A look into the high laundry rates at Victoria College
Some students consider laundry an odious, unavoidable chore. For Vic students, it is also expensive. Recently, students have noticed a significant increase in laundry prices on campus, with a single load now costing around $5.25. In September 2021, a wash and dry would total to around $3.85 depending on the settings selected. This represents a 36% increase in under three years. In a statement to The Strand, Victoria University said that the laundry company they employ, Coinamatic, sets their own prices. Since last year, prices have increased from $2.25 to $2.50 for a cold-water wash, $2.50 to $2.75 for a hot wash, and $2.25 to $2.75 for drying, which Coinamatic attributed to a power surge/outage over the summer. Coinamatic was selected through a request for proposal (RFP) process, which lets companies bid on a contract with Vic. This means that Vic makes no profit over the laundry prices. In their statement, Vic said that their covering of hydro and water costs, maintenance of vents, and maintenance of machinery keeps the laundry rates lower. The contract with Coinamatic ends in 2026, so until then prices would remain the same.
Student affordability is a major concern amongst the student body, as highlighted by VUSAC’s mission statement for the 2024-2025 school year. For students in residence, the laundry rates are a common issue. Claudia, a first-year student in Lower Burwash, says she uses a drying rack instead of a dryer since “it is more affordable and more reliable than the machines.” Connor, an upper-year residence student at Margaret Addison Hall, said he does his laundry at home “because it is more affordable and convenient.”
The real issue is not how expensive the Vic laundry rates are: it is their existence. At other UofT colleges like New College and University College, laundry fees are covered by residence fees. The complaints about laundry rates might seem trivial since many students see $5.25 per load as pocket money. However, for students who struggle with financial insecurity, the expense of $5.25 per load can easily rack up. For instance, if a student were to do two loads of laundry a week from September to April, it would be approximately $336. Living in Toronto is expensive enough; food is pricey and there is not always time to go to the dining hall. The lecture halls get extremely packed, so most students spend their day walking around until their next class. Many students have late night classes and since Burwash Dining Hall closes at 7:30 pm, students have to purchase overpriced food off-campus. Additionally, the fees for transportation in Toronto build up fast, and even used copies of books for courses are expensive. Students continue to question the rising cost of laundry prices.
In the meantime, in response to The Strand’s questioning, Vic says they can review pricing to find cost-saving opportunities, like using a more cost-efficient cold cycle for the washing machines. Victoria University states that they are in discussion with other UofT colleges in figuring out a plan to support students with the burden of laundry costs.
With files from Karim Arif and Michael Elsaesser
