at £171.04. This value was 16% higher than that of the average across all colleges, and was surpassed only by Newnham College.

Last year saw Robinson amend its accommodation policy with the aim of increasing the range and availability of affordable rooms. According to the petition however, changes had been ineffectual – being only short term and not significantly affecting the average price of accommodation. The arrangement also did not address the rent situation for graduate students.

The email presenting the petition from Robinson Cut the Rent to the College Council draws attention to how high rent costs can handicap students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who enter the college, often from the pool.

Campaigning for a real term rent cut has been a policy of the Robinson College Students’ Association (RCSA) for the next three years, as voted through by nearly 150 students in November 2018.

“Ultimately, we are totally focussed on ongoing discussions with College and are hopeful we can find a solution that satisfies all concerned,” RCSA President Tom Hinch told Varsity.

“It would be naive to think that short term changes and agreements will solve long-standing concerns and frustrations regarding rent, that can only be done through an open and transparent dialogue between students and staff and a practical consideration of how we can solve the issue. I’m confident we can make progress.”

The Big Robinson Survey, conducted in January by RCSA, revealed 30% of respondents facing “significant stress or concerns” from paying rent. Only 17% of respondents had been satisfied with the college’s 2017 deal to increase the number of ‘value rooms’, the cheapest option for students, from 5 to 13.

Similar to Robinson, a survey carried out last month at Newnham College revealed major student dissatisfaction with rent costs. This was followed by banner drops led by Newnham Cut the Rent last week to coincide with the college’s Offer Holders’ open day.