Students unhappy - landlords have broken TA - any redress?

grumpyawldwifey

Hi
My daughter and 3 other girls are student nurses in privately owned halls (CRM) near their university. Because of the nature of their course, which includes placements, they each took on a 51-week tenancy rather than the usual 42 weeks believing that this was the only rental option available to them.
One of the reasons for choosing this particular site was that there was a gym and swimming pool. This facility was closed before they moved in and they were not compensated for its loss. The gym has re-opened but the pool no longer exists.
They have had nothing but hassle since moving in including, on a number of occasions, male members of maintenance staff letting themselves into the apartment totally unannounced, without even knocking! (One of the girls has been abused in the past and ended up not being able to stay there overnight if the others were on shift!)
Fire alarms have been tested without notice and not on the normal day including during a remote, on-line exam that they did in their flat - needless to say, they'd have started the exam after the alarm test was scheduled, if only they'd known!
They have suffered (including today) loss of paid-for parking due to contractors parking in their spaces – again without notice or warning.
Near the beginning of their tenancy, they reported that the fridge compartment of their fridge freezer was freezing their food, ruining salad items etc but this was never fixed and has cost them a considerable sum in food that has had to be thrown out.
They agreed to allow the management staff to show their flat to potential students but they have not been given any notice at all of these visits to the flat even after asking for a warning phone call so that they could at least make sure they were dressed! The girls were made to feel unwelcome in their own flat during these visits.
Overall, the flats are extremely noisy, the walls and ceilings are paper thin and they have been woken at all hours by the noise of e.g. people having sex, playing their music, laughing and shouting in their flats (in other words being students) and on one occasion, trying to get into their flat! Oh and the big bins being filled and emptied on a daily basis have also contributed to a year of misery - when on placement they often have to work shifts.
In January, the girls asked if they could cut short the tenancy to 42 weeks because they were going to move into a student house which they would have to take from July, they were told that they could only do this if they found tenants to take over the flat. The staff also said that they would bear them in mind if anyone needed accommodation over the summer. (This was the first time that they found out that the company does short-term summer lets which would have meant they could have taken on a 42 week agreement and, if necessary, taken on a shorter agreement over the summer holidays. They have attempted to find new tenants to take over the flat and recently discovered that new students arriving in July are being housed in temporary accommodation whilst awaiting their flats to be refurbished but the girls have not been approached to see if they would let them use their flat or take over their tenancy for the 2 month period between the beginning of July and the end of August.
They have decided that they cannot stay there any longer. They would have liked to have quit on the July 1st but, as students who are inexperienced in housing matters, were not aware of the need to give notice. They are very reluctant to pay July and August's rent (around £900 each) but I have suggested that they should pay first and attempt to claim back afterwards.
Their bond is £250 each.
Naturally, they will be recommending to their University that student nurses DO NOT stay in this accommodation!!

Can anyone give me advice on how to advise them?

Thanks in advance.

Red-Squirrel_2

Hi, I'm afraid I don't have much advice as to how to deal with the management of the flats, but I've just copied and pasted below the bits that I think are valid complaints and that the girls should focus on. If they start trying to complain about noise, thin walls, bins, fire alarms at random times, poor behaviour of other students etc. then they're less likely to get taken seriously. That stuff is completely normal for halls of residence and one of the reasons why student nurses tend to find them a complete nightmare and never stay past first year!

• One of the reasons for choosing this particular site was that there was a gym and swimming pool. This facility was closed before they moved in and they were not compensated for its loss. The gym has re-opened but the pool no longer exists.
  
• on a number of occasions, male members of maintenance staff letting themselves into the apartment totally unannounced, without even knocking!
  
• They have suffered (including today) loss of paid-for parking due to contractors parking in their spaces – again without notice or warning.
  
• Near the beginning of their tenancy, they reported that the fridge compartment of their fridge freezer was freezing their food, ruining salad items etc but this was never fixed
  
• They agreed to allow the management staff to show their flat to potential students but they have not been given any notice at all of these visits

G_M

Most universities has an accomodation office, and it sounds like this is an 'approved' hall, so would be on the AO's list, yes?

So speak to the AO.

The student union probably also has advisers they can speak to.

Putting that aside, each issue needs addressing separately, and in writing. Have they written to the landlords regarding each issue?

* the repairing issues?
* the failure to provide facilities which (I assume?) are included within the contract
* the interference of their right to 'quiet enjoyment' of the accomodation

They could withdraw their consent to permit viewings, or could restrict viewing to times/days they specify. Again, in writing.

As to the lenth of contract, I'm afraid if they signed for 51 weeks, then that's what they are commited to unless the LL accepts an early Surrender.

I'm unclear whether they all 3 signed a single 'joint and several' contract, or each have separate contracts - it makes a difference to certain things eg LL access to common/shared areas.

grumpyawldwifey

Thanks.
GM, I'm not sure about the approved list - they weren't advertised at the open event we went to? I'll suggest the girls seek advice from the SU though. They each have individual tenancy agreements - they didn't know each other before moving in.
Yes Red Squirrel, they'll be making it known that the accommodation isn't good for NHS students. What can they do about the other, more specific breaches of their contract that you listed? They have complained before to the office staff at the halls but not in writing to the company itself.

G_M

sueyw wrote: »

Thanks.
What can they do about the other, more specific breaches of their contract that you listed? They have complained before to the office staff at the halls but not in writing to the company itself.

Each issue needs addressing separately, and in writing. Have they written to the landlords regarding each issue?

* the repairing issues?
* the failure to provide facilities which (I assume?) are included within the contract
* the interference of their right to 'quiet enjoyment' of the accomodation

They could withdraw their consent to permit viewings, or could restrict viewing to times/days they specify. Again, in writing.

edit: if this is a large company (more than one hall/property?) there is likely to be a complaints procedure or escallation process.

grumpyawldwifey

Thanks.
They're writing to the company to set out their complaints and are going to ask them nicely if, as a good-will gesture, they'll let them off the last 2 months' rent. Shy bairns get nowt lol!