Student Rent

ADavid27

G_M - at what point do I say my daughter ISN'T jointly responsible for the full rent? The comment you quoted is saying she isn't happy or willing to the "deal" that would let the fourth girl escape her liabilities

G_M

and as for the bullying allegations, who bullied who, who's in the moral right/wrong etc, it all seems irrelevant.

The fact is the houseshare does not work. Very common when a group of young people live together, often not knowing each other well first (or even if they do!).

Complaints about noise, cleaning, shared expenses, guests, drugs/alcohol, smoking, boy/girlfriends, cooking, you name it the possible causes of friction are endless. And easily escalate. And then these days get defined as 'bullying'.

Almost certainly there is blame on both sides to some extent, and there are only two solutions:
1) adult discussion followed by compromise in behavior or
2) split up the houseshare by one or more leaving, with financial/legal consequences

In this case it seems 1) has failed (or not been attempted).

And dealing with the financial/legal consequences of 2) is also best done by compromise where possible.
* the 'official' suggested a financial/legal compromise
* the landlord appears supportive and willing to compromise

But if the girls, including your daughter, refuse to compromise, then this will end in (more) tears.....

G_M

ADavid27 wrote: »

G_M - at what point do I say my daughter ISN'T jointly responsible for the full rent? The comment you quoted is saying she isn't happy or willing to the "deal" that would let the fourth girl escape her liabilities

You said:

Why should she be willing to pay more because one of the girls wants, for whatever reason, to move out?

I took that to mean she is happy to pay her 1/4 share of the rent, but not to pay any part of the other girl's 'share', even though she is legally obliged to (and it was you who referred the the tenancy agreement she signed).


Of course, if the LL agrees/decides to pursue the 4th girl for any rent arrears, then your daughter will not have to pay more.

Or if your daughter decides to pursue the 4 girl herself, again, if successful, she will not have to pay more.

ADavid27

G_M actually there is a 3rd option that won't have any financial or legal consequences - and that (so far) all (involved) parties are happy with, and even the landlord is actively helping to achieve... finding a replacement tenant.

macman

Two entirely different issues here, and as this was posted on the 'House Renting' board, I fail to see the relevance of discussions about who was bullying who and who offered biased advice.
That can be the subject of a complaint to the college if the OP's daughter wishes, but it has no relevance to her or the OPs liability as guarantor for continuing to pay the full rent. I thought that the days of college staff acting in loco parentis were long gone?
Other option here is to pursue the 4th tenant's parent for the 25% rent if they are also guarantors?

ADavid27

I give up!!!!!

duchy

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

It's all very well people saying 'find another tenant asap' but this is two months into the academic year. There aren't going to be many students looking for accommodation. And even fewer looking for a place where the previous tenant was allegedly bullied into leaving.

Not wanting to move into a house with a bullying reputation is a good point - however often there are students looking to move - Some who starting by living at home or simply don't ike their current situation - or want to move somewhere closer Not all students are locked into where they live for the year ...and even some who are want to move if relatonships break down.

I'd be more concerned a daughter of mine allowed a situation in the house to degenerate to the point it has .

At least now she knows not to enter a joint contract with someone she doesn't know very well or trusts in the future.

eddddy

I think a major problem is that an AST often the first 'big' contract that many 18 year old students ever sign, and they tend to sign without understanding the full implications.

They don't appreciate the level of trust they must have in their fellow tenants, and the implications of somebody 'dropping out' of uni, wanting to move out, failing to pay rent, damaging the property, etc.

And consequently, perhaps they don't put enough effort into deciding who they can live with for a year. And having signed the contract, everyone's pretty much stuck with each other for a year, so realistically, everyone has to find ways of making it work.

onlyroz

I'd suggest advertising the room for rent somewhere like SpareRoom or Gumtree ASAP. Doesn't necessarily have to be another student, although there would be council tax implications if they weren't.