Student flatmate debt collection

ADayDream

Hi all, I'm currently living with two friends in privately owned student accommodation. Myself and one of the girls opened the other girls post after it had been constantly ignored (I know we were in the wrong here), and we found that we will be expecting debt collectors because she has failed to pay her tuition fees. My question is; even though we are not liable for the debt should we be worried about our belongings being taken to cover it? We all have locks on our bedroom doors but we have a shared tenancy agreement. The girl in question owns very little in the house because it came furnished and any bits and bobs have been bought by myself and the other girl. Also, she has no income so quite literally cannot afford to pay a penny. Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Tixy

Hi

If you are expecting debt collectors then none of you need worry about your belongings, not even the girl who owes the money. Doorstop debt collectors have no rights at all, all they can do is ask the debtor to pay.

If it is debt collectors she could write to them to tell them not to visit (revoke their right under common law) - there is a template we can provide if she wants to send that letter.

If the letter says bailiffs then thats different. They still shouldn't be an issue with your possessions or things that belong to the landlord, but in multiple occupancy houses things are not always so clear, if they did write anything on the walking possession order that belonged to one of you then you would need to inform them and have it removed - the best thing of all is not to let in a bailiff - if you don't let them in they cannot break in.

Back to her and her debt - do you all rent from the landlord seperately? or pay together? do you know if she is paying her share on the rent?
Are her tuition fees not covered by student loans? Can you get her to go and talk to the uni welfare department for some advice and to see if they can help her at all.
You say she has no income - how is she paying for things - her food etc?

ADayDream

Thank you for your advice. Firstly, we all rent and pay separately, in essence we're just paying for our rooms and the use of kitchen, bathroom etc. We also believe that her mum has been paying her share of the rent so far, under the impression that there was a delay with the student finance, which she did apply for but it seems she never sent her declaration form off and therefore hasn't received any money. In terms of asking her to go talk to her welfare department she very rarely attends uni anyway, instead she stays in bed all day. Finally, we are sure that she has no income because she has cut off ties with her family so there is no support there and she constantly steals our food and living necessities - loo roll, toothpaste etc, claiming that she can't afford them at the minute. We have never seen her go shopping for food, etc. (her cupboards are always empty) and she literally owns nothing in the house - we have bought everything.

Tixy

Sounds like a difficult situation to be in, and that she is not being fair to you two.

Perhaps she won't end up staying much longer if her parent stops paying the rent, and presumably she will be kicked off her course if her tuition is not paid(?)

RAS

Hi

It sounds like multiple problems.

1. She has not filled in her paperwork for SFE but might still be in time to do it - just.
2. She may well be depressed.
3. it cannot be much fun having her as a flatmate taking your stuff.

Can you go to the Student Union Welfare people and tell them what is going on.

1. She probably needs a visit from someone in the University Welfare.
2. She may well need to see the doctor.

ADayDream

Thank you for your replies. You're right, it's a nightmare living with her sometimes and we're only putting up with it because we're all moving out in 4 months time. We were sympathetic at first, but she does nothing to help herself - she ignores warning letters, won't talk to her mum who wants to help and is just plain rude to us - I'm not that well of either being a student but I work to support myself, not so that she can steal my food and shower gel, etc.

The main problem we have is that she doesn't go to the same uni as us so we cannot talk to anyone for her, and she just won't do it for herself.

In one of her letters it stated that her place at uni was at risk so she probably won't be there for long but she will still own the year's tuition fees.

We just feel like we're going round in circles with her and it's so unfair on us.

RAS

Hi

You can contact her University. Just check their web-site and find the number and e-mail contacts for the Student Union.