Student Update on Government Advice and Queries

Whilst some Universities and Colleges have postponed face to face lectures and moved to online teaching, or ended their semester early, please be assured that your accommodation will remain open throughout this period. Two letters have been issued by the Minister of State for Universities, Michelle Donelan giving advice to both students and universities to stay put throughout the lockdown period. One is to Vice Chancellors and the other is to students – please click on the links below to view these:

Letter to Vice Chancellors

Letter to Students

Both letters assure the recipients that students will receive their third term student loans in support of their rental obligations. Both letters reiterate the Government’s advice is that students remaining at university in England should now stay where they are and not attempt to travel. If they are living in student halls, or private rented accommodation, they should remain there and stay indoors while current restrictions are in force.

We are working hard to continue to provide safe accommodation and will continue to do so in line with the Government advice.

What do I do if my tenancy is coming to an end, but I can’t travel?

If your tenancy is due to come to an end or you believe you will have difficulty in vacating your accommodation at the end of your tenancy period, please contact your site manager who will work to support you on this.

What if I am facing financial challenges?

If you, or your family, have suffered financially from recent events and it is affecting your ability to pay your rent then please contact your local General Manager to discuss an alternative payment arrangement. Please be assured that we are here to support you and will do in so far as we reasonably can.

Can I end my tenancy early?

Like other student accommodation lettings and management providers, we let and manage on behalf of individual leaseholders and building owners.  Each of the accommodations we manage is owned by different groups.

Typically, each room in the accommodation is owned by a different private leaseholder.  The income they receive from their tenant is their income out of which they contribute to the cost of maintaining and running the building which allows the accommodation to continue to operate for students who require accommodation now and in the future. In contrast, Universities who run student accommodation obtain their main source of income from their Tuition Fees.

We have written to all the leaseholders and building owners we represent outlining what universities and other accommodation providers are choosing to do and to ask if they will make changes to the cancellation policy in the current circumstances.  We are waiting for responses and will communicate with you as and when the leaseholders and owners of your room have responded to us.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in the UK has provided additional advice to Landlords and Tenants to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak including the need for Tenants to pay their rent, and for Landlords to make reasonable adjustments for payment plans.

Whilst we are awaiting responses from the leaseholders and owners of your room the existing Cancellation Policy continues to apply.  We will keep you regularly updated.

Our priority is to continue to provide safe accommodation and services, whilst this does mean communal areas will continue to be restricted, we are requesting no external visitors.  It is imperative we maintain government advice to reduce the risk of Coronavirus spreading and to support the Health Service.