New restrictions on hot water and heating for students at Lucy Cavendish College have been challenged by students.

Students have had their heating shut off in the middle of the day and at night in a trial intended to “improve efficiency”, despite a lack of prior warning to students.

These new heating arrangements were brought in by the College in a bid to “better fit” students’ working hours, the JCR President has said.

Students were not notified that the new heating arrangements were part of a trial until clarification was sought by the college JCR.

Complaints began to surface after students experienced cold showers and radiators switching off. One student said to Varsity: “Why does a college that is part of one of the richest universities in the world have to turn off the heating to save money?”

“Some of us are living in an old Victorian house with zero modern insulation, so it gets super cold at night,” the student said.

Another added: “It doesn’t make sense to me, it’s pretty useless. Do they think we’re just gonna boil [water] on the stove?”

Lucy Cavendish JCR presented these issues to the College. In an email to students, Lennon Crandle, the JCR President, said he was told that: “The changed heating hours are a trial brought in by college, thought to better fit students’ working hours.”

“Their plan is to listen to student feedback and see if further changes need to be made,” he added.

Students were not made aware of the changes until a brief email was sent outlining that heating would no longer be available between the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.. Students have reported that no prior consultation took place.

The email, seen by Varsity, did not mention that the changes were part of a trial, nor did it request student feedback.

Following the move, students did not receive any further communication from the College until JCR intervention a week later.

While the College said it intended to listen to student concerns, the JCR’s Vice-President Jasmine Huang warned that: “the final heating and hot water schedule may not be the exact times you had hoped for.”

The JCR has since created a survey to gauge student opinions on the matter and says it will report the results to the college.

Lucy Cavendish College has been contacted for comment.