Paying for uni accommodation before loan/grant

jillymit

He's going to Canterbury, living on campus in one of the self catering rooms.
We don't really expect them to offer but thought it might be worth asking if it's possible for him to pay a token amount plus the damages deposit if needs be and the rest as soon as his loan is through....... going on the good old, if you don't ask , you don't get principle!

nad1611

jillymit wrote: »

I know he's really lucky to have been able to get a (loan and grant) to cover his fee and accommodation but it's just a shame that the dates and amount don't tally with the university.

The whole amount does cover his rent for the year but according to the confirmation letter the way it will be paid into his bank (in three chunks) means it's not enough for his first term, just about right for the second and over the amount he needs for the last term and every term it's too late for the rent due date.
Thanks for all the replies!

Again, not actually an answer to your question but more a "you're not alone" comment. I find it crazy that the Student Loans Company and the Universities can't communicate directly. My daughter, will not only have to pay her first two terms of rent with one lot of loan and grant because of the dates they go out and come in, but we've now also noted that her Tuition Fees are paid in on the month of February and April but are expected to be apid as a direct debit starting in September running all the way through to August. No wonder Students get in to debt they are immediately put into a situation of having to borrow from the start. As you say she seems to have the most money going out and the least coming in at the beginning, while at the end of the year has the most coming in and the least going out. Surely the start is when they need it most for initially large outlays like books and general settling in stuff. I'll let you know how we get on. Good luck.

Stubert

I don't think its that the universities and the SLC don't communicate because students are given their loans on the first day of term. So they know exactly when students are attending. Its the universities that are just wanting their money upfront before students move into their accommodation which is the problem. If you move out/cancel they still have all your money...!

whitfreak

Bah, I knew there was a reason why I liked Durham. Bills issued the day you arrive (pretty much as you pick up your keys), and something like 10 days to pay them (i.e. due about a week into term), and they make it clear who to talk to extend that deadline without penalty. Although you need a good reason, like "my loans late/being reassessed"...

I'm just surprised that the due date isnt later, purely because I expect 90+% of students rely I thier loan/grant to pay the rent....

Petlamb

My bf had a similar problem last year when his loan was late, so spoke to the uni and they were totally fine about allowing him to pay his rent late.

lucie707

i think it depends what uni you go to...i went to luton and if you didnt recieve you're student finance until after the rent was required you could fill in a guarentor form to secure it until you paid..sayin that im now going to london and have had to pay over £2000 A MONTH (!!!) before im expecting to get my loan! there was no querying it, if you couldnt pay -someone else got your room - simple! where they think we get this money from is beyond me!

MissPop

What on Earth are you paying £2000 a month for?

nad1611

jillymit wrote: »

My son has just had his accommodation confirmed at Kent and his room fees are due on the 19th of September.
His Student loan and grant is not scheduled to be paid until the 28th.
Will he have to find the money or do the universitys make allowances for students awaiting finance?
This looks like it's going to be the case every term!
I've searched for for this and coudn't find the answer anywhere so thought someone on here with some experience may be able to help.
He'll obviously ring them on Tuesday and ask but I'm worried that we don't have the money to help him out.
Any ideas people?

We had a similar problem and rang our daughters Uni @Queen Mary's London. They were absolutely fine and said we wouldn't be the only ones our daughter can go and see them at Finance and make an arrangment to pay. So as other people have had similar responses I would be really surprised if any University had a different response.

kelloggs36

It's the same for student houses - my DD has to pay a month before she goes back and she has absolutely no money. She has not had a job this summer (nor last, or the one before) and her loan/grant just about covers the rent payments, I have no idea how she expects to manage to actually eat or pay bills. We can't help her with 2 other children to pay for (not at uni, but young children at home) but it is expected that we can, hence she gets nothing else. I love the way the Government expect things which can't happen, like expecting all students to work when there aren't any jobs!! They expect parental contributions when reality is very different to how they assess on paper.

mumps

kelloggs36 wrote: »

It's the same for student houses - my DD has to pay a month before she goes back and she has absolutely no money. She has not had a job this summer (nor last, or the one before) and her loan/grant just about covers the rent payments, I have no idea how she expects to manage to actually eat or pay bills. We can't help her with 2 other children to pay for (not at uni, but young children at home) but it is expected that we can, hence she gets nothing else. I love the way the Government expect things which can't happen, like expecting all students to work when there aren't any jobs!! They expect parental contributions when reality is very different to how they assess on paper.

My daughter is going into her second year, no problems in halls last year but has to pay a terms rent on student house before she gets her grant. She is lucky, if tired, as she has worked all summer and has £2k in the bank with holiday pay to follow. I suppose we would be finding the money for her if she hadn't had a job. It would be on my credit card I think as I dont have that much money lying around. Ridiculous but I suppose the landlord needs his rent. Thinking about it I suppose she could ask NatWest for an overdraft but I have tried to discourage her from getting into more debt than she has to. It is a difficult one.