Student Housing Contract

Louisc

My daughter stupidly signed a contract for a student house with 4 other girls when 1 of the bedrooms was locked and not seen. Unfortunately she drew the short straw and didn't see the room until the start of the contract on July 1st.when we arrived at the house there were 2 men living in 2 of the 5 bedrooms.the place was filthy and the room less than half the size of the others and all the furniture was broken and the electrical socket was hanging off the wallThe living room furniture was also disgusting.If the property was in this state in February when they viewed it they wouldn't have signed.When they signed the contract they were told the place would be done up and there would be new furniture.on the day the contract started this was denied and the guy who was sorting moving the men out and getting cleaners in said he was just there doing the girls a favour!!! He was from the company that showed the house and did the contracts but conveniently the "landlord" as he called it was another company.Well it's not the landlord but a managing company who conveniently took over on the day of the start date!!!!My daughter was never given any details or pictures of the property but was just allowed to look on their computer on the day they signed.since the start date of the contract I have got photographic details of the property and there are 5 bedrooms shown but 2 of the photos are of the same bedroom and hence not 1 of the room my daughter was unfortunate enough to have landed up with.In view of the fact the room was locked on inspection, they haven't carried out the changes they promised ( new furniture etc) and the danger of electrical sockets hanging off the wall and the misrepresentation of 5 bedrooms being shown on photos when 2 were of the same very nice room do we have a leg to stand on in saying that my daughter was misled and that they haven't upheld what they said they would do?also we were told that they never give new furniture and if they did change things then it would be from a charity shop!!!!!I really think these young girls have been totally taken advantage of and we are now looking for a new tenant for the room.my concern is not getting anyone to take it as quite clearly it's over priced and not in a good state!!!
Thank you for reading and hopefully you will have some advice

G_M

Ask you daughter how she punctuates her esseys.

Louisc

No need for facetious remarks.I wasn't paying attention to "How" I typed my question as I'm quite stressed over the whole situation!!!!:mad:

Marvel1

I hope I'm wrong but with the promise of the place being done up, I'm guessing verbal only and not in writing - if so you have no leg to stand I'm afraid, and it's case of lesson learned for next time.

Louisc

That's exactly what I thought too.silly girls trying to be grown up and not seeking advice!!

Pixie5740

Have the girls received any kind of check-inventory? Your daughter and her friends should take their own photos of the property as evidence. The good news is that when they leave the property they just need to leave it in the same condion that it's in now minus fair wear & tear so if it's filthy now they won't need to bust a gut cleaning at the end of their tenancy.

Your daughter should WRITE to the address for the serving of notices about the sockets hanging off the wall as that doesn't sound particularly safe.

Other than that I'm don't think they've got a leg to stand on. They viewed the property and decided to sign a contract despite not being able to see all the rooms. If your daughter doesn't want to live in the room I'm not sure why you think someone else will want to. Has the LL agreed to a deed of variation or to issue a new TA if someone else is found?

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid the young often don't see what we call disgusting as disgusting.

This will be a valuable learning experience if she hates the room. It'll never happen again if she has any sense.

As already commented, its your word against the LL's/LA. Again, a learning experience. Anything promised has to be in writing, the tenants can write it in on the contract and get the LA to sign it. If they won't, they realise the LA is telling porkies and refuse to sign the TA.

Louisc

The day they were moving in was the day they turned up and there were men sleeping there!!!I don't think there was an inventory to be honest under the circumstances changing locks and getting the place cleaned was the priority. We told the agent there and then that she wouldn't be moving into the room and he agreed to sort the room out .That was July 2nd and nothing has been done yet.I agree with you that why would someone else want to rent the room and I've told my daughter that she may well have to lower the rent or pay for the entire year.That would be a very expensive lesson for her!!!However there are students who wouldn't be too fussy as the house is very close to campus.We are doing our best to make the room more attractive and nice for whoever may take it.Was just trying to see if we can't rent it on what we could do.We said she wasn't moving in and don't even have keys so to me that is not accepting the contract!! But I do know it's not that simple
Thank you for your input though

Louisc

Deannatrois my daughter is used to a very high standard so this was definitely not up to hers but I'm hoping there will be someone who is not so fussy and yes She had quite a talking to regarding signing when she hadn't seen all the bedrooms plus not having the promises documented!

Pixie5740

Does your daughter have her own individual contract or is it a joint contract between them all? What are the other 4 saying to all this?

She signed the contract and handed over the money therefore regardless of how you see things she had accepted the contract.

Louisc

Really not 100% sure .Would it make a difference?Pixie and yes we did take photos at the time.Agent is happy for us to find someone else.Think it's quite commonplace with students!!