Do I need to pay my rent if I’m not coming back for the summer term?

Currently government advice is that all of your contractual rent amount remains payable as with any tenancy. In line with government guidelines, we will not commence any evictions or court action for the next three months. If you need to look at paying it over a longer timeframe you need to contact our arrears team on rentarrears@cloudstudenthomes.co.uk We will continue to monitor government policy should the position change.

 

What if I or my parents have lost their jobs?

Currently government advice is that all of your contractual rent amount remains payable as with any tenancy. In line with government guidelines, we will not commence any evictions or court action for the next three months. If you need to look at paying it over a longer timeframe you need to contact our arrears team on rentarrears@cloudstudenthomes.co.uk We will continue to monitor government policy should the position change.

I cannot afford the top up rent from my student finance now, what do I do?

Currently government advice is that all of your contractual rent amount remains payable as with any tenancy. In line with government guidelines, we will not commence any evictions or court action for the next three months. If you need to look at paying it over a longer timeframe you need to contact our arrears team on rentarrears@cloudstudenthomes.co.uk We will continue to monitor government policy should the position change.

 

Why should I pay full rent if I am not there using the facilities e.g. electric and gas?

You have signed a legally binding assured shorthold tenancy agreement the same as any residential property. The building and your room remain open for your use, it is your choice whether to use it.

 

I have been instructed by the government to go home, why should I pay rent?

This is the official guidance from the department of education:

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March that everyone in the UK must stay at home to tackle coronavirus, we are strongly advising that all residential students now need to stay put in their accommodation, leaving it for only 4 reasons: shopping for basic necessities; one form of exercise a day; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

 

How am I going to find a tenant to take over in this current situation?

We understand this is an unlikely source of leaving your tenancy but it is the only viable way to exit a tenancy agreement.

 

Other companies are cancelling the last payment, why aren’t you?

A couple of the big student accommodation companies, who are very wealthy, have decided to offer students the opportunity to end their tenancy early if they are notified by mid April. They can afford to do so, unfortunately, many of the owners of our rooms cannot. Each room is owned by an individual landlord, some of them have lost their jobs in the current situation. If we waived all summer term rents, we could be out of business. It is possible that some of our buildings would not be able to remain open because owners can’t afford to pay for the cost of running them. Based on advice from the department of education we have an obligation to keep buildings open for students who are still there so they aren’t made homeless. The instruction to students is to stay in situ if they haven’t already returned home.  We are also working along the guidelines from the National Code for student accommodation.  The whole COVID 19 situation is complex and currently, unless government advice changes, your rent remains payable in line with the advice from citizens advice below.

 

Can I leave some property in the room, even though I might not be able to return until after my tenancy?

No, you will have to collect your goods before the end of your tenancy. If you don’t think you will be able to, please advise us but we will have to make a charge for removing them and either their disposal or storage. If you wish to store things with us, you will need to sign a separate agreement, please contact us directly on info@cloudstudenthomes.co.uk in order to discuss an extension of your tenancy (at additional cost)

 

What happens if I don’t pay?

Please read the citizens advice information on non-payment of rent. If you refuse to pay rent you are breaking the terms of your tenancy agreement. Once you are 2 months in arrears a Section 8 notice will be issued by a solicitor applying for eviction through the courts. This will not only result in you being removed by court bailiffs from your accommodation but you will also be liable for the rent due plus costs. Non-payment will result in a County Court Judgment being made against you which will severely restrict you from obtaining credit or financial references in the future. We strongly advise dialogue with our rent arrears team so we can assist with a payment plan to prevent this action from being taken. rentarrears@cloudstudenthomes.co.uk