Moving is hard enough, from dealing with the logistics of transporting household items all the way to unpacking. But what if you were essentially forced to move and pay more in rent?
It’s a prospect students and their families say they face at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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And they’re putting up a fight.
Who is affected?
A number of students with families are upset about a planned upgrade to housing at the school that will push them out of their current student apartments — which are offered at below-market rates — and into a new facility where they will pay 30% more in rent per month, according to ABC7 News Bay Area.
Local newspaper Lookout Santa Cruz reports the 200-unit family housing facility on the west side of campus is set to be demolished to make way for new undergraduate housing. The university could start moving out families in the fall. Students were informed of the rent increase in January.
“What was going through my head was that it’s $600 more a month, it’s like money coming directly from my paycheck, from the university, back into the university,” Nate Edenhofer, a teaching assistant, told ABC7 News in a story published April 29.
The complex visited by the broadcaster was old and run down, but residents insist many units remain livable.
“Here are four vacant units in a row, and every single one is a two-bedroom apartment that a family could be living in right now,” Aaron Chang, whose wife is a grad student, told ABC7 News while giving a tour of the area.
The university says it has a plan to increase student housing by 40% in the next five years.
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“The proposed rate increase is necessary to cover rising operational costs, including expenses associated with the new building, staff salaries and utilities” a spokesperson for the school told Lookout. Officials have repeatedly shot down requests to rescind the rent increase.
Chang and other tenants planned to hold a rally to protest rent hikes at the new facility, per ABC7 News, while Edenhofer was handing out posters that said “No rent hikes for student families” and asking fellow residents to display them in their windows.
How to budget for higher rent
Whether you’re forced to move into a place with higher rent, or your current landlord has decided to raise the price at your current home, it’s important to account for the additional costs.
First, take a look at how much the increase will be for each month so you have a clearer understanding of the budgeting changes you’ll need to make. Look at your current spending plan to see which other areas you may be able to cut back on. For example, is it possible to take public transportation a few times a week to cut down on gas? Or will cutting back on dining out once a week suffice?
It’s also possible that there’s no room to cut expenses in your budget. If this means you can’t cover your essential costs, you may need to make a plan on how to increase your income, whether it’s by taking on additional part-time work or starting a side hustle.
Taking on roommates could help lower costs. Assuming this is feasible, you can save because you’re splitting rent and utilities with others. Be sure to ask your landlord whether this is possible, and add roommates on your lease.
Moving to a more affordable apartment could make sense if any of the above options don’t work.
There may be some costs associated with moving, like setting aside funds for a security deposit and any applicable fees from breaking your current lease. Don’t forget moving costs, such as renting a truck and purchasing moving supplies.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
