Student Rent

ADavid27

Thanks for all the comments.

To put it into a bit of context, the person who took it to the uni official was the girl at the centre of the problems (i.e. the girl who wants to quit the house, and who has caused all the upset within it);

Instead of listening to all sides, and then giving a balanced view with a number of possible options, the uni official spoke only to that one girl, then made a judgement that the other three were solely to blame, and TOLD them verbally AND by email that the three of them needed to speak to the landlord, ask for a reduction in rent and then pay the other girl's portion of the rent between them. One of the three commented that she was financially stretched as it was and couldn't afford any more, and was told she would be able to apply for a hardship loan to cover the increased cost. No other options were suggested by the official. The girl at the centre of the problem came away believing that she would have no obligations with regards to the rent.

As for the "way to !!!! on his Christmas" comment - what about the Christmas (and beyond!) of the three girls who have been unfairly judged and advised by someone in authority to take on extra an extra financial burden?

It is a situation that all FOUR of them need to work at resolving - and that is the advice I believe that someone with the uni officials position and experience should have been giving.

Anyway, the information I have been given has been very helpful - thanks for all taking the time to comment.

Guest101

ADavid27 wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments.

To put it into a bit of context, the person who took it to the uni official was the girl at the centre of the problems (i.e. the girl who wants to quit the house, and who has caused all the upset within it); - What is the job title of the uni official? If it's not Housing advisor (or similar) then really you have no avenue of complaint. It was someone giving some practical advice. In an unofficial capacity. I might send them an email as thus:


Dear X,


Please note your understanding of housing law and contract law is not up to date, and I would recommend you refrain from giving incorrect advice.


As this matter is unconnected with the university, your guidance is not required.


Regards


____

Instead of listening to all sides, and then giving a balanced view with a number of possible options, - Irrelevant. The person simply gave a practical solution. It was not an 'order', simply respond and ignore. the uni official spoke only to that one girl, then made a judgement that the other three were solely to blame, and TOLD (advised) them verbally AND by email that the three of them needed to speak to the landlord, ask for a reduction in rent and then pay the other girl's portion of the rent between them. (respond as above) One of the three commented that she was financially stretched as it was and couldn't afford any more, and was told she would be able to apply for a hardship loan to cover the increased cost. (good news) No other options were suggested by the official. (you keep saying official, but it sounds like a person trying to come up with a practical solution) The girl at the centre of the problem came away believing that she would have no obligations with regards to the rent. - Unfortunate for her. She may be surprised once she gets court papers, either from the other 3 tenants or from the LL.

As for the "way to !!!! on his Christmas" comment - what about the Christmas (and beyond!) of the three girls who have been unfairly judged and advised by someone in authority to take on extra an extra financial burden? - What authority??!! Unless the person is a judge, in a case where the 3 of them are respondents, there is zero authority.

It is a situation that all FOUR of them need to work at resolving - and that is the advice I believe that someone with the uni officials position and experience should have been giving. - What experience do they have?

Anyway, the information I have been given has been very helpful - thanks for all taking the time to comment.

Good luck.

macman

Contract is between the tenants and the LL, and the responsibility for rent is ultimately born jointly and severally by the guarantors-which include the OP.
The 'uni official's' role in all this is entirely advisory and can be taken or disregarded as required (hopefully the latter).
Perhaps the tenants collectively need to behave as the adults they are and resolve this between them, by replacing the fourth tenant with another tenant, since they cannot prevent her from leaving. Failing that they will need to cover the extra rent between them as their contract requires. Why would the LL agree to reduce the rent because the tenant's can't agree?
If the outgoing tenant fails to pay her share of rent then the other 3 can in principle make a civil claim against her, but they and their guarantors remain liable for the whole rent themselves regardless.

mrginge

Oh yes please send that email.

:eek::eek::rotfl::rotfl:

mrginge

Seeing as how the OP wants a bit of 'balance', dare I suggest that the uni official may have a better understanding of the full situation than we're being told, that this girl may well have been bullied by the three, may well feel so uncomfortable that they are unable to live in the house, that the uni may take a very dim view of three of their students ganging up on another, that there could be consequences for their education if they don't act to resolve the situation without further antagonising this girl, and that everyone here who thinks they have all encompassing knowledge of the situation based on the one side of the story they've been told should have a little think before commenting.

Just in the name of balance of course.

ADavid27

Thanks Guest101.

The official is the Deputy Head of the college all of the girls belong to; the girl who approached didn't go simply asking for advice, she took it as a formal complaint regarding the behaviour of the other three. The DH then convened a meeting with all four girls, where, instead of listening to all sides, she gave that one "solution" in such a manner that all four of them took that as being given by someone in "authority".

As a Deputy Head of a college within a large, prestigious university, I would have expected them to have had more experience than any of the four girls, or myself, in dealing with such matters, and as such should have handled the matter by either stating that they didn't have have any expertise in that area and advising the girls to seek advice elsewhere, or to listen to all sides and give a balanced view of the situation, including various options. I wouldn't have expected anyone in that type of position to listen to one person, and then make a judgement which IS what happened.

The landlord is now aware of the situation and is dealing with the matter in a friendly, sensible manner, reminding all four girls of their financial obligations to him, and has also offered to help in finding a replacement tenant.

Again, thanks for all the comments but I think this is now closed.

Guest101

mrginge wrote: »

Seeing as how the OP wants a bit of 'balance', dare I suggest that the uni official may have a better understanding of the full situation than we're being told, that this girl may well have been bullied by the three, may well feel so uncomfortable that they are unable to live in the house, that the uni may take a very dim view of three of their students ganging up on another, that there could be consequences for their education if they don't act to resolve the situation without further antagonising this girl, and that everyone here who thinks they have all encompassing knowledge of the situation based on the one side of the story they've been told should have a little think before commenting.

Just in the name of balance of course.

There are disciplinary procedures in place to deal with bullying.


There is no standing to get involved in a 3rd party contract.


You're speculating.

Guest101

ADavid27 wrote: »

Thanks Guest101.

The official is the Deputy Head of the college all of the girls belong to; (Lancaster Uni? - not many run colleges anymore) the girl who approached didn't go simply asking for advice, she took it as a formal complaint regarding the behaviour of the other three. - In which case add into the email. Please deal with this complaint in line with disciplinary procedures and refrain from involving yourselves in 3rd party contracts. The DH then convened a meeting with all four girls, where, instead of listening to all sides, she gave that one "solution" in such a manner that all four of them took that as being given by someone in "authority". - Issue a complaint to the chancellors office.

As a Deputy Head of a college within a large, prestigious university, I would have expected them to have had more experience than any of the four girls, or myself, in dealing with such matters, - Bullying yes, housing probably not. and as such should have handled the matter by either stating that they didn't have have any expertise in that area and advising the girls to seek advice elsewhere, or to listen to all sides and give a balanced view of the situation, including various options. - As above, complain. I wouldn't have expected anyone in that type of position to listen to one person, and then make a judgement which IS what happened.

The landlord is now aware of the situation and is dealing with the matter in a friendly, sensible manner, reminding all four girls of their financial obligations to him, and has also offered to help in finding a replacement tenant.

Again, thanks for all the comments but I think this is now closed.

Nice landlord. Buy him / her a bottle of wine for christmas

JimmyTheWig

[strike]I'm guessing that the "fairly high ranking official at the university" is from the Student Union (not the University as such) and is a Welfare Officer or similar. Either way, it doesn't sound like their word is final in any shape or form. But it is a reasonable compromise.[/strike]
Looks like I was wrong about that - cross posted!

OP, if your daughter and her friends had been bullying this other girl, do you think that she'd have told you this?
If, following a reasonable investigation, the Union official agreed that they had been bullying this girl do you think your daughter would have told you this or would she have tries to make out that there wasn't a proper investigation?

The bullying doesn't change the contract, but it does affect who has the moral highground.

Dird

I wonder if OP will still agree all 4 girls must pay rent for the remainder of their contract if his daughter is kicked out for bullying but still liable for the whole year's rent

The timing is also nice, anti-bullying week