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Rent paid but not allowed to stay
Middlers
Posts: 509 Forumite
I am paying for my daughters accommodation whilst at Uni. I have had to pay £500 initially which is £250 refundable deposit and £250 "half rent" to cover July and August. She goes back in Sept and I will pay £250pcm however she wants to return for a couple of days in the holidays and intended staying at the new rented house as I am already paying this "half rent" for these two months anyway. When asked if she could have the keys the company stated she would have to pay to stay there!! Has anyone else come across this? I am already paying £250 to cover July and August and will not get this back. The letting agency could in effect rent the property out during Jul/Aug and take my money too.
Middlers
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Comments
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The idea of half rent is odd, but it's better than having to have a full 12 months contract for students, but landlords genernally used it as time to get stuff done i.e painting etc...
If she's going to actually be staying there, then it wouldn't be half rent, as the property is being used, so as they're entitled to quiet enjoyment, the landlord can't just barge in and do stuff, hence she'd have to pay full rent.Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)0 -
It's standard practice with many LLs of student accommodation, and as pink shoes says the time is used for essential maintenance,decoration etc. It's also that where there is a gap between the tenancies the LL may incur a Council Tax liability for a furnished property, but the student exemptions apply across the summer this way. Some LLs will have the retainer as a very low nominal charge but simply add a higher amount through the rest of the year, so it's swings and roundabouts really.
Your daughter could always try ringing the LL direct ( and she's entitled to know who this is,even where a LA is used) just in case stopping a couple of days is an option.
Even the Uni's own accomms will often make poor old parents cough up for times when their student son or daughter is not in residence ( their contracts run though until a number of weeks after term/exams have ended) This sort of thing is why so many parents took out BTL mortgages when they could for the duration of their offspring's time at Uni, often keeping the property let as an investment afterwards.0 -
As above, it's standard practice.
In reality, *most* LL's are flexible because they don't want to give the impression that they don't care otherwise the students will not care one inkle about looking after the place.
As tbs624 said, try getting in direct touch with the LL.I can take no responsibility for the use of any free comments given, any actions taken are the sole decision of the individual in question after consideration of my free comments.
That also means I cannot share in any profits from any decisions made!;)0 -
Yes, standard practice.
We don't stop our students staying a couple of days here and there thru their summer retainer period, as long as they ask us first.
Other LL's we know who let to students will not allow it under any circumstances, which always seems a bit harsh to me.0 -
Thank you to all responders so far. I am told that any work required has already been done. It just seems to be another way of ripping off the student (or their parents as in this case!)Middlers0
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Thank you to all responders so far. I am told that any work required has already been done. It just seems to be another way of ripping off the student (or their parents as in this case!)
I always found while renting that landlords are more flexible than management companies.
When I was a student many landlords where happy for one or two people out of a shared student house to stay through the summer months on the summer retainer as it decreased the risk of the property being broken into and vandalised. There as if it was a full house then full rent offten applied.
There as my friends who rented through management companies where charged full rent if they stayed in the house during the summer months however many people stayed in the house. Unfortunately management companies draw up rules so they make the most money they don't give a damn about the students or the landlord.I'm not cynical I'm realistic
(If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)0 -
Why would you expect that she could go an stay in a house on which you were only paying half rent?0
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Offer them £32.88 for the two days she wishes to stay there0
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barnaby-bear wrote: »And don't forget to arrange to pay the council tax or do the paperwork for the exemption - this is often the reason they like to keep them empty but reserved for students....
Good point..
If rent is being recieved (even half rent), then is council tax still admissable?
Tass0
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