Uni accommodation deposits

isualive

My son had his uni accommodation confirmed today. The big surprise was the £300 deposit that they had to receive within 10 days of the letter date. If not the accommodation offer is withdrawn. I've been with him to all the talks and meetings and this is the first time this was mentioned.

It's not mentioned in any literature.

We are not well off and have managed to borrow the money. Is it usual to have this thrown at you?

It's a worry for the students who can't raise the deposit? They could miss out.:mad:

knightsimon

Its the same for my accomodation. They signed us up then said we need to pay a £250 deposit within 7 days. I simply told them i could not aford the £2600 i was paying for rent as well as giving them £250 for a year as a deposit so i never paid it, they never got back to me about it but took my rent a few weeks ago so i guess im stilling living there. Another thing that annoyed me was that when we were shown around we were told parking was free, yet after we signed up they said that parking is £80 deposit (for the beeper to open the gate) and £60 payment for the year, when we said we were told parking was free they just said that the guy who showed us around shoulnt have told us that as its not true. They said there is nothing they can do, if we didnt want the house then that was fine. We still wanted the house so we stayed signed up but i refuse to pay for parking, i will just park down a side street and walk.

I have been through 2 accomodation companies since i have been at uni. The first one was quite good, we managed to negotiate the rent down £2 a week and then we said if we sign today what will you do for us. Buying us pizza was brought up and they gave us £50 to buy a crate of beer and some pizza.

The second is the one mentioned above and so far im not impressed they seem to be taking us for a ride with all these hidden deposits and fee's. If any more appear then i wont be happy.

I would look in your contact and see if the deposit is mentioned. I think they should have made it clear to you that there is a deposit, it might be worth contacting them and telling them that no one mentioned a deposit.

pjb007

It was £200 at my uni, though I knew that in advance.

andyrules

isualive wrote: »

My son had his uni accommodation confirmed today. The big surprise was the £300 deposit that they had to receive within 10 days of the letter date. If not the accommodation offer is withdrawn. I've been with him to all the talks and meetings and this is the first time this was mentioned.

It's not mentioned in any literature.

We are not well off and have managed to borrow the money. Is it usual to have this thrown at you?

It's a worry for the students who can't raise the deposit? They could miss out.:mad:

We have had to pay this as well, seems to be standard. Hard on those students whose parents don't cough up.

rainbowtrout

My deposit was £600 non negotiable.

Gingernutmeg

My halls deposit was £200 too, it's standard procedure to be asked for one. The good thing about universities though, as opposed to private landlords, if that you generally would have to do something REALLY bad for them not to return it - I spent two years in halls and only ever heard of a couple of people loosing their deposit.

isualive

Thanks for the replies, i'm simmering down now.

devils_nose

Wow - I feel really lucky, I just got the request for my halls deposit and it was £100.. I don't think I could have managed £600!!!!!

one_dan_dan

I had to pay a £450 deposit aswell as me and my 5 housemates paying £180 letting agency fees each! my student loan in only £1000, I had to take out a credit card to cover it and am now working to pay it off.

bluetide

My uni (Portsmouth) requires a £200 Pre-payment to secure your room, however this £200 is automatically taken off your first terms rent payment

rainbowtrout

Yeah it ain't a nice feeling to see your student loan go into your account and straight out again in the form of your deposit, but it does stop me spending it... (sigh). My deposit is returned as an offset against my end of year bill and like other people have said, universities almost always return deposits even if you have spilt stuff on the carpet!