Student accommodation advice

[brynteg11]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help. My son paid a retainer and signed a contract for a student house for September but will not now be returning to Uni, we signed as guarantors!!. The contract said that if he didn't move in he would still be liable for the rent unless he could find another person to move in.

He has notified the landlord that he will not be moving in and he has confirmed that he intends holding him  to the contract although he has said he will re-advertise the room. We can't afford to pay for the room!

Presumably it would be a case for civil court for non-payment, but can the landlord pursue a claim if he has been given nearly 3 months notice and my son neither receives keys for the property or moves in? Anyone any experience of this sort of situation? Thanks

[ilove2patch]

As he signed the contract I would think he is liable to pay.

[myraandjim]

I think that he/you will be liable as the contract terms are very clear but there is a good chance that the accommodation will be re-let, fingers crossed.

[chickengrandma-2008]

I'm afraid I agree, a contract was signed.  That's the whole point of a contract.  Hopefully the landlord will find someone else.  Did it say on the contract if he would get the retainer back?  Don't be surprised if the landlord charges you the cost of re-advertising, but if it brings in a new tenant it will be worth it.  Good luck.:-)

[cat-knitter]

We've had to sign as guarantors for uni accommodation too, according to the paperwork it says we are liable for payment even in the event of...

...... death 😐

 I think your only way of not having to pay out is to hope they can find a new tenant asap.

Unfortunately these landlord have you over a barrel, if your Son/Daughter want the accomodation then you have no alternative to sign ...... or else they can't have it   😞 

[brynteg11]

CK you're right - there were 5 of them wanting to rent together so they had to sign to 'book' a house big enough for the September. Well he/we can't pay £60 a week for nothing so he/we'll have to face the consequences.

Ironic really considering we rent out a house and the tenant owes us £4500 in rent arrears which the letting agents did very little about until recently!

[cat-knitter]

Its a nightmare of worries isn't it 😞
we just had one finish uni when the other started ....... this is our 5th yr in a row we've had to sign as guarantors 😞 .......... each year rent has been between £75 - £85 wk :_| 

[**towery**]

i'd getr your son advertiusing the room  himself on  his  fb , twitter accounts

and  would  the student union  om campus be able to  help - advertising

make sure the landlors knows you are actively seeking to  fill  the room too

try and keep it all   'friendly'

which  uni  is it ?

[brynteg11]

hi Towery, how are you?

He's advertised it on the Uni 'Blackboard' and contacted a friend of a friend who might be interested. It's the University of Glamorgan now called the University of South Wales.

A bigger concern is what he is going to do now he's not able to continue with his studies.

[**towery**]

can he  defer a year?  or is that not an option?

[brynteg11]

No this was his second attempt at the first year, computer game development degree. He's a bright lad but not motivated to do written work and didn't turn up for the classroom based assessments, but is an absolute genius where computers are concerned. Has dyslexic tendencies but refuses to be assessed.

Plan B is an IT technicians course in the local college on Monday evenings starting September and look for a job of some sort in the meantime and until he gets some IT job related qualifications.

[guardpig]

Son of a friend "failed" through lack of application.  Walked out, found a job in IT and was earning more than his Dad within a month!.  Luck to him because he'll need it.

[guardpig]

So there are 5 of them.  Is there any reason why he cannot move into the house  and live independantly of you.  Then stick the claim in for unemployment and housing benefit.  That means he pays Council Tax(and applies for council tax benefit) and it may mean everybody gets stuck with it.  I know that a non-studen t in a Student house means the property is liable for Council Tax but not the legalities.  Might encourage the others to help find a housemate. Just an idea.

[cat-knitter]

That sounds like the same course son is starting 😮

He didn't get good enough results to start it last year so he has just had to complete a foundation year .......... he's at Stafford Uni  

[artisanone11]

Brynteg sorry to hear that, a lot of worry for you both. Just adding the student room as another  possible place to spread the word, though he might have to 'advertise' it in the form of a question.