Ending Contract on Student Halls

Chandler85

I really don't get why students seem to think they are an exception to the rule.  The accommodation is rented, whether private or from a university.

They open pay rent for the whole summer as well with private rented but don't live there and don't have anything there.  Our contracts use to start in July, but we never moved in until September.  I get that we "could have", but these same students could also have not come home for Christmas, like a lot of adults couldn't do.  No one forced them to leave their accommodation.  There's a student who lives with her parents near me, she hasn't been home since last summer and is staying in her accommodation.  Any student could have made that choice. 

If I was at university, I would have likely stayed with my friends in a house share then gone home to my parents.  I accept it is personal preference, but there are non-students who have rented accommodation they aren't using.

As far as I am aware, it isn't illegal for a student to return to their accommodation, though it is not recommended.

saajan_12

Solenoid said:

silvercar said:

He still gets the same student finance as he was always expecting. Granted any temp job in his uni town won’t be available, but he must be making significant savings by living at home with less opportunities to spend. So he should be in a position to afford the rent. There are many people with a loss of income and rent to pay.

I think its unfair to expect for students to pay interest for their student loans this year and also ofcourse last year. Everything else is frozen and most students are paying accommodation while they don't use it. I agree its necessary for universities to keep going, but so unfair to pile up interest on student loans taken on those pandemic years. It should be frozen as well. I think there is nothing you can do about it currently except start a petition.

Why? Those were the terms when students agreed to borrow the money, at a time when COVID and the possibility of re lockdowns etc were all very much known beasts. They're not actually paying the interest now, its accruing to be paid in the future when they're earning. Who else should pay for it? Money isn't free. 

sheramber

He cannot stop  paying rent and keep the accommodation so what would he do after March if he needs to go back?
Mortgages haven't stopped,  If a payment holiday has been granted the money will need to be paid later and interest is still charged .
Rent has to be paid, again if a payment holiday is granted the rent still has to be paid later.
Interest on his loan  is payable the same as any other loan. 
Depending on  his income he may never  have to pay it . No other loan has that arrangement.

The landlord is not preventing him living there. He chooses to stay at home so why should the landlord lose out.  They are running a business.
 

lookstraightahead

[Deleted User] said:

silvercar said:

He still gets the same student finance as he was always expecting. Granted any temp job in his uni town won’t be available, but he must be making significant savings by living at home with less opportunities to spend. So he should be in a position to afford the rent. There are many people with a loss of income and rent to pay.

Yes he still gets his student loan with big interest. I think its unfair to expect for students to pay interest for their student loans this year and also ofcourse last year. Everything else is frozen and most students are paying accommodation while they don't use it. I agree its necessary for universities to keep going, but so unfair to pile up interest on student loans taken on those pandemic years. It should be frozen as well. I think there is nothing you can do about it currently except start a petition.

If you have a car loan has the interest been frozen? No because you can still use your car. First years especially decided to go to uni knowing the circumstances (I have one doing a masters) and of course they need to pay like everyone else. They're adults. 

davidmcn

Chandler85 said:

As far as I am aware, it isn't illegal for a student to return to their accommodation, though it is not recommended.

I haven't checked all the nations, but Scottish Government advice is that travel merely to stay in term-time accommodation (without some other justification e.g. face-to-face teaching taking place) is unlikely to be regarded as being with a reasonable excuse (and would therefore be illegal):
https://www.studentinformation.gov.scot/coronavirus

davilown

Am I the only one who is thinking that they've rented something and now they don't want to pay for it?  They are still completing the University course online so if it's second year+ accommodation, then they can stay there and complete the course surely?  First year is obviously a bit different though and the hall have been shut. 
And then if they go to the parental home then that's their own choice?

gettingtheresometime

I do wonder what university students were expecting this academic year to be like 

dimbo61

Lots of students have already returned to university to continue their courses both online and face to face where possible or needed ( IE medicine )
Not sure of the position of the big private/University owned halls but many Student Landlords of smaller HMO,s have full households with students wanting to live together in smaller groups rather than huge Expensive halls.
Check out the university run Manchester Student Homes website to see how many Uni and Private halls are offering discounts to students who can't or don't want to return yet.

A_Lert

Chandler85 said:

I really don't get why students seem to think they are an exception to the rule.  The accommodation is rented, whether private or from a university.

To be fair the student rental "market" is pretty rotten. Students will typically have signed their current contracts for the whole 2020-2021 year last summer; they are put under pressure to do so in order to ensure they have somewhere suitable. And the near-universal requirement for guarantors often under very imbalanced terms.

By contrast as a working person I was able to view a property and move in within a few days, on a 6 month tenancy, with no guarantor demanded.

But for OP, sadly this unfairness doesn't imply any legal rights. Private landlords can insist on their contractual right to all the rent, and they probably will. Especially as for most shared houses they can pursue any and all guarantors for the unpaid rent of any tenant.

Chandler85

I agree the market is unfair, but that doesn't change anything right now.

I think returning to university accommodation could easily be argued as essential, whether the Scottish government like it or not.  A lot of students have more space, quieter spaces that are easier to work in at university.  As most households aren't set up for parents to work from home, never mind parents, older students and then any other children.

In the same way mortgage and payment holidays exist now for credit cards etc, the money still ends up being paid back.  Same with private rents