Private accomodation costs out of term time and get out rights?

Lady_K

Could anyone tell me if private accomodation costs outside term time should be cheaper than during term time? I vaguely remember someone saying they charge differently at these times.

Its just my daughter has found she is going to need to stay in he area oer summer due to a nursing placement. I think she may be the only one in the house for a few weeks of that time so I'm not sure if she would have to pay the bills herself during that tme or what. She has just asked for now but the landlord said he doesn't usually let it out in those weeks hes thinking about it

Also she has always used the halls before now but next year will be the first time shes trying private student accom. What happens if she finds she isn't happy and wants to move out can she do this without having to pay for the whole year like they expect you to in the halls?

Moley456

Hello. it all depends on landlords. In terms of cheaper accomodation during the summer, this doesn't necessarily have to happen. Student properties are often appealing because the Landlords offer a discounted rent over the summer as they realise the students often won't be living there over the summer, but they could charge full rate if they wanted.
In terms of whether the lease can be surrendered it depends on the lease, you'd ahve to read the small print very clearly. As standard i think landlords tend to be like university accomodation in that you cannot just surrender the lease/licence without either finding a replacement or paying a lot of money.

MATT

Lady_K

Oh dear thats quite worrying as if she wasn't happy in the halls she could move rooms but with a house she will be stuck then and can't afford to lose money or get other accom on top. There are 5 rooms in all and unfortunately at the moment they have got 3 lads and her at the moment so that leaves one more room to fill and shes hoping it will be a girl. She has only met 1 of the lads when she went to view the property (the only remaining one from last year) but doesnt know anything about him or the others, what courses they are on how old they are etc. I'm just concerned if she ends up in a house full of lads and finds she is unhappy. Also as shes a student nurse she has to do placements that involve all shifts including nights so too much noise would be a problem.

She has paid the £175 deposit but hasn't signed a contract yet as he said they have to have all of the people sharing the house together to do that. I havent seen the contract as shes still at uni. I know she needs a guarantor, do you think she will lose the £175 if she changes her mind?

surfcat

She will almost definitely lose the £175 if she changes her mind. That's what deposits are for.

black-saturn

No a deposit is what the landlord keeps until you move out and if there is any repairs or cleaning needed to be done he will use that money to do it. In theory - I've never know anyone to get one back.

If she doesnt like it when she's been living there for a while and wants to move out she will either have to foot the bill until the landlord finds someone else or she should ask around to see if anyone else would like to take over her room.

With regards to her needing quiet, all student accomodation is noisy. This is usually their first time living away from the watchful eye of their parents so that means wild parties, drinking, smoking, sex and you name it. Your daughter will have a whale of a time sharing a house with 3 boys.

I don't know about staying there during the holidays as all student landlords are different. I let one stay on in mine but then the others went home. They shared the bills between them when they were all there so I guess she paid them by herself.

Lady_K

Why don't they give deposits back? My daughters been to uni before and had all her other deposits back but that was in university halls then a big private building for students but this will be the first time shes trying a private house accom. I just hope they don't make excuses to not pay it back because shes left every place cleaner than when she moved in. If she likes it and stays for the 3rd year (next year will be her 2nd) would they take another deposit for that year without refunding the other or would they just use the one she paid this year?

I'm hoping she will be ok anyway, the house is apparently very nice. The rooms are big and it was clean when she went round although there was only 1 guy left in there now. It has internet in all rooms, washer dryer etc and a communial car park to park her car. The guy who showed her round said he was going to continue staying in the house for his final year next year so he wasn't moving out which must mean he's been ok there. He also has 2 mates of his moving in though. You still can't help worrying though

black-saturn

I dont know why landlords dont give deposits back. I've lived in several rented houses and flats in the past and only once did I ever get my deposit back and I left the places cleaner than when I went in. One of the houses I got a professional decorator to come in and redecorate before I left and they still kept my deposit :mad:

Lady_K

Wow that seems very unfair. I will ask her to find out from the remaining tennant if he heard anything from the ones that left this time around and if they got thiers back

Gem_

I have never had a problem getting deposits back - so it does very much depend on the landlord. Although I did once get £25 knocked off for keeping a dog when were not allowed pets (although I did leave the house spotless).

On the subject of living with lads, they might be great. After all student nurses and medical students also have a reputation as !!!!!! artists .... stereotypes can be wrong! Personally I prefer living with guys to girls, just find they tend to be more laid back and dont want things doing 'their way' all the time.

What ever she decides I hope it works out

Gem

Lady_K

Thankyou Gemma yes she's shared with mixed before and has got on with the guys but the girls have been a problem, in fact she had to move rooms it was so bad one year. Long story but she wouldn't have got through the course if she hadn't moved and the guy sharing thier appartment too failed some of his exams because of these girls but he couldn't move as all the spare rooms had gone by then

Well she won't be sharing with medical students she isn't sure what subjects these lads are doing but she has found she can't go out and party that much at all due to the course hours and placements. Student nurses don't get the holidays that other students do and they start and finish later, in fact shes doing a placement that will take her right up to the beginning of the next accademic year it's spoilt any holidays or even a break. She has a few friends that are student Doctors at another uni and they get the whole summer wthout placements so I don't know why student nurses are different.

Having said all this I wonder what her boyfriend thinks to her moving in with a house full of lads

byb3

I'm moving in with three lads next year who i've only met once. Unfortunately I'm on a 3 year course and my girlfriend who I live with graduates this year, along with a lot of other friends.

When I was lookin at houses a few landlords do advertise 'half-rent' over the summer if unoccupied. These deals tend to arise more when they are desperate to get somebody to fill a room before June/July when most student contracts end/begin. The first two flats I rented were both full-rent the entire year and I think the next one is as well.

I'm sure she will be fine, although I do hope she finds another girl to live with. I'm a guy living with three girls at the moment (albeit one is my girlfriend) and it can get quite tense!!

Good Luck