Student accommodation: Change in circumstances

mojomojo1989

Hi,

I was wondering if I could your advice. I am staying at student halls and I am a postgraduate student.

Due to a change in circumstances, I can no longer afford my accommodation. The change is due to funds for my accommodation being diverted elsewhere due to a family emergency I have no control over.

I accept I can't afford my accommodation, I would much rather leave the accommodation to spend more time with my family at this distressing time whilst commuting (a large distance) to my lectures/seminars.

However, after re-reading my contract - it says that they can only release me from my contract should they find another tenant. My problem is that I can no longer afford the accommodation so staying at the student hall is becoming accumulatively more expensive for me given my sudden cash-flow problem.

I've spoken to my university and they have thus far been unhelpful. They have said they can't do anything until they find a replacement. I've appealed to their good nature and I have asked for a gesture of good will.

To make things worse, I found a student who was willing to have my room but he told me that they put him in another room in my accommodation. This is quite unfair considering the desperate situation I am in, I went out of my way to advertise my room to university students and even found a replacement within 24 hours of my original request.

My last resort would be to move out and tell them in writing that I have moved out and pay for the time I have been here whilst making it clear I won't be able to afford future payments.

Failing this, is there anything else I can do? I feel I am in a desperate situation.

martinsurrey

Get the student union involved, and/or the student paper if that doesn’t help.

Student welfare is a top priority of the Union and they love getting stuck into unsympathetic Uni staff (plus it might help them if they run for union president next year).

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

V_Chic_Chick

It is, unfortunately, standard practice to not release students from contracts unless they can find a replacement tenant, and you will remain liable for the rest of the rent. The standard method for making you pay up is by not letting you graduate until you clear your debts to the university.

You may, however, be eligible for the Access to Learning Fund.

Also - have you actually done the sums on how much commuting will cost you vs renting?

mojomojo1989

V_Chic_Chick wrote: »

It is, unfortunately, standard practice to not release students from contracts unless they can find a replacement tenant, and you will remain liable for the rest of the rent. The standard method for making you pay up is by not letting you graduate until you clear your debts to the university.

You may, however, be eligible for the Access to Learning Fund.

Also - have you actually done the sums on how much commuting will cost you vs renting?

Yes, as I'm at a university in London. A season pass for 10 weeks on the train would be still be cheaper than accommodation. The only thing I would forego would be sleep!

I sent them an email telling them I can't afford my payments after a certain date, they replied by telling me there is nothing they can do.

I'll check the Access to Learning Fund.

00ec25

mojomojo1989 wrote: »

My last resort would be to move out and tell them in writing that I have moved out and pay for the time I have been here whilst making it clear I won't be able to afford future payments.

as for finding a replacement then given how early it is in semester 1 I'm surprised the uni is being diffcilt over this as they should have a waiting list for halls even this far into the first term - all you can do is negotiate but do not make threats as at the end of the day they have the power not you

when you enrolled at the uni you would have had to sign that you accepted their terms and conditions, one of these is a standard clause that means you will not be allowed to graduate if you have outstanding debts. Although this has not yet been tested in court, many unis have been advsied that it is within their power to stop a student from graduating (ie being given a certificate and noticiation of their mark) if they owe money

Fire_Fox

Welcome! Sorry if I sound harsh here, I genuinely do want to help whilst having you understand the realities of the situation. You have signed a legally binding contract which you should have read carefully and and must abide by. The only way to get out of a legally binding contract is with the written agreement of the other party. Are you writing to your landlord and supplying evidence of YOUR change of circumstance?

Every year many many irresponsible students choose to prioritise other outgoings over their rent and have cash flow problems, and this has a negative effect on the genuine students like yourself. If the university was 'helpful' and 'fair' every time they would have cash flow problems of their own and have to close the accommodation block for health and safety or would not be able to pay staff wages. By all means get student welfare on your side, but you may find that they are not able to help you if the financial issues are someone elses. Agree you should find out what extra help there is available for students in difficulties.

The debt charities CCCS and Payplan class rent, food and council tax as priority debts for good reason as the consequences for defaulting are the most serious. They do not recommend robbing Peter to pay Paul as you are doing here, there are many systems in place to help your relatives. Firstly are they claiming ALL the benefits they are entitled to, plus any hardship payments? Secondly have they considered a Debt Management Plan? If they start one of these the first month you pay token payments of £1 to many creditors, which gives them breathing space.

Please run an advanced search on the Benefits board, the Debt Free Wannabe board, even consider doing some Matched Betting (a system, not gambling) to bring in extra income at this difficult time. Then have your relatives speak to CCCS or Payplan to find a proper solution within the system to their financial difficulties. Organisations and courts (and perhaps the university!) are a lot more sympathetic when there is documented proof that debtors are getting the proper advice and support, not just defaulting on contracts.

dimbo61

London is the most expensive place in the country to rent for students and workers.
Many students are going to other universities in different parts of the country because of this.
You need to find part time work and stand up on your own 2 feet and pay for your accommodation.
Most student bank accounts allow an overdraft of up to £1400/1700 COOP.
Learn how to cook and live cheaply and use your O/D until you find full time work in the summer.

dancingfairy

Not being funny but you can't expect to sign a legal contract and then cancel it when it suits you
As far as I can tell you are legally bound to pay the rent until the end of the contract so even if you leave they may have the option of taking you to court for the remaining money (that's what private landlords do) or as someonelse said preventing you from graduating.
You will need to work with the landlords and try and get someone else in on their terms I'm afraid. How on earth did you advertise and find a new tenant and then they put them in a different room though? This doesn't seem fair at all and may be worth a complaint about if you feel you fullfilled your side of the bargain.
In relation to your family situation, how desperate is it? If they are in severe financial hardship then they may need to consider appraching a debt charitty like Payplan or CCCS etc for help. WHilst it is commendable to want to help them it is not much help if it lands you with massive bills you can't pay. Can you provide a bit more detail about the family situation to see if a loan wouldn't be better for them or debt help or another suggestion?
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

I would also start writing to the university as they can then see you are not messing about and have serious issues.
Also I would pay them what you can at this stage, even if it is 50 a month or something, again so they can show you are serious about resolving this and minimising the amount you owe them as best you can.
As a postgraduate have you applied for all loans/grants etc available to you?
Can you do work either within your department or even a couple of shifts a week at say Tesco or something?
Best of Luck
df

englishrose19

I'm confused,

you say you're in this position because money in your family is being diverted... what does this have to do with you?

Are you giving them your loan?

Sorry if i'm being dense.

V_Chic_Chick

englishrose19 wrote: »

I'm confused,

you say you're in this position because money in your family is being diverted... what does this have to do with you?

Are you giving them your loan?

Sorry if i'm being dense.

The system for postgraduate funding is very patchy, not covered by Student Finance England, and OP may not be in receipt of any loans or grants.