During the 2022/2023 academic year MU did not increase the prices of accommodation by the originally anticipated 10% especially thanks to cost-saving measures. These were maintained, among other things, by the active involvement on the part of students. We would like to continue with this trend, which is why the price list in force since February 2023 shall remain in effect for the academic year 2024/2025. That being said, the management of MU has decided to implement the inflation clause pursuant to the provisions of the legal regulations of the Czech Statistical Office.
Students will valid contracts of accommodation should see the increase coming into force as of 1 February 2024. CSO shall announce the exact rate of inflation in the second half of January; with the estimate being somewhere under 10%.
The inflation clause is implemented in all contracts of accommodation signed by students staying at MU dormitories. “The purpose of the inflation clause is to compensate on a regular basis the loss in the value of money, which means this is not an increase in the price of accommodation per se. As we cannot estimate the exact date of publication of the rate of inflation every student will receive an e-mail by the end of January with a new price list for the period starting on 1 February 2024,” says ACS director Kamil Kulíšek.
Due to the significant increase in the prices of utilities and the increasing inflation MU capped, at the end of last year, the maximum increase at 15 percent as per the applicable inflation clause. “The inflation clause was capped out of fear of significant increase in the actual accommodation prices. Back than the estimate of the inflation rate was around 19%. Right now there is no reason for the same cap as the estimated inflation rate is around 10%,” says MU Bursar Marta Valešová.
As a result of these measures, the prices of accommodation for the next calendar year shall only reflect the rate of inflation, in spite of the planned increase of VAT for accommodation services from 10 to 12 percent. The university will have to accept reduced revenue of CZK 3.5 million. “On top of that, pries of utilities are once again expected to increase, especially the distribution component. The overall increase of costs is estimated at CZK 16.1 million, which corresponds to CZK 20 per bed per night. The inflation clause is not going to cover these increased costs, maybe a little,” Kamil Kulíšek explains.
“The university and SKM will bear the increased overheads and utilities, and they will continue to reduce operating costs. It is our effort to help our students in these challenging times,” adds Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and External Relations Jana Fialová.
Starting in the 2024/2025 academic year students will see a minor change in the contracts of accommodation. “A deposit will be charged upon booking, not upon the actual check-in. The accommodation board made the decision in this regard in November 2022, but it has not yet been implemented due to some software issues. Combining deposits and booking will mean significant reduction of administration,” Kulíšek explained.
Dormitories operated by ACS are renovated and reconstructed on a continuous basis. Small-scale renovations and maintenance are typically scheduled for summer months. More information on the current renovations can be found here.
More information can be found in the minutes of the meeting of the Accommodation board on 28 November 2023, in a presentation and the rules governing accommodation for the 2024/2025 academic year.
New facade, thermal insulation and windows at Vinařská; renovation of roof terraces at Bří. Žůrků or ongoing two-year modernisation at Kounicova – Masaryk University is paying a lot of attention to regular maintenance of all nine dormitories operated by the Accommodation and Catering Services (ACS). Tens to hundreds of millions are invested into renovations or small-scale repairs annually.
In spite of increasing costs, Masaryk University is not planning to increase the accommodation prices as such. The rent in 2025 will only reflect the inflation rate according to the data published by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).