The Great UTS Housing Heist: How Students Are Being Squeezed for Every Dollar
UTS Housing claims to offer affordable student accommodation, but hidden fees, restrictive contracts, and a lack of tenant protections tell a different story.
While UTS Housing markets itself as an affordable option for students, the reality is far more complicated. Hidden fees for basic necessities, a licensing agreement that bypasses tenant protections, and increasing costs with little transparency have created an environment that places students—particularly those from low-income, regional, or international backgrounds—at a significant disadvantage. This leaves students questioning whether the increases are truly necessary, or simply an attempt to maximise revenue at their expense.
Students Locked Out of Tenant Protections
The final remaining UTS Housing block, 'Yura Mudang,' is located atop Building 6 and accommodates 720 UTS students from both Australia and around the world.
While the photos on the website may be from the 2010s, their prices are certainly not.
The fundamental issues stem from UTS Housing operating under a licensing agreement rather than a formal tenancy. This means that students living in UTS accommodation do not have the same legal protections that tenants in private rentals do under the Residential Tenancies Act. UTS Housing residents lack basic legal rights to a clean, safe, and habitable living space and unlike standard tenants, have no guaranteed right to peace, comfort, or privacy. This leaves students vulnerable to unchecked security measures, as the licensing agreement allows UTS Housing staff and security to conduct random audits of locks, keycards, and IDs without limits on frequency or justification.
For students who are already financially vulnerable, the consequences are severe. Unlike traditional renters, UTS residents have no legal recourse for anything that would not be allowed under standard tenancy agreements.
The Hidden Costs of UTS Housing
Beyond high rent prices, students are being hit with a slew of additional charges that make UTS Housing increasingly unaffordable. Fees for storing furniture, fines for leaving personal belongings behind, and even penalties for using appliances like air conditioners are all adding to the financial burden.
These charges disproportionately affect students who have no other housing options. After the University sold off all other student housing during the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer accommodation options are now available, leaving many students with little choice but to accept these conditions.
International students are particularly impacted, as they are required to pay the entire ‘licence fee’ upfront—regardless of whether their visa duration or study period extends to this duration. This policy places an enormous financial strain on students who may already be struggling with limited work rights and high tuition fees.
A Call for Reform
The UTS Students’ Association (UTSSA), are calling for urgent reforms to the UTS Housing licensing agreement. Key demands include:
- A full review of the Licence Agreement, with agreement to new fairer terms drafted by tenancy lawyers hired by the UTSSA.
Greater transparency around rent increases, with student input in decision-making processes.
Clearer guidelines regarding additional fees, ensuring that students are not unfairly charged for necessary services or reasonable personal choices, such as using an air conditioner.
A review of international student payment policies to ensure they are fair and reflective of students’ actual needs.
The Need for Action
UTS Housing is meant to provide students with a stable and affordable place to live while they study. Instead, it has become an expensive and increasingly restrictive system that leaves students financially strained and legally unprotected. Without meaningful reform, the situation will only worsen—pricing out the very students who rely on it most.
The call for change is clear: UTS must take immediate steps to introduce fairer policies, ensure greater transparency, and align student housing rights more closely with those of tenants under the law. If UTS truly values student welfare, it must act now to prevent housing from becoming yet another financial hurdle for those pursuing higher education.