Numerous problems have been experienced by students living in newly constructed King’s College graduate accommodation, including being left with no running water, hot water often being unavailable, poor internet connection, and power sockets working only intermittently.

The problems have occurred at Stephen Taylor Court, a site consisting of three postgraduate accommodation buildings on Barton Road, housing over 70 students.

The construction of Stephen Taylor Court was recently completed by the college, with the first students moving in this year.

In a letter seen by Varsity, sent on 20 October, 17 students living in one of the buildings, The Adkins Building, expressed their frustration at the problems to the college and asked for discounted rent in light of them.

The students wrote that since their arrival they have experienced “multiple issues” with their building, which “have made living in this accommodation difficult”.

“These issues included unfinished construction, unfinished common room and library, inexistence of fly screens on windows, malfunctioning power sockets in the kitchen, late shipment of furniture, uninstalled sink and water taps, door locks not working, issues with hot and cold water, issues with the lighting system, issues with the entrance doors, malfunctioning fire alarm, malfunctioning refrigerators, issues with cell service and internet connection, etc.”

The students went on to explain “the pinnacle” of the problems was when “some or all of us had absolutely no access to water, meaning that none of the water taps in our rooms, in the kitchen, in the shared bathroom” and in the shower had running water.

“Many of these issues have hindered our ability to use the facilities for our critical and essential needs.”

Given these issues, the students requested “a decrease in our rent rate”, stating that “it is the responsibility of the college to ensure the accommodation it allocates to its postgraduate students can satisfy the essential needs and requirements of a student accommodation, way before these rooms are allocated”.

The Domus Bursar of King’s, Philip Isaac, emailed students living in The Adkins Building, on 13 October, following problems with the water supply to apologise.

He wrote: “There are a number of related problems that are causing this loss of water supply, and they are being investigated and dealt with as I type.”

“I am also looking into a rent rebate in recognition of these difficulties and will share this with you once I am satisfied we are on an even keel.”

“I am currently pulling together a detailed report on the problems and likely solutions to overcome these difficulties and hope to share that with you today.”

Later the same day, Isaac emailed students with a detailed report of the problems with water and heating experienced at Stephen Taylor Court and their various causes.

In a further email, on Wednesday 26 October, he told students in The Adkins Building: “a number of you are reporting discomfort through your rooms being too warm and there not being sufficient ventilation via the uppermost part of the window being opened.” Isaac wrote that it will be possible for windows to be opened further later next month.

He went on to explain that in “compensation for the issues suffered at the start of occupation, I am awaiting a few more days before proposing a rent rebate, in order to satisfy myself that we are over the worst in the building”.

“I know this has been difficult for some of you, and you have demonstrated great support to the College as we work with contractors to tend to issues in the building.”

Speaking to Varsity, Isaac stated that “the buildings are of a complex nature” and explained that he is “confident” that the college “are satisfactorily working through issues discovered after occupancy”.

The buildings at Stephen Taylor Court have been built to the Passivhaus standard, meaning they use very little energy.

In order to achieve this, the buildings have been fitted with triple glazed windows, high performance insulation, and a “windtightness layer” external to the insulation.

This is not the first time King’s has experienced problems with its graduate accommodation.

In 2019, graduate students at the college were given accommodation at prices markedly higher than they had requested, were given accommodation the construction of which had not actually been completed, and experienced “non-functional” wifi.