Every year, King’s Estates and Facilities team set rent prices for student accommodation, and KCLSU Officers are invited as consultants to make sure student voices are heard. We want to clear up the myths, be honest about what’s really happening behind the scenes, and show you where your voice genuinely matters in all of this. Read on to find out what KCLSU’s role in rent-setting really looks like, and how your Officers advocate for affordable accommodation on your behalf.

❌ MYTH: THE SU DECIDES THE RENT INCREASES.

✅Reality: KCLSU makes recommendations as part of a working group with King’s.

KCLSU student representatives work with King’s Residences management to discuss and suggest ways to offer a range of accommodation prices that are affordable and sustainable and help more students access university housing. Over the years, this process has included the introduction of the King’s Affordable Accommodation Scheme (KAAS), a 2022-23 rent freeze on 1,529 rooms (27.6% of total beds) and updates to the Residences Portal after a review consulting Student Officers and the KAAS Working Group.

The priority of the group is to make sure King’s Residences are priced in a way that’s inclusive and affordable for as many students as possible. This supports King’s commitment to widening participation and helps students from lower-income backgrounds, as well as those affected by the cost-of-living pressures or facing unexpected changes in their circumstances, to access university accommodation.

However, the Officers’ ability to recommend rents that only meet students’ cost-of-living concerns is limited, as the group’s terms of reference state that rent costs must also meet the financial requirements set by King’s, in order to cover operational costs. Any recommendations agreed by the group are presented to King’s management and require University senior management approval.

❌ MYTH: SO, THE OFFICERS ONLY CARE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY’S FINANCES?

✅ Reality: Officers’ only priority is supporting students during the cost-of-living crisis and do everything in their power to make sure this is reflected in the rent recommendations.

Officers consistently challenge proposals, raise affordability concerns, report issues, and advocate for reforms. Over the years, your Officers have advocated for affordable room bands, called out the outdated KAAS threshold (and launched a whole campaign about it!), and consistently raised student priorities on Rent Guarantor schemes, disabled students’ and postgraduate students’ needs, and the KAAS working group.

In the Union Agenda’s “Student Life and Support” priority area, Officers and KCLSU “expect supportive, enriching and inclusive student support services that improve the student experience at King’s”, and that includes housing! The Union Agenda sets out the Union’s and Officers’ key strategic priorities and missions, grounded in what students have told us over many years. These priorities guide the work we champion and the changes we fight for.

❌ MYTH: IF STUDENTS’ FINANCIAL PRESSURES AND THE UNIVERSITY’S FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS DON’T MATCH UP, KCLSU OFFICERS WILL SIDE WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

✅Reality: The purpose of the group is to work together constructively to deliver a “pricing of rents that will best benefit all students”.  However, your Officers will not agree on rents that go against their democratic mandate and mission as set out in the Union Agenda and their manifestos.

In rare cases where the pricing structure absolutely cannot be agreed upon, the Officers do not need to agree on the rents. King’s is committed to working closely with KCLSU throughout this process, and this option will only be considered after all discussions and alternatives have been fully explored.

❌ MYTH: STUDENTS DON’T HAVE ANY POWER, NOTHING EVER CHANGES.

✅Reality: Collective student action has major influence.

While it can feel like students have no power, especially during a cost-of-living crisis where decisions are made by senior teams behind closed doors, students have already reshaped how King’s talks about housing, and honestly? It’s been inspiring to watch.

Here’s what your collective action related to housing has achieved:

• KAAS itself was launched by a KCLSU Student Officer back in 2014!
• Halls for All pushed the first meaningful review of KAAS in more than a decade.
• Guarantor Guarantee, led by international students, is now a ratified KCLSU campaign demanding King’s steps up to the level of their competitors across London.
• Officers regularly report that Estates & Facilities and Senior Leadership respond differently when students mobilise – organised pressure changes the tone in the room.

Frustration has transformed into action. Students are more politicised than ever, and that momentum is reshaping conversations about affordability, access, and equity.

What can KCLSU do?

What we can do is represent you directly in the rent-setting meeting, which is what your Officers have been doing!

Your Officers:

• Present evidence (data, testimony, and affordability analysis)
• Advocate for lower increases and alternative rent models
• Defend affordable room bands
• Push for KAAS reform (threshold updates, tiered support, disability-inclusive models, PG inclusion)
• Publish statements explaining our position
• Support campaigns like Halls for All and Guarantor Guarantee
• Hold King’s accountable on equity, access and widening participation
• Escalate concerns to senior leadership levels (VPs, Deans, Heads of Service).

Our power is influential, public-facing, and consultative – we make recommendations that go to university senior management for approval, but we can’t make legislative decisions.

What happens now?

Your Officers have worked closely with you to understand your concerns, ensuring they are fully equipped to advocate on your behalf in the rent-setting meetings. This process has included gathering student feedback through a variety of channels, such as one-on-one conversations and open forums, enabling them to identify the issues that matter most to you. By actively listening to your experiences and perspectives, your Officers can confidently represent your needs and push for outcomes that reflect the collective voice of the student body.

We know you’re worried about the cost-of-living and rising rents, raising concerns about the sustainability of increasing rent costs, and that you’re frustrated that the KAAS income threshold hasn’t been reviewed in a decade. We know increasing numbers of students are concerned they will be forced into long commutes, unsafe or overcrowded private rentals, and hefty upfront costs without a guarantor.

KCLSU will continue to campaign for KAAS reform, a guarantor scheme and affordable accommodation. Your Officers’ priorities are directly in line with this – they’ll be pushing against unrealistic or unsustainable rent increases and advocating for the protection of cheaper room bands. They’ll also be working to ensure halls remain viable for students who need them most, and to ensure the system doesn’t disproportionately impact disabled, estranged, low-income and international students 

To do this, we will:

• Be as transparent as possible about the negotiation process (within the boundaries of the confidentiality agreements).
• Continue campaigning for KAAS reform, a guarantor scheme and affordable accommodation, holding King’s accountable beyond rent-setting.
• Push for alternative models that protect low-cost rooms.
• Escalate student concerns through various channels.
• Amplify student voices that highlight impact.

You deserve honesty about how these decisions are made and where your power truly lies. While KCLSU are limited by the formal structure, student advocacy has already shifted the landscape! When you organise, the possibilities change, and we’ll keep standing with you, every step of the way. If you want to chat to your Officers about this, come along to a Chai & Chat event to share your thoughts.