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AIBU?

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Original poster

Uni Accommodation Contract Release

37 replies

UniUniUniUni · 20/02/2025 17:12

My daughter is in her first year of uni and rents a room in halls. Her Uni is located in the next town, a 40 minute train ride away. Since last May (before she started Uni) she’s had debilitating pains and after many many doctors visits she has been diagnosed with an illness. Whilst the illness itself is not particularly serious, it’s a long term illness, and her symptoms are very IBS like, and cause her a great deal of pain and discomfort and to become very fatigued, amongst other things. There is no cure, it’s just something that has to be managed.
So, we are trying to see if we can release her from her accommodation contract so that she can live at home and travel to Uni twice a week or so. Of course they do not want to release her from it, but have suggested she get a doctors note to confirm her condition. The doctor has written a very curt message back to her to say they are very busy and basically to not bother them.

Has anyone been in this situation or know whether its reasonable to ask the gp to write some sort of note? Apparently the accommodation people said other people have managed to do this in the past. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Or are we being unreasonable to ask the gp to write a note and to expect the Uni to release her from the contract?

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 20/02/2025 17:15

I think it's fair enough that they want to see some evidence.

2021mumma · 20/02/2025 17:17

When my daughter wanted to leave we had to try to find someone to take over the contract ourselves - could you see if anyone keen to take her room?

mitogoshigg · 20/02/2025 17:17

She's under contract so will depend on their terms and conditions. Whether she's in university owned or private sector accommodation will make a difference too

Newrumpus · 20/02/2025 17:18

Does she have a diagnosis letter?

Crinkle77 · 20/02/2025 17:20

Oh and can you speak to the GP practice manager. The GP is out of order.

Original poster
UniUniUniUni · 20/02/2025 17:21

It’s privately owned, which probably makes it harder yes.
I agree it’s fair enough if they want evidence, it’s a contract after all, I just don’t know why the gp can’t write some sort of note. Will check what she has in writing though

Thanks for all your replies

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 20/02/2025 17:33

So if ots private accommodation it doesn't have anything to do with the uni?

Tumbleweed44 · 20/02/2025 17:35

Make an appointment with a private GP they can write you a letter. May cost a few hundred pounds but at least it will get you what you need.

Snorlaxo · 20/02/2025 17:36

Did your dd explain that she would be happy to pay for the letter?

Pensionquery101 · 20/02/2025 17:37

Could you apply for a copy of her notes? I can’t think off hand of correct phrase to use. Is it subject access report. I know I successfully got a copy of my notes to see what happened with birth of my twins

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 20/02/2025 17:42

Can’t she access her medical notes via the NHS app and get the written evidence if her condition that way? All my consultant letters, etc, are on there.

olympicsrock · 20/02/2025 17:45

It’s not something the GP is contracted to do - in the same way as filling insurance firms and travel vaccinations are not.
GPs have an awful lot of necessary letters to write and their time is limited . You could write to the practice manager and / or your GP and ask if you could pay a fee for a letter to be written . If you look on the NHS app then you may see a list of your diagnoses and could screen shot it . But it will not be a letter that explains the impact that the illness has on your daughter.

LIZS · 20/02/2025 17:45

Most gps will charge for letters like this. Can her uni accommodation office help liaise with the letting agent/landlord?

AnSolas · 20/02/2025 17:46

I would not be happy with the GP's reply
It would have taken 1 extra min tops to type a one line letter of her diagnosis & date it was diagnosed rather than the rejection letter.

Can you get who ever specialist diagnosed to do the letter?

olympicsrock · 20/02/2025 17:46

Even with a medial letter your chances of your daughter being released from the contract are low. Her best chance is to find another student to take it instead

olympicsrock · 20/02/2025 17:49

AnSolas · 20/02/2025 17:46

I would not be happy with the GP's reply
It would have taken 1 extra min tops to type a one line letter of her diagnosis & date it was diagnosed rather than the rejection letter.

Can you get who ever specialist diagnosed to do the letter?

Do you have a copy of your last letter from your specialist ? That should contain the diagnosis. A specialist is unlikely to write a letter specifically for this sort of purpose unless you know them well.

Chocolatey1234 · 20/02/2025 17:53

Check the terms of her contract for details.

I would also push for a letter just incase it helps her with accommodation or if she has to apply for extenuating circs, compelling personal reasons or disabled students allowance at a later date.

If possible you can ask the dr’s letter to state I can confirm from this date to that date that Joe/Joanne Bloggs is suffering from such and such a condition, this is an ongoing condition with such and such of symptoms and likely to impact the student and affect her studying in the following ways. This condition would be best managed with rest, living at home and such and such or should the symptoms worsen I would strongly recommend taking a break in her studies etc.

Pleasealexa · 20/02/2025 17:53

Even with a medial letter your chances of your daughter being released from the contract are low. Her best chance is to find another student to take it instead

Agree with this. The letter must specifically state that the accomodation is no longer valid due to the impact of the condition - whereas travelling (longer journey) to Uni will be ok and less tiring.

There are FB pages for University accomodation so worth trying these. However as there is only 3 months left of Uni terms it maybe more difficult to find someone.

fiorentina · 20/02/2025 17:55

GPs charge for letters for travel insurance etc so maybe offer to pay, speaking to the practise manager?

Equally though it isn’t the private landlords issue that your daughter has an illness and you are contracted to pay.

Greysquirrels · 20/02/2025 18:11

It does not take 1 min tops for a medical professional to write a letter. Even if it did, that is still extra time that the GP does not have. If every patient wants a one minute letter it soon adds up.

I agreed to fill in what looked like a very quick insurance form for someone last week. It ended up taking bloody ages. I then had to find a hospital stamp, envelope and deliver it to where the patient wanted to collect it from. In total I spent about 45 mins doing the task, which took me away from my planned work and I ended up getting home late. I have always felt guilty about charging a fee for things like this, but no more. My time and my family are too precious.

And no I don’t have a secretary to help with this. They are based in a different building or work remotely .

As other have said your best is to phone surgery, as for a letter but say you are willing to pay. Am still not massively optimistic you will be able to get out of the contract though, unless they can fill the room.

Original poster
UniUniUniUni · 20/02/2025 18:12

It’s affiliated with the Uni so only students of that Uni live there. But I’m not sure if their relationship with eachother if you see what I mean.

Yes initially we asked if it would cost anything and they said no and advised that she needed to contact the reception, they then said she needed to make an appointment to see a doctor, who then said she didn’t have time for it. I don’t have much experience with this kind of thing so am not really sure what a doctors note says or if they have to make it out to specific recipients or what.

OP posts:
AgnesX · 20/02/2025 18:15

UniUniUniUni · 20/02/2025 17:21

It’s privately owned, which probably makes it harder yes.
I agree it’s fair enough if they want evidence, it’s a contract after all, I just don’t know why the gp can’t write some sort of note. Will check what she has in writing though

Thanks for all your replies

Go back and ask. Make an appointment in person if you can. Appalling attitude especially as they usually do it along with an invoice 🙄

DiggoryVenn · 20/02/2025 18:16

We had a similar situation with my DS - the uni accommodation was with Liberty Living. Although they said it was technically up to us to find a replacement, the manager of the block was really helpful when I explained the circumstances and said she would actively look to re-allocate the room.

It was some time ago now, but I think it was re-let within a couple of months and it was Liberty Living that found the replacement, even though I had listed it on some websites.

PragmaticIsh · 20/02/2025 18:16

Your daughter’s consultant should have written to her GP with the diagnosis, could you request a copy of that letter? Your daughter should have also received a copy.

AnSolas · 20/02/2025 18:23

Greysquirrels · 20/02/2025 18:11

It does not take 1 min tops for a medical professional to write a letter. Even if it did, that is still extra time that the GP does not have. If every patient wants a one minute letter it soon adds up.

I agreed to fill in what looked like a very quick insurance form for someone last week. It ended up taking bloody ages. I then had to find a hospital stamp, envelope and deliver it to where the patient wanted to collect it from. In total I spent about 45 mins doing the task, which took me away from my planned work and I ended up getting home late. I have always felt guilty about charging a fee for things like this, but no more. My time and my family are too precious.

And no I don’t have a secretary to help with this. They are based in a different building or work remotely .

As other have said your best is to phone surgery, as for a letter but say you are willing to pay. Am still not massively optimistic you will be able to get out of the contract though, unless they can fill the room.

The GP took time to write a rejection letter

The doctor has written a very curt message back to her to say they are very busy and basically to not bother them.
Has anyone been in this situation or know whether its reasonable to ask the gp to write some sort of note?

So sitting in a office in front of a computer with all the equipment needed to access her file and send a reply.

Different matter for you if you are working across multiple hospital wards without a office base in your appointment room.