Covid 19- Student Accommodation Help

LucyWynne3

I am a Masters university student living in private accommodation and I need some advice. My university course was from September 2019 to September 2020, I live with my partner in a studio apartment. We had planned over the summer holidays while we focus on our dissertation to get part-time jobs so we could support ourselves and at the same time see our dissertation supervisors. Due to Covid-19 our university has closed and moved all interaction to online lessons and help. There is also almost no chance for us to gain jobs and support ourselves due to Covid-19. We have decided to end our contract with our private landlord and return home as university will not re-open. Our landlord has offered to reduce our rent per week by £10 or £5 for our last rent instalment which covers the summer. I have noticed however, two things, 1) they have not mentioned anything about our deposit which I believe we are still entitled to as if it was not for Covid-19 we would not be breaking our contract and 2) Is there any rights we have to negotiate for more of a reduction? We do not mind paying for the accommodation as we have caused an inconvenience, however, I do not believe we should pay for utility we will not be using, which I believe would be more than a reduction of £10 or £5 per week.

Update- Situation has been rectified, due to Covid-19 we were given a further reduction on our utilities as both the landlord and ourselves had been affected.

gary83

you have no right to negotiate a further discount. you agreed to pay the landlord £x amount at the start of the year when you signed the contract, the landlord offering to reduce your rent by £15 a week is a gesture of goodwill, not something he or she had to do. The time to compare your rent with the local market rate was before you signed the contract, not nearly a year later, legally now the landlord can hold you to the full amount you agreed to. You could ask for a further discount, you have no right to it. 

The deposit is an entirely separate matter, provided the accommodation is handed over in the same state as when it was let minus fair wear and tear you’d be entitled to the full deposit and could go to the dispute arbitration service to ensure you get it. Take plenty of pictures when you leave.

diggingdude

Why does every student and their parent seem to think they don't owe contractual rent?

Galloglass

As DD points out, you may be mistaken about the basis of ending your rental early. 

If you have signed for 12 months, you will owe for 12 months. The "discount" may not even be carried over for the remaining 3 months. The deposit will most likely be offset, but you should expect to have a demand for any difference.

Impecunity is no defence to debt incurred for breaking a deal.