Student Rent Issues Due to Coronavirus

Argyllf231

Dear all, 
My friend has been forced to return home from the university due to the crisis and is on a fixed term rent contract. Her landlord has demanded she pay the full 3k rent up until the summer, even though she has had no choice but to return home. Their reasoning is that she did have a choice and did not have to return home, yet she had received an email from the university to say that she was required to go home as the university was completely shutting and going to online learning. Other housing associations have given all money back to their students. She feels this is unfair as this money can help pay her living costs at home. She wants to know where she stands with this, please. 

morroco_mole

Hi,

I would like to find out more about this too. My son is in his final year at York and came home for Easter. due to restrictions he is unable to return, especially as there's no lectures to attend. He is in rented accommodation and has contacted the letting agency for clarity but they basically told him to get lost.

Surely there should be something in place to cover this?

Thanks

HornetSaver

Argyllf231 said:

Dear all, 
My friend has been forced to return home from the university due to the crisis and is on a fixed term rent contract. Her landlord has demanded she pay the full 3k rent up until the summer, even though she has had no choice but to return home. Their reasoning is that she did have a choice and did not have to return home, yet she had received an email from the university to say that she was required to go home as the university was completely shutting and going to online learning. Other housing associations have given all money back to their students. She feels this is unfair as this money can help pay her living costs at home. She wants to know where she stands with this, please. 

Just so that I understand the situation a bit better - had things proceeded as normal, obviously she'd have the maintenance part of the student loan and obviously this probably wouldn't be enough, how was the finance gap going to be bridged? I ask because this might determine what support is available. Was she working part time - is furlough from there an option? Also, is the landlord a housing association? Was the housing part of a student block i.e. was she obligated to travel "home" when the university said so, or was the instruction not to go to the University's premises?

With regards to the landlord's stance, there is I presume a tenancy agreement in place, and I'm not privy to the specific details to determine whether there's a means of exiting that contract early in there to your advantage. If there isn't, my instinctive reaction is that she might be in a difficult position, though I hope someone else can expand further on this point. I would also very, very strongly advise that she reach out direct to her Uni and student union for assistance, because if we're talking about student lets specifically they might have more tailored advice (and, potentially, clout).

Jeremy535897

I think that these situations arise because this sort of pandemic or similar catastrophic situation was not envisaged, so the leases didn't contain the appropriate break clauses. The Universities usually say these are private arrangements and don't involve them.

HornetSaver

Jeremy535897 said:

I think that these situations arise because this sort of pandemic or similar catastrophic situation was not envisaged, so the leases didn't contain the appropriate break clauses.

I agree it's unlikely, but being a student let, it's not entirely impossible that a break clause might have been in for the final term. Low odds but worth her checking.

Jeremy535897 said:

The Universities usually say these are private arrangements and don't involve them.

Agreed, but these are not usual times so you never know. The Student Union is however likely to be a bit more sympathetic and it's likely not to have been the first case they'll have dealt with in similar circumstances due to recent events.

justwhat

They don't have to go home , why can't they stay were they are? Surely its there choice to return home. (just asking)

Argyllf231

They were all strongly advised to go home from the university as they would not get any help from them. But if you were in a city, away from family with no means of transport and all by yourself, wouldn't you want to go home? The student union have been contacted on the situation and have basically said to suck it up. I have looked at the contract myself and yes I am no expert but there are no break clauses in the contract or anything about exciting the contract early. To answer the other questions, yes it is a housing association and yes there were other tenants in the block, although she had a studio to herself and yes she was obligated to return home when the university said so. I am a mature student but I did receive the same email and it was made very clear to all students to return home. I hope this provides further information. Thank you for the comments so far.