Student Finance problem

rebootbritain

My son is about to start his second year at Uni and has a Student Finance Loan. He is moving into a house with his fellow students. The landlord insists that his tenancy starts on 01 July but the Government says that his loan does not commence until September.

The landlord insists on 3 months rent in advance. They threaten to evict him if he cannot pay. Is this normal? If so, what are the options for dealing with the landlord?

Does anyone know of the reasons why the Government do not match the timing of the loan to the market expectation of payment? (I'm sure he's not the only one in this predicament). Is there anything that can be done here?

He does not wish to get into more debt and one option would be to take a short term zero charge overdraft. Do banks offer such things? he would need £990. I have never had overdrafts and loans and am not about to enter the debt society just because the Government cannot match the provision of a loan with correctly timing it. Nor do I feel compelled to allow a sharp landlord to get away with exploiting a young person when the loan is clearly going to arrive, albeit later than they wish to procure the money.

I've written to Student Finance England who do not reply to mails. Is there a way to contact their CEO? I have considered highlighting these disparities to the Government as I think they are shameful abuses of young people.

Dunroamin

Student funding's intended to cover a student's living expenses for 52 weeks of the year and it's perfectly normal for rent to be due for the whole of the summer; your son should have allowed for this from his first year's finance.

Most student bank accounts have 0% overdrafts available which could be used in these circumstances.

Naf

The disparity is on the part of the landlord, not Student Finance. Student lets generally begin around the start of the academic year - September/October. DOes he need to live there over the summer for some reason?

Naf

Dunroamin wrote: »

Student funding's intended to cover a student's living expenses for 52 weeks of the year.

Not true; they are only intended to cover students costs for the academic year. Outside of these times the student is expected to live as any other person of similar age; with parents or on income from employment.

CLAPTON

It's normal for a student (private) let to cover 12 months as there is no realistic chance of the landlord getting a 3 month summer letting.
Most lets start from July for obvious reasons.

I'm afraid it's for your son (or his parents) to manage his money to match his costs.

Nothing really to do with the student loans company.

Dunroamin

Naf wrote: »

Not true; they are only intended to cover students costs for the academic year. Outside of these times the student is expected to live as any other person of similar age; with parents or on income from employment.

I'm sorry but you're wrong. That's why finance in the third year is less than than in the first two as there's no summer to cover.

Naf

Dunroamin wrote: »

I'm sorry but you're wrong. That's why finance in the third year is less than than in the first two as there's no summer to cover.

Perhaps someone ought to tell Housing Benefit & JSA that, then. Student Finance is only classed as income for the academic year.

CLAPTON

Naf wrote: »

Perhaps someone ought to tell Housing Benefit & JSA that, then. Student Finance is only classed as income for the academic year.

Are you saying that JSA and HB is payable over the summer vacations?

Naf

For student families, yes.
I receive HB all year; it increases across the summer as my SF is no longer income. In the summer we can claim JSA - again, because SF is no longer accounted for.
Its income for the academic year, and thats it.
]If you manage to stretch it further (not so difficult if you control your drinking) then good for you.

CLAPTON

Naf wrote: »

For student families, yes.
I receive HB all year; it increases across the summer as my SF is no longer income. In the summer we can claim JSA - again, because SF is no longer accounted for.
Its income for the academic year, and thats it.
]If you manage to stretch it further (not so difficult if you control your drinking) then good for you.

I would say then it's No in general, except for special circumstances if e.g. you have children.

Naf

CLAPTON wrote: »

I would say then it's No in general, except for special circumstances if e.g. you have children.

That's because students are precluded from claiming JSA; not because they're deemed to already have income.