Student Flats - incomplete but full rent demanded

Guest101

steampowered wrote: »

The best thing to do might be to go back to the agent with a counter-offer which you consider to be more appropriate.

If you don't get anywhere, the next step would be for your daughter to continue paying full rent write a formal 'letter before action' and then issue a county court claim through the 'moneyclaimonline' service.

It is very likely the landlord could give in at that point. If they don't, the small claims judge can decide what level of rent reduction would be appropriate.

What would the letter before action claim for though?


Where's the 'loss'.


The daughter hasn't had to hire people to move things up 8 floors (outside of the normal friends helping out) presumably


The daughter hasn't arranged her own broadband


Parcels can be delivered to a friends house at no extra cost


The Gym is a red herring as it could be a running machine and that's it

dannim12345

I dont think it's exceptable, if something's promised it should be in place (whether needed or not). A slightly delay would be understandable but how long will it take? I don't think building control would be satisfied without a lift in an 8 storey building.

Get your daughter (maybe along with others) to speak to her Students Union, they are really helpful and no doubt will put more pressure on the LL.

pimento

AdrianC wrote: »

And nobody is suggesting that is inappropriate.

But the fact remains that an 18yo is, legally, an adult - and they are, legally, solely responsible for a contract that they have signed.

That is a simple fact. It is completely separate to whether or not parents who mollycoddle them and try to take over everything as soon as things get mildly complicated do anybody any favours in the long term.

You're completely correct but sometimes the information is imparted in a sneery 'stop being an overprotective parent and cut the apron strings you're doing the sprog no favours' kind of way.

If I were to ask for advice for my aged mother, nobody would turn a hair even though I wouldn't be legally responsible for her contracts either.

suited-aces

AdrianC wrote: »

I presume moving out is not an option as the landlord will not release her from the contract she freely and voluntarily signed.

As for student accommodation expecting concierge, lift and gym... <boggle>
Sure, they're included in the rent - but do they actually prevent her from living there? Sure, she needs internet access - £50 is more than sufficient to get an interim solution for that set up for a couple of months.

BTW, are you named on the tenancy contract, other than as a guarantor? If not, then the negotiation is nothing to do with you. You accept or cannot reject any offer, and you cannot "do" anything, "for the best" or otherwise. Your daughter is an adult. You can advise her what you think she can do, but it is her choice entirely as to whether to accept your advice or not.

Why the hell would you boggle? I suspect as someone with thousands of posts on a consumer affairs forum you wouldn't just bend over and accept a lesser service than you paid for?

TBagpuss

pimento wrote: »

You're completely correct but sometimes the information is imparted in a sneery 'stop being an overprotective parent and cut the apron strings you're doing the sprog no favours' kind of way.

If I were to ask for advice for my aged mother, nobody would turn a hair even though I wouldn't be legally responsible for her contracts either.

True, but if you said that your aged mother was unhappy with her landlord and you were going accept or refuse an offer from her landlord, you would probably be reminded that the contract is between your mum and the landlord, and that you don't have the authority to make that choice.

In this case, I think HouseBuyer77's advice is good 9both of the posts) - you can of couse advise your daughter but she should be the one who actually contacts the landlord and ultimatly she is the one who gets to decide whether or not to accept any offer.

I aldo think that she would probably do best by speaking to other tenantss othat they are presenting a united front, and by seeking advice from their University's Housing Office.

csgohan4

is the extra services like broadband, gym e.t.c actually in her contract?, just because they are in the building doesn't mean the LL has to provide.

pimento

TBagpuss wrote: »

True, but if you said that your aged mother was unhappy with her landlord and you were going accept or refuse an offer from her landlord, you would probably be reminded that the contract is between your mum and the landlord, and that you don't have the authority to make that choice.

I might word it like that if I were her guarantor and paying the rent. I suspect that the reason the mother isn't on the contract is because she can't be. She certainly has a material interest.

AdrianC

pimento wrote: »

If I were to ask for advice for my aged mother, nobody would turn a hair even though I wouldn't be legally responsible for her contracts either.

Your aged mother is not at a formative stage in her life, during which she needs to learn how to stop being a child and become a responsible adult.

Is she?

Willow2206

Many thanks to those who gave practical and supportive advice (that is all I wanted - not to be cast as an over-protective parent who has/should have no rights or interest in my daughter's predicament).

Guest101

Willow2206 wrote: »

Many thanks to those who gave practical and supportive advice (that is all I wanted - not to be cast as an over-protective parent who has/should have no rights or interest in my daughter's predicament).

Hold on a sec - you've literally not answered any questions that people put to you that may help to resolve the matter.


IE is the LL the freeholder, are the facilities simply there or written into the agreement, has your daughter suffered any financial loss....


If you wanted a rant, find a friend. People are always happy to give practical advice on these forums. But it's a two way street.


- you need to accept that neither the LL nor anyone else is obligated to enter a discussion with you at all.