Student Housing during coronavirus

Lucy2510

I have signed a contract for a student house from a private company for my second year. In wales I’m currently not able to move in to this house due to lockdown rules, am I protected in any way if I am not able to move in to or live in the house because it’s against the law for me to do so? If so would I be exempt from paying rent at for this time or having a discounted rate? 

[Deleted User]

Its not against the law to move to a new house when doing so is essential, it was one of the exclusions. I am afraid there isn't a lot of help with private rentals for students.  You could ask your university to intercede with the LL but, unfortunately, don't be too optimistic.

Lucy2510

The main issue is that I wouldn’t consider the move essential as my university have already told me that my lectures will be online until the earliest of January. So under the government guideline I could reasonably complete them at home. The journey to my university city is also over 2 hours which I would view as breaking lockdown rules.

davidmcn

The restrictions are quite likely to be different by the time term starts. But anyway, the answer to your question is no, there's no general principle that you don't need to abide by your side of the contract just because you can't or no longer have a desire to move into your accommodation.

Claire2989

You can move, any distance, if you’re moving into a new letting or purchased house. The ‘essential only’ bit was dropped in the revised guidance that came into force on the 13th May. So you wouldn’t be breaking lockdown rules as long as you were intending the move to be long term, practiced social distancing and you weren’t self isolating due to symptoms or contact with a confirmed or suspected case. 

Link to a reference if anybody would like to verify: https://fullfact.org/health/can-i-move-house-during-lockdown/

So you wouldn’t be entitled to a refund or discount as the landlord has fulfilled their part of the contract by making the property available for your use. If you use it or not is your choice.

HampshireH

Lucy2510 said:

The main issue is that I wouldn’t consider the move essential as my university have already told me that my lectures will be online until the earliest of January. So under the government guideline I could reasonably complete them at home. The journey to my university city is also over 2 hours which I would view as breaking lockdown rules.

Its irrelevant whether you consider it essential. Your contract is with your landlord not the government.  Moving is allowed.

"Can I move house?

Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t if your moving date can be postponed."

Your landlord probably deems paying the mortgage as essential. Don't forget you will also have bills on top of your rental obligations.

At the end of the day you can always ask.

Also travelling 2 hrs to move doesnt breach lockdown.

Freecall

Lucy2510 said:

...would I be exempt from paying rent at for this time or having a discounted rate? 

This thread seems to have got a bit hung up on coronavirus and lockdown rules.

If you have a contract to pay rent then you have to pay rent (unless your LL agrees to change the terms of the contract of course), it's as simple as that.

Whether you live in the property or not is somewhat immaterial.

If you want to have a contract conditional on other factors then you need to speak with your LL.

davidmcn

Claire2989 said:

You can move, any distance, if you’re moving into a new letting or purchased house. The ‘essential only’ bit was dropped in the revised guidance that came into force on the 13th May. So you wouldn’t be breaking lockdown rules as long as you were intending the move to be long term, practiced social distancing and you weren’t self isolating due to symptoms or contact with a confirmed or suspected case. 

Link to a reference if anybody would like to verify: https://fullfact.org/health/can-i-move-house-during-lockdown/

So you wouldn’t be entitled to a refund or discount as the landlord has fulfilled their part of the contract by making the property available for your use. If you use it or not is your choice.

I think you're quoting English rather than Welsh guidance (which as far as I know didn't change on 13 May).

Larac

My daughter is going to move back in with her flat mates - we are in a position where we are committed to a contract for next year and have to pay for it regardless of whether she lives in it or not.  She is going into a third year and there is no guarantee that if she deferred she would get back her place in the following year.  Part of the Uni experience is living with your mates, which she is going to resume doing.  If we go back to full lockdown then she will have to remain there in her 'own' bubble.

Marvel1

Just throw it in, the rules are different for each country, whatever Boris states it's England only.

Lucy2510

HampshireH said:

Lucy2510 said:

The main issue is that I wouldn’t consider the move essential as my university have already told me that my lectures will be online until the earliest of January. So under the government guideline I could reasonably complete them at home. The journey to my university city is also over 2 hours which I would view as breaking lockdown rules.

Its irrelevant whether you consider it essential. Your contract is with your landlord not the government.  Moving is allowed.

"Can I move house?

Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t if your moving date can be postponed."

Your landlord probably deems paying the mortgage as essential. Don't forget you will also have bills on top of your rental obligations.

At the end of the day you can always ask.

Also travelling 2 hrs to move doesnt breach lockdown.

I would have to cross the broader which you can’t do at the moment would that have any bearing because I can’t physically enter the country the house is located in?