Help! University accommodation problem could cost 7k

[Friskyandhustley]

I'm looking for advice about how to find a student to take a room in university accommodation. We have signed a contract for accommodation in Newcastle and DS is now going somewhere else (There's a whole backstory to how we ended up in this situation, thankfully now resolved).

The situation now is that we are contracted for a room in Newcastle that we can't cancel. Unless we can find a replacement student we will need to pay 7.5k for the unused room. This was done through the university accommodation office/ portal but as it's with 'Managed Partnership' accommodation that means that ultimately our contract is with a private provider. I'm hoping we can get a bit more help from the accommodation office, but so far they haven't been able to offer anything other than signposting us back to the provider.

Has anyone been in this situation, or have any advice about how to find a replacement? I think the supply of university accommodation in Newcastle (first year halls type stuff) is tight, but it's obviously very late in the day. I've thought of posting it on the student room, but would be very grateful for any ideas about where to advertise. Also anyone who have DCs at Newcastle or Northumbria University who might have any 'inside track' on whether people might still be looking and how we might find them!

My dd has just finished at Newcastle and also I’m originally from there so I know it well. She did a three year degree and lots of her friends are still there doing longer courses. To be honest, I don’t think that there is particularly a shortage of accommodation although that might be just because I live in Nottingham now which is renowned for not having enough accommodation.

My dd was in Bernicia and they had an empty room in their corridor for the first term and then someone who was in the Joseph Cowen block swapped in to Bernicia because the Joseph Cowen block was so empty that he wasn’t making friends. I know that those two blocks are managed by the same company because of this lad moving over.

Is there a clause in the contract that you can use because your DS hasn’t registered at the university yet and won’t do because they are going elsewhere?
This was how I got our DD out of a contract for accommodation with Reading Uni when she decided to go to Swansea instead. I do appreciate however that the Reading accommodation was with the university directly.

Thanks. The not having registered might be an angle. They do make exceptions, but it lists not getting grades, visas etc. We should have read the small print more carefully, but it just seemed like a real scramble for rooms in halls.

If not, check out the Facebook groups for accommodation and parents of. Always someone looking last minute and throughout the year, if they're erasmus students

I’ve asked my dd and she said there are facebook groups. One of her friends accommodation fell through for second year and she had to join facebook specifically she said to look for a room.

I hope you get it sorted out. There is enough to think of at this time without this extra pressure.

does your DS have any mental or physical health problems? If so, the Uni should wave the cost

Spareroom website

How frustrating. Surely someone else will take the room?
Advertise wherever you can - FB pages are a good idea.

I’ve never heard of that before.

Also, it isn’t university owned halls she said.

I know our university's terms for their own accommodation is that you are responsible for finding a replacement if you leave before the end of contract but they hold a list of people looking for accommodation that they can connect you with. Is it worth double checking the Newcastle accommodation people have nothing similar?

Thanks for all the helpful replies. The accommodation office have been a bit unhelpful, signposting us back to the private provider (because it's a 'managed partnership'). We've gone back to them with some specific questions about how they can help and asking if they maintain a list of people looking for a room. Hopefully we'll get someone more helpful...sometimes these things just depend on who picks up the phone/email don't they? We will try posting on facebook and the other places suggested. I suspect it'll just be good luck at this stage - advertising in the right place that someone looks.

I wonder if I should post this in Higher Education? Am i allowed to ask the same Q in two places?

There are lots of WhatsApp/fb groups of new Newcastle students. I’m sure you could find a replacement that way.

Advertise on Durham student groups too. They have a collegiate system, but lots of the 2nd years and older live out. It’s a short train ride or easy car journey between the two.

Good idea about Durham as they do have a shortage of accommodation. Although is the halls are in the Portland Green student village or whatever it’s called it’s a half an hour walk to the station but the train itself is about ten minutes.

Thanks - the Durham angle is a good idea. Might be a long shot, but the answer might just be to try everything.

I am on a FB group for DDs Uni (not Newcastle) and there are often Tenancy Takeovers advertised on there

Was there not a poster on here who was looking for a room in Newcastle for their DC who had just accepted via clearing?

You might get more takers if you advertise it at £5K. A bargain for them, some loss to you but not the whole amount.

You could try posting on the Facebook group 'What I wish I knew about University '.

Thanks - we are going to discount it. You’re right, a couple of thousand written off is very different to seven and it increases the chances. We’ll try the other Facebook group too, all these places increase the chances