Student rent: To pay or not to pay, that is the question

sharpe106

milleniumaire said:

sharpe106 said

......So why do you think it is fair that they lose out? 

Why has my client of many years terminated my contract without notice?
Why has the government forced the population to isolate?
Why is the government paying 80% of salaries to millions of people?
Why has my pension portfolio lost so much of its value?
Why can't we buy any toilet roll or hand sanitiser?
The answer is simple: COVID-19. 
We are all having to make sacrifices, why should a large organisation like Glasshouse, who provide student accommodation, be any different?  They are not loosing all their rent, just potentially the last term.  They may still make a profit for the year from the rent they have already received.
Why should Glasshouse continue as if nothing has happened?
I understand I am legally obliged to pay the rent, but is that fair given the current climate?

Making a sacrifice is all very well and good but there is no legal basis for it.

milleniumaire

sharpe106 said:

Making a sacrifice is all very well and good but there is no legal basis for it.

I understand where I stand legally, I was simply answering your question "So why do you think it is fair that they lose out?".
Nothing is "fair" about the current situation.

gary83

milleniumaire said:

sharpe106 said

......So why do you think it is fair that they lose out? 

Why has my client of many years terminated my contract without notice?
Why has the government forced the population to isolate?
Why is the government paying 80% of salaries to millions of people?
Why has my pension portfolio lost so much of its value?
Why can't we buy any toilet roll or hand sanitiser?
The answer is simple: COVID-19. 
We are all having to make sacrifices, why should a large organisation like Glasshouse, who provide student accommodation, be any different?  They are not loosing all their rent, just potentially the last term.  They may still make a profit for the year from the rent they have already received.
Why should Glasshouse continue as if nothing has happened?
I understand I am legally obliged to pay the rent, but is that fair given the current climate?

Do you expect the government or private companies to pay you compensation as your pension portfolio has lost value or because you can’t buy toilet roll or hand sanitiser? You agreed to occupy the accommodation for a certain amount of time, the accommodation is still available yet you chose for him or her to move back in with you as you thought it was “safer and more cost effective”. That was your decision so why should anyone else lose out because of your choice? in the same way that if he or she was renting a house or flat they couldn’t have just decided to move back in with their mum and dad and expect the landlord just to forget about it all.

Hypothetical scenario, would you ring a car finance company and use the same logic? Tell them you’ve stayed at home, chosen not to  use the car so you shouldn’t have to pay? 

milleniumaire

gary83 said:

Do you expect the government or private companies to pay you compensation as your pension portfolio has lost value or because you can’t buy toilet roll or hand sanitiser? You agreed to occupy the accommodation for a certain amount of time, the accommodation is still available yet you chose for him or her to move back in with you as you thought it was “safer and more cost effective”. That was your decision so why should anyone else lose out because of your choice? in the same way that if he or she was renting a house or flat they couldn’t have just decided to move back in with their mum and dad and expect the landlord just to forget about it all.

Hypothetical scenario, would you ring a car finance company and use the same logic? Tell them you’ve stayed at home, chosen not to  use the car so you shouldn’t have to pay? 

Wow, you really do have the bit between your teeth!
I think you're missing the wider picture here.  COVID-19!  You may have heard about it on the TV.  These are not "normal" times.  We didn't make any decisions lightly, but followed government and university guidance.

milleniumaire

kyra595 said:

I posted this same issue yesterday... I feel your pain. We are in exact same situation with Liverpool uni accommodation. Got email from accommodation provider today which said despite circumstances they definetly still required payment. I think I may go to local mp to see if they can seek help from government to provide financial support to students of some sort.

There are lots of people in our situation.  I found the following website.  The article is a little one-sided, but the comments at the end are interesting.
https://wonkhe.com/blogs/we-can-avert-a-crisis-for-student-renters-but-only-if-we-act-fast/

gary83

these aren’t normal times, but we still haven’t got to the mad max stage where all contractual law has been ripped up. You said you know what your legal position is, Covid 19 hasn’t changed that.

Fire_Fox

milleniumaire said:

We are all having to make sacrifices, why should a large organisation like Glasshouse, who provide student accommodation, be any different?  They are not loosing all their rent, just potentially the last term.  They may still make a profit for the year from the rent they have already received.
Why should Glasshouse continue as if nothing has happened?

Poppyc*ck.
You clearly have zero knowledge of Glasshouse's business income and outgoings. It is not cheap to run blocks of private leasehold flats, which are very similar to student residences.

Insuriance and security for an empty or almost empty (may be the odd care leaver or overseas students still resident) block for months will be eyewatering. Deemed higher risk for floods, arson, break- ins and more. 

 24/ 7 security for an adjacent block to mine (flammable cladding) has raced through their healthy sinking fund, basically bankrupted the resident-run management company in a year and a half.

Fire_Fox

milleniumaire said:

Wow, you really do have the bit between your teeth!
I think you're missing the wider picture here.  COVID-19!  You may have heard about it on the TV.  These are not "normal" times.  We didn't make any decisions lightly, but followed government and university guidance.

Can your son get seasonal work in your area, or near his University accommodation? Does he drive or have a pushbike? Contributing to the economy, feeding families, experience, wages ..... perhaps even healthier (physical activity, vitamin D3 from sunlight, staff food prices for fresh produce).

British farmers are already very worried about the migrant European workers that are not arriving, and will not arrive. Warning of food shortages without a 'land army' of British farm workers from Spring through Summer.

Thrugelmir

milleniumaire said:

sharpe106 said

......So why do you think it is fair that they lose out? 

Why should Glasshouse continue as if nothing has happened?
I understand I am legally obliged to pay the rent, but is that fair given the current climate?

If your employer unilaterally reduced your salary as they were having a tough time you soon be in court. 

milleniumaire

Fire_Fox said:

Can your son get seasonal work in your area, or near his University accommodation? Does he drive or have a pushbike? Contributing to the economy, feeding families, experience, wages ..... perhaps even healthier (physical activity, vitamin D3 from sunlight, staff food prices for fresh produce).

British farmers are already very worried about the migrant European workers that are not arriving, and will not arrive. Warning of food shortages without a 'land army' of British farm workers from Spring through Summer.

I'm lucky that I live out in the countryside and there are a number of farms locally that will require help at some point.  Not only am I going to get my two sons involved, but I'll also look to work myself given my IT contracting career is currently on hold due to lack of work.  The pay will be peanuts but it will help a little given our household currently has no income and 4 adults to feed.