COVID-19 and Student Housing - Know Your Options

Ending your contract early.

• Check if your contract has a clause that allows you to end early (break clause).
• If you don’t have a break clause, contact your landlord to discuss the possibility of ending early.
• Best to contact your landlord via email, but if you have a phone conversation then follow up by email to confirm the conversation to ensure there is no misunderstanding. An example follow-up email can be found at the bottom of this page.
• It may be easier if all your housemates want to end their contract at the same time as your landlord may be more inclined to end everyone's contracts to have an empty property.
• If your landlord won't end your contract early and you've moved out, ask if they would agree to reduce your rent.
• If everyone in your house has moved out and your contract includes bills, ask if you can have this part of your rent taken off.
• Unite Students have announced that they will allow students to cancel their accommodation if they are not intending to return for the summer term. If your provider is a company check their site. as they may have announced a similar plan.
• If you are in University halls check your university website as it is likely that they will already have released a statement.

Withholding rent payments.

• If you withhold rent your landlord can be granted legal rights to take this money from your guarantor, housemates or deposit.
• Withholding payment is not advisable and you will likely end up paying more as your landlord will be entitled to interest and late payment penalties on top of the rent you owe. The penalties and charges are normally outlined in your rental agreement.
• Most rental agreements are 'joint and several' which means that you, the rest of your housemates and your guarantor would be held liable to make up for any payments withheld by one or more of your housemates.
• Your landlord can take you to court for non-payment and should you lose you will probably be ordered to pay the outstanding rent, interest, penalties and court fees.

Can’t afford rent because of COVID-19.

• The government has announced no evictions can take place until June 18^th, 2020 and this may be extended. More information here
• It is unclear if this period applies to people with live-in landlords.
• If you can no longer afford your rent let your landlord know. You may be able to set up some sort of repayment schedule once life returns to normal.
• Most landlords are understanding and want to work with you If you are honest, transparent and get in touch promptly.
• Inform your landlord that they may get mortgage holidays if their tenants have financial problems due to coronavirus.

Moving out

• Under lockdown, it is unlikely you can move out.
• The current government advice is to postpone the move.
• If your contract is going to end while in lockdown try to negotiate with your current and future landlords about the start and end dates of your tenancy.
• If you’re not planning on going back to university after the lockdown ends it is wise to move out as soon as possible as there could be further lockdowns later depending on how things unfold.

Bill payments

• If you’re struggling to keep up with your house bills talk to your provider(s).
• Your gas and electricity provider may be able to set up a repayment schedule. More information here
• If no one is living in the property your WIFI, water and any other utilities that are not dependant on usage may allow you to end the contract early.

Keep up-to-date with announcements from the government here.

Remember always make notes of conversations e.g. name, date, time of conversation. The simplest way to do this is sending an email to yourself with the details and bullet points of the conversation. Copy your housemates in so everyone is in the loop and has a copy of the conversation.

Follow up email:

Dear (Landlord’s name)

I am just writing to follow up on our conversation earlier today. Please would you confirm that:

1. E.g. You will reduce my rent to £50 per week until 12/08/2020;
2. I will move out on 12/08/20;
3. List items discussed;
4. List items discussed;
5. List items discussed.

Please let me know if I missed anything and thank you for your help and understanding.

Kind regards,

(Your name)

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