Student Accomadation Nightmare

GwylimT

Just double checked and the lowest loan amount is £3,731. Has she applied as someone living at home? In which case you would need to earn around £75000 to get 3 x £900 a year.

juno

You might be able to get out of it if she finds someone who is willing to take over the contract. They might still charge some kind of admin cost for changing things over. However, if there are loads of other empty rooms then they might not want to allow this, as the new person could have one of those rooms and they'd earn twice as much rent.

Andypandyboy

frogga wrote: »

We were only asked to provide income details AFTER she had already signed the contract, which we never saw. Yes, again, her mistake. Good job we are supportive parents who realise that people, especially young people, make mistakes.

As I said we have just been through the same process and that wasn't how it happened with us. This is the timeline of the process.

After getting offers from several unis offspring applied for student finance, the forms were completed, the income discussion had and an application was made. Finance was in place before the results were out. Lowest amount for income exceeding limit is £3,700 so I am not sure how you were told £900 per term.

Although accommodation had also been applied for no money was due until the results were out and the place was confirmed. At that point a booking fee/deposit of £400 was paid and acceptance was binding on both sides.

I would check that she has completed the forms correctly.

frogga

Thank you for the replies.


We stood as guarantor Tigsteroonie so if she didn't/ couldn't pay, we'd have to. I was aware of that, but never imagined the student loan wouldn't cover it so never thought I'd end up paying. Ho hum, my mistake.


I think this whole 'sharing' experience has put her off for life, but I'll let her know of what can happen so thank you Andy.


Gwylim thank you for taking the time to check figures. You are right. She initially applied as someone living at home, as that was what she was going to do. Then she decided she'd really like the whole 'uni experience' so asked to fill in a 'change of circumstances' form. We've phoned student finance 4 times. They keep saying they'll send the form. It never arrives. One said we could do it online, then said we couldn't. She'd written to them, and emailed. The latest they've told her is that it's too late and she can't 'change her circumstances' now??


I earn £20,000 and Mr Frog £34,000. The reason we wanted to pay off the mortgage quickly was because he has a progressive disease that may only give him 5 years left of being fit enough to work. HOPEFULLY not, and that is just worst case scenario. But the consultant has said he should consider the future and if he will be fit enough to continue his job. But the best laid plans and all that...

GwylimT

Your income gives three payments of £1,135 for a student living at home, I know they aren't paid in equal installments so not completely accurated on a semester by semester basis.

frogga

Thanks Juno. We've been told about the 'taking over of rent' option. If she can find someone to take over her flat, then she can give it up. But there are loads of flats empty, so not a huge demand? She is trying this option though.


Andy, Tadpole didn't do any of this the easy way! She only decided at the very last minute she wanted to go to uni! She applied at the end of August, and rushed though without thinking I'm afraid. She has said herself she should have waited a year and considered everything. But, it won't kill us. And there is no point in saying 'I told you so'. It won't help will it?

Andypandyboy

I sympathise, and it looks like you are only just over limit too. I would go back to SF and insist on speaking to a manager. I just put a hypothetical income of 90,000 in the calculator, living at home and it gave me a figure just under £3000 so there is something wrong somewhere.

Insist on a change of circumstance and/or ask for an explanation of the figure.

frogga

That's VERY interesting?? But she'd only been given £900. I've seen the money in her account, so she's not 'fibbing'? Not sure what to say about that? When I did an online calculation, it did say 'estimate' but that's well out?

frogga

Thank you Andy. £3000 is for the year though, no? So that would be about the £900 for the term, and the rent is £1500 for the term. I'm grateful for the sympathy. I feel pig sick about it as I HATE wasting money. But, she's got her health, and things could be ALOT worse so I should stop worrying/stressing about it. Such is life.


THANK YOU all for trying to help and offer advice or looking things up. I remember that was how this forum used to work, I thought for a minute there it had all changed.

Shrimply

I read this and was thinking, just get in contact with the uni and explain. On re-reading I'm guessing this isn't uni accommodation (I automatically think of halls being owned and run by the uni). Which is a shame in terms of getting it sorted out.

Regardless though, do make sure she gets in contact with student services for advice, they have experience in just about every situation imaginable, and universities do tend to look after their students whenever they can.

If it turns out money genuinely is a problem because of this there will be hardship funds available.