Are we liable for Student Accommodation Fees?

odeles

My son is studying at Buckingham University. As he was not in the university’s accommodation during the Covid initial lockdown he had a rebate for the April to July and July to September terms. He was asked whether he wanted to extend his license for the new academic year via email in July which he replied he did want to as the university was encouraging students back. Since then students were being put into lockdown in halls in other universities so he didn’t want to go back but continue with online tutoring. We have asked the university accommodation officer that he feels anxious about going back and what was his position regarding having to pay the accommodation fees. In the emails he has been sent regarding contracts for the accommodation it says the contract comes into effect when it has been signed by student and signed and dated by the university. He has not signed any new contracts physically and the reply we recently received from the accommodation officer was ‘ the contract was renewed online,in good faith at your request’. Is this legal? Will we be liable for all this academic years fees even if he is not living in the accommodation? I look forward to any guidance people may have on this subject.