Student returning from University - can I go and collect under new rules?

Ant555

One of the news web sites says a University Student can now return back home as long as its a permanent move but has anyone else seen this as I cant find anything official anywhere.

We obeyed the rules and my daughter stayed in her University private accommodation at the start of lockdown.  We now need to bring her home due to tenancy expiring at end May and also coinciding with her getting a job as a 'key worker' at a supermarket back here starting on Sunday.

The outline plan is for me to drive 1 hour each way on Saturday to move her and her stuff out but am not sure whether this contravenes the updated rules (all ravel is within England, mostly motorway)  - ill probably be on pins all journey if I cant find and print out the relevant bit that says its OK incase I get stopped/turned around on the motorway/fined.  I know I could make an excuse on the way there as I believe I can travel pretty much anywhere to exercise within the new rules but I dont want to swing the lead if I can help it as it would be my luck the same officer would see me on the way back with a car full of stuff!
Can anyone assist?

Andy_L

You have always been allowed to "move house where reasonably necessary"

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made  (part 6 L)

poppy12345

Yes you can collect her and have always been able to. My son was at Uni but returned home a few weeks after lockdown started. His father picked him up and traveled over 300 miles in total.

Jeremy535897

You could quote the following from the Health Protection (Coronavirus Regulations) (England) Regulations 2020:

"Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—

(a) to (i)...
(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;"

Ant555

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated, I feel a little happier now.
Seems I am worrying unnecessarily thinking my top box and car full of stuff might attract immediate attention - especially as I have not ventured onto the roads much in the last 2 months.

Jeremy535897

Come Wednesday, the police are going to focus more on gatherings and less on cars.

sliphi

Ant555 said:

One of the news web sites says a University Student can now return back home as long as its a permanent move but has anyone else seen this as I cant find anything official anywhere.

We obeyed the rules and my daughter stayed in her University private accommodation at the start of lockdown.  We now need to bring her home due to tenancy expiring at end May and also coinciding with her getting a job as a 'key worker' at a supermarket back here starting on Sunday.

The outline plan is for me to drive 1 hour each way on Saturday to move her and her stuff out but am not sure whether this contravenes the updated rules (all ravel is within England, mostly motorway)  - ill probably be on pins all journey if I cant find and print out the relevant bit that says its OK incase I get stopped/turned around on the motorway/fined.  I know I could make an excuse on the way there as I believe I can travel pretty much anywhere to exercise within the new rules but I dont want to swing the lead if I can help it as it would be my luck the same officer would see me on the way back with a car full of stuff!
Can anyone assist?

1.10 Can students return to their family home if they’ve been in halls all this time?

In general, leaving your home - the place you live - to stay at another home is not allowed.

If a student is moving permanently to live back at their family home, this is permitted.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do  (updated 11-May-2020)

No indication that you are permitted to travel 1 hour to collect her, sorry.

Current English guidance to to stay at home, except when going out. Make of that what you want.

If the journey involves some or all travel within Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, it remains straightforward. You must stay at home except for specified exceptions (e.g. to exercise, to collect food, medication, etc)

sliphi

Jeremy535897 said:

You could quote the following from the Health Protection (Coronavirus Regulations) (England) Regulations 2020:

"Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—

(a) to (i)...
(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;"

6.2.j was included to allow visitation rights of both separated parents. It was not intended to cover grown up members of families to move to other family members homes as they wish.

 So 6.1 applies (or did until yesterday - who knows what applies now in England. Use your common sense says Boris, the guy who was shaking hands with known Covid-19 infected persons.)

poppy12345

See link and scroll down to 1.10 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

sliphi

Jeremy535897 said:

Come Wednesday, the police are going to focus more on gatherings and less on cars.

I wouldn't be so sure, unless the car is driver only (or the passengers clearly belong to the same household)

1.8 Can I share a private vehicle with someone from another household?

No. You can only travel in a private vehicle alone, or with members of your household.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

2childmum2

We are in a very similar situation, but have a 6 hour journey to collect our son and 4 years worth of belongings and 6 hours home again.  Up until now students were told they should not return home, but the FAQS now say that they can - but not whether we can go and collect them.  In our case it won't be realistic to do the whole journey there and back in one day, so that has the added complication of finding somewhere to stay when you are not allowed to stay with another household.  Fortunately we do have until the end of June as his lease doesn't run out until then, although once his exams are over I think he will want to come home.
I can't find anywhere to ask whether we can go and get him or not!