Student accommoation trap - help!!!

lauragrace_94

I am a undergraduate student starting at Derby in September. I booked a room and paid a £100 deposit on a room in a private halls. My circumstances have changed so that I can no longer afford to stay in this accommodation and will have to commute.
When I emailed the accommodation asking to withdraw from my booking, they said I had entered a 'shorthold tenancy agreement' and will have to pay the full amount £4500, unless I have a letter from UCAS stating I haven't got the grades to get into the university, I which case It would be no problem to withdraw from my booking.
They now either want a letter, which I don't have as I have the grades, it is my financial and personal circumstances that mean I cannot stay there or for me to pay the full amount, which I cannot afford.
I have not physically signed anything or had a physical meeting, or phonecall with anyone, it was all booked and done online, and when I go to the online page where the tenancy agreement is, it says 'not available'. The booking was made end of May.
Please HELP! How do I get out of this?
Yours Desperate student,
Laura x :mad:

rageagainstessays

lauragrace_94 wrote: »

I am a undergraduate student starting at Derby in September. I booked a room and paid a £100 deposit on a room in a private halls. My circumstances have changed so that I can no longer afford to stay in this accommodation and will have to commute.
When I emailed the accommodation asking to withdraw from my booking, they said I had entered a 'shorthold tenancy agreement' and will have to pay the full amount £4500, unless I have a letter from UCAS stating I haven't got the grades to get into the university, I which case It would be no problem to withdraw from my booking.
They now either want a letter, which I don't have as I have the grades, it is my financial and personal circumstances that mean I cannot stay there or for me to pay the full amount, which I cannot afford.
I have not physically signed anything or had a physical meeting, or phonecall with anyone, it was all booked and done online, and when I go to the online page where the tenancy agreement is, it says 'not available'. The booking was made end of May.
Please HELP! How do I get out of this?
Yours Desperate student,
Laura x :mad:

Is the University allocating students to these rooms?
If so, call the accommodation office Also on the point of a contract- a contract is not made with the signing of a document, at the university where I want to study in the accommodation terms and conditions it states

The absence of a signed contract does not materially affect the relationship between the Student and the University. A contract is formed by the making of an offer and the student accepting the offer. The act of accepting and signing for the keys to their Accommodation and moving in proves the existence of a contractual relationship and does not have to be evidenced by a signed contract. You will still be bound by the provisions of this contract without signing it should you sign for keys and move in

Voyager2002

In practice, the accommodation office is likely to be able to find someone else who wants that room.

Otherwise, I suggest you re-arrange your circumstances and live in it, perhaps finding a part-time job to pay the rent. The amount of rent for the year would be added to your account with the university, and it is impossible to graduate when you still owe the university money.

Of course, if you decide to study somewhere else then all that you have lost is the deposit you paid.

Helix

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Otherwise, I suggest you re-arrange your circumstances and live in it, perhaps finding a part-time job to pay the rent. The amount of rent for the year would be added to your account with the university, and it is impossible to graduate when you still owe the university money.

This is currently being reviewed by the Office of Fair Trading. However its still not a good idea as you will have to pay it eventually.

gemnomnom

lauragrace_94 wrote: »

I am a undergraduate student starting at Derby in September. I booked a room and paid a £100 deposit on a room in a private halls. My circumstances have changed so that I can no longer afford to stay in this accommodation and will have to commute.
When I emailed the accommodation asking to withdraw from my booking, they said I had entered a 'shorthold tenancy agreement' and will have to pay the full amount £4500, unless I have a letter from UCAS stating I haven't got the grades to get into the university, I which case It would be no problem to withdraw from my booking.
They now either want a letter, which I don't have as I have the grades, it is my financial and personal circumstances that mean I cannot stay there or for me to pay the full amount, which I cannot afford.
I have not physically signed anything or had a physical meeting, or phonecall with anyone, it was all booked and done online, and when I go to the online page where the tenancy agreement is, it says 'not available'. The booking was made end of May.
Please HELP! How do I get out of this?
Yours Desperate student,
Laura x :mad:

Uni accommodation is such a money making scam. What I've found (from Leeds uni) is you need to make phone calls personally. Explain your situation and ask for their compassion/discretion. I had £200 worth of fees waived like this. If not, speak to an adviser at your union. Best of luck

DropsOfJupiter_2

You technically haven't agreed to a (short/long term) contract yet because all you did was pay for the deposit. The deposit is effectively there just to secure your room, should you decide not to take up the room then it is unlikely that you will get your deposit back.

I would advise that you phone up the manager and tell him/her your financial situation. It is better that you tell them now than tell them once you've moved in.

If they really insist that you should pay the £4500 then find ways that you can avoid this by either: finding another student who would be willing to rent the room that you were allocated in, or make a complaint and involve the student guild - tell them your situation.

I hope it gets resolved. Let us know how it goes. Hope that helps.

rozmister

DropsOfJupiter wrote: »

If they really insist that you should pay the £4500 then find ways that you can avoid this by either: finding another student who would be willing to rent the room that you were allocated in, or make a complaint and involve the student guild - tell them your situation.

When I was at uni there was always poster on the back of toilet doors (where most posters went) and adverts on uni student FB groups advertising rooms in halls for rent. People who drop out of uni or want to move to other accommodation put them up so I don't see why you couldn't if you can't get out of your contract Good luck!

katharinee

I would definitely call and/or email the university accommodation office and explain your situation calmly to them & hope they take sympathy! If not, try contacting the student union asap as this is what they're there for: to protect your interests. Most important thing is to speak to them asap so they can hopefully find someone to take your room & everyone will be happy! Also ask them to post/email you a copy of the T & Cs so you can read them for yourself.
You should be careful to check what you're signing up to *when* you sign up next time!

Voyager2002

DropsOfJupiter wrote: »

You technically haven't agreed to a (short/long term) contract yet because all you did was pay for the deposit. The deposit is effectively there just to secure your room, should you decide not to take up the room then it is unlikely that you will get your deposit back.

I would advise that you phone up the manager and tell him/her your financial situation. It is better that you tell them now than tell them once you've moved in.

If they really insist that you should pay the £4500 then find ways that you can avoid this by either: finding another student who would be willing to rent the room that you were allocated in, or make a complaint and involve the student guild - tell them your situation.

I hope it gets resolved. Let us know how it goes. Hope that helps.

No: unless we can read the actual agreement that was signed we do not know this, but it is entirely possible that the OP is legally committed to taking the room and paying the rent for the year, with the deposit providing evidence of the existence of this contract. So there is nothing to be gained by making a complaint (whether through the union or by any other means). I do agree that the best approach is to telephone them and ask them to exercise discretion, but be aware that the law is likely to be on their side so it would be more appropriate to ask for help than to insist on your (non-existent) "rights".

Own_My_Own

Voyager2002 wrote: »

No: unless we can read the actual agreement that was signed we do not know this, but it is entirely possible that the OP is legally committed to taking the room and paying the rent for the year, with the deposit providing evidence of the existence of this contract. So there is nothing to be gained by making a complaint (whether through the union or by any other means). I do agree that the best approach is to telephone them and ask them to exercise discretion, but be aware that the law is likely to be on their side so it would be more appropriate to ask for help than to insist on your (non-existent) "rights".

The op did say she hasn't signed anything.

MiniDF

Own_My_Own wrote: »

The op did say she hasn't signed anything.

I don't think that means much, I never signed anything for my accommodation just ticked an I agree to the T&Cs box. I think the only things I signed was a register to say I'd picked up my key and the thing where you write down any existing damage in the room.