Student House - landlord problem

webblj1

Hello,
My son was due to move into private landlord's Student accommodation yesterday only to arrive to to find the kitchen being ripped out and being replaced with no access to cooking facilities and having to work round builders etc.
The tenancy agreement started on the 1st July 2017 he hasn't signed a copy himself but the rent for July and deposit has been paid, expecting the property to be habitual from the 1st July.

He has left the property to find suitable accommodation and doesn't want to go back however the landlord is requested a years rent from him.

He has paid the rent for July and is happy to lose this but can the landlord insist on the the years rent.
Thanks

PasturesNew

Many aren't able to move into student digs until the start of term.

You need to see the paperwork really. Many "pay for" July, without being able to move in.

He can't now choose to not go back, except in very unusual circumstances, so other posters might try to winkle the details and minutae from you over the next 30 posts to nail your exact position.

stef73

Has he paid rent for July or the summer retainer ? , I thought student letting paid a summer retaining fee and the landlords get the house ready for start of new term over the summer months rather than the students move in.

dacouch

The university will have an advisor who deals with tenancy problems for students. They often have a lot of clout as they can sometimes cut off the supply of new students each year to a landlord

neilmcl

stef73 wrote: »

Has he paid rent for July or the summer retainer ? , I thought student letting paid a summer retaining fee and the landlords get the house ready for start of new term over the summer months rather than the students move in.

Exactly this.

Are you sure that this was rent that was due and not a summer retainer? Have you seen the tenancy agreement?

eddddy

As others say, you need to read the tenancy agreement to find out who is right and who is wrong.

Is this a shared student house?
If so, does each student have a guarantor (typically their parent)?

If that's the case, all the students and all the parents are likely to be 'jointly and severally' liable for your son's rent.

So if your son doesn't pay his rent that is due, the landlord can choose to chase any or all of the students and parents for the money.

It could get messy and embarrassing.

George_Michael

eddddy wrote: »

It could get messy and embarrassing.

An apt description for quite a lot of student digs after the students have taken up residence.

webblj1

He paid a deposit in February and the tenancy start date is the 1st July for 12 months - I would have thought if you start paying rent the property should be fit to move into.

It is a shared property his name is on the agreement but he hasn't signed it and I've not been asked to be a guarantor not unless another parent has.
If he paid a deposit in February should this be have protected by the landlord.
All getting messy now.

KeithP

Shouldn't this thread be on the house buying, letting and renting board?

Rosemary7391

What agreement has been made? How quickly might the house be habitable? If it's just a few days because something broke, that's one thing. If it's all summer that's another. In Durham students often lived in houses during the summer break if they had summer projects, wanted to use the library, etc etc.

bris

You can't get out of a contract because repairs are being carried out. He may be entitled to some form of compensation for the loss of the kitchens use but it's temporary and not even close to a breach of contract.