The priority: Lobbying for cheaper laundry prices in university private accommodation

The context: 

One of the issues students have raised through Forum was around the cost of laundry on campus. To some, it may seem like a small expense, but for students the overall cost throughout an academic year can significantly add up, especially when students have competing costs to prioritise. 

Last year's President Falmouth sat on the Accommodation Liaison Group and raised the issue of laundry costs on multiple occasions, working closely with FX Plus to understand the current situation and identify opportunities for change.  

What we've achieved:

•  Accommodation Liaison Group compared our on-campus laundry prices with those at other universities. This work has helped build a clearer picture of how our prices compare with elsewhere and whether students here are receiving fair value. After the comparisons, it was apparent that our on campus prices are on line with those across the HE sector.  
• FX Plus investigated when the contract with Circuit Laundry is due to end, which is in 2027, so the SU has highlighted the need for a full review closer to the end of the contract. This would provide an opportunity to assess whether the current arrangement remains the best option for students. It has also been requested that the contract with Circuit Laundry is made publicly available, so students are able to look to better understand the terms of the agreement and how decisions are made regarding pricing and services.
• Last year's SU Presidents began work to have conversations with students in sports clubs to gather information about laundry spending whilst living in university accommodation. The aim of this is to find out how much students are spending on laundry to keep their sports kits clean and ready for training, games or competitions. We want to better understand the additional costs faced by students who participate in SU sports clubs and ensure that laundry costs are not becoming a barrier to involvement and a sense of belonging.
• Your SU Presidents met with Oliver Lane, Director of Campus Services at FX Plus, to discuss laundry prices and learn more to work out next steps in progressing this priority

Why this matters

With the ongoing rise in cost-of-living for students, it is important to ensure you're getting a fair deal. Laundry is a core service all students use, and the cost of washing additional clothing such as sports kits and work uniforms can be a barrier to engagement with a wide range of opportunities. As your SU we want to ensure students are supported to fully engage with your student experience and advocate for cost reductions where possible.

What's next?

Immediate next steps: your SU Presidents will continue meeting with FX Plus leadership to advocate for affordability to be a key consideration in university private accommodation laundry services. We will also build on our predecessors' work to gather student feedback on how laundry prices impact them.

Your turn!

Want to get involved? Here's how:

1. Stay Updated: Keep an eye out for priority update news articles on our website, and make sure to read your weekly SU newsletter!
2. Make a change: submit your Make A Change idea, and if it gets enough votes it could be discussed at the next Student Forum!
3. Take Action: share your feedback on how laundry prices impact you, or start a campaign

Questions or ideas? Get in touch via presidents@thesu.org.uk - we'd love to hear from you.