Students who rent from SSH& and pay their energy bill in advance, will have to pay significantly more service costs in the coming year. SSH& is counting on an increase in costs of 130%. They are looking into increasing the advance payment per the first of January.

The national rise in energy costs also affects SSH& tenants. Prices may increase by up to 130%; those who are now paying €50 per month on energy costs, will be paying around €115 in the near future.

The advance amount was supposed to be adapted in July of 2023, but because the price increase comes into effect in January 2023 that could mean that students pay too little in advance for half a year. That would mean that they would suddenly have to pay hundreds of euros extra when the 2022/2023 accounts are settled in June 2024. That could land people in financial difficulties, and to prevent this SSH& is considering raising the advance payment by January 1st. However, they can only do so in agreement with Stichting Platform Huurdersbelangen (SPH) and the rental committee.

Advantage of scale

It is not yet clear how much more expensive gas and electricity are going to be next year. SSH& buys their energy through a purchasing cooperative. The new rates will not be published until December, but they are indicated to rise by 130%.

SSH& emphasizes that that is still less than what private renters are paying, due to the advantage of the scale of collective purchases. Additionally, government regulations like the energy cap and energy supplements might tamp down on the prices. That is why the exact energy costs won’t be made clear until December.

SSH& claims the average tenant pays around €40 per month on their energy advance. But the amounts can vary wildly, according to a spokesperson: anywhere between next to nothing and €150 per month.

In November it will become clear whether SSH& can raise the advanced payment per January 2023. The rental agency advises its tenants to mind their energy usage and set aside money wherever possible.

Energy cap

Government measures like the energy cap and compensation may not have much of an effect on SSH& tenants. The reimbursement works per connection; if several residents use the same connection, that means they will see little compensation per person. There are also still a lot of things unclear regarding the energy cap and collective purchasing.

SSH& does provide tips on their website on how to save energy. It remains to be seen whether residents in older buildings are off worse than those in the more modern ones, as stated by SSH&.

‘It varies not only per complex, but sometimes per floor and even per unit what someone has to pay for their energy’, according to the spokesperson. ‘Rates are the same for everyone. In theory, tenants in older buildings who are very frugal in their energy usage can use less energy than tenants in a more modern building who always keep the heat on.’

Measures have been taken to reduce the energy costs in buildings through installing insulation, solar panels, and an e-power installation at the Hoogeveldt and Vossenveld buildings. SSH& also advises its tenants to keep the thermostat at 19 degrees, take shorter showers, and put down reflector foil. One final tip: ‘Put on a thick sweater, or huddle under a blanket in the evening.’