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Original poster

Are students allowed to return to their uni accommodation?

21 replies

EddyF · 05/01/2021 21:14

Or do they have to stay in their family home during this lockdown? Private accommodation is for students but not ran by the university (private company).

My sister wants her child to go back to accommodation as they have been messy, up all night, rarely clean up unless moaned at, and generally anti social in their room. Plus they pay around 12K a year for the accommodation.

I told my sister it’s best they stay home and just do their online class from home. She’s agreeing but I can see she’s fed up.

OP posts:

EnglishRose1320 · 05/01/2021 21:19

Some of the students I know are already back in accommodation because they went back straight after Christmas before Boris got round to making a plan and deciding what should happen.

I'm assuming they can't legally ask someone to leave accommodation they are paying for but yes I think if they aren't back yet they have been asked to stay at home. As to whether or not it can be enforced I'm not sure.

satnighttakeaway · 05/01/2021 21:24

I thought they said that unless the students have already gone back to uni they have to stay where they are now.

HeartZone · 05/01/2021 21:53

I’m pretty sure it’s okay to travel back to uni digs!
Especially as around now-next week is the time they’d normally be returning.
We need to WFH again .... they need to go back to give us the space to work! They can work online in their gigs and be with their mates, it’s a win win we all need it!

Catsmother1 · 06/01/2021 03:35

They said uni students are not to return to uni, but to remain at home. I guess if you’re already back you have to stay there.

Yoshinori · 06/01/2021 03:42

Yes

Yoshinori · 06/01/2021 03:43

A lot of misinformation on this thread, students are allowed to return back to uni. It is merely suggested that if they can they should stay where they are.

Furthermore, “moving” has always been a reasonable excuse during lockdowns. Moving back to uni for an extended period of time.

junglepie · 06/01/2021 07:01

yes, currently they are "allowed" to return. There is some vague, wooly guidance which states they "should" remain where they are, and then goes on to say if they live at uni they "shouldnt" move backwards and frowards between home and uni in term time and a vague mention of supporting unis to facilitate the safe return of students.... but yes, in law thay are "allowed" to return.

From the guidance:

"Students who do not study these courses should remain where they are wherever possible, and start their term online, as facilitated by their university until at least Mid-February. This includes students on other practical courses not on the list above.

We have previously published guidance to universities and students on how students can return safely to higher education in the spring term. This guidance sets out how we will support higher education providers to enable students that need to return to do so as safely as possible following the winter break.

If you live at university, you should not move back and forward between your permanent home and student home during term time."

My first year dd has already gone back, as have all her flat mates in halls and my thrid year dd has also already returned to her priavtely rented house as have all her housemates, so I think basically once again it is a case of Boris not having a clue and failing to offer specific guidance in time!

junglepie · 06/01/2021 07:02

Also, to add, my first year dd had an email from her uni confirming that whilst they may wish to remain at home currently they were able to return to halls if they felt that would be a better working envirnment for them, or they felt that would be in the best interests of their mental health and well being.

EverythingsComingUpRoses · 06/01/2021 07:10

My dd has been told not to return to her university halls of residence by the university

We are waiting to hear if this means she doesn't pay for accommodation until they are allowed back

Hers is a term time contract rather than a 39 week one though which I would think makes a difference

Ginfordinner · 06/01/2021 07:11

DD's university is asking students to stay at home unless they absolutely have to go back. Exceptions are for certain courses, inability to study at home and mental well being. I have read that some universities have asked some returners to go back home.

ILoveStickers · 06/01/2021 07:13

They are allowed to move, but they are being asked to stay where they are if possible.

For some people it's not possible - e.g., they have no workspace/internet at home, they have already come back to their uni accommodation, etc. Our university is asking those people to get in touch with their tutors so that the department knows to give them additional support, as they may be on their own.

Forgetmenot157 · 06/01/2021 07:24

The message was stay where you are from when lockdown was announced... If you are at home... Stay home if you have already gone back then stay at uni

Wilkolampshade · 06/01/2021 07:38

If she'll stay there when she gets there, then she should go.

singsingbluesilver · 06/01/2021 07:44

For the sake of people who live in uni cities and towns I really hope uni students stay home. The whole point of lockdown is to prevent unnecessary movement - all lectures have been shifted online.

I do feel so sorry for students - this year has not been the uni experience they should have had. I hope unis support any who decide to defer.

junglepie · 06/01/2021 07:49

@singsingbluesilver

For the sake of people who live in uni cities and towns I really hope uni students stay home. The whole point of lockdown is to prevent unnecessary movement - all lectures have been shifted online.

I do feel so sorry for students - this year has not been the uni experience they should have had. I hope unis support any who decide to defer.

I completely get this. But then universities need to not charge rent for halls whilst the students are not living there. It is not fair to expect a student to be charged several thousand pounds in rent and then told they cant live there, especially when a lot of students currently cant do the part time jobs they may otherwise do to support themselves (eg in the hospitalitiy industry or non essentail reatail) Really I think there needed to be clearer statement by the government, agreed with universities in a joined up manner way before this. I suspect a lot of the damage has already been done now as a lot of students have already returned

singsingbluesilver · 06/01/2021 07:55

Yes - I think students should not be charged rent - but then I also think they should have been more open and honest with uni students from the start. This was never going to be a usual year for them and I especially feel sorry for the first year students who went into a most miserable time for many.

I know that the infection rates raketed here following the uni reopening in September. If students all come back again it will happen again, so out lockdown here will have achieved nothing.

singsingbluesilver · 06/01/2021 07:59

Just to make it clear I am not having a go at students - I never thought they deserved the blame they got heaped on them - I know they are not all irresponsible party animals!!! But clearly they will have been mixing with their own households over the Christmas break, and so to travel back to uni for all over other parts of the country would just make our lockdown here (we have been in lockdown since before Christmas) a sacrifice for nothing.

marly11 · 06/01/2021 07:59

Michael Gove said yesterday in the news that they should stay at the 'home' that they are currently in.

MajesticWhine · 06/01/2021 08:07

DD is asking me to take her back. She wants to be with other students in her halls not stuck at home with us. Her uni has advised that they can go back for various reasons - including needing a suitable working environment- which is pretty much open to interpretation.
I will support her to go back provided it is legal to do so. I need to confirm I am not breaking any law by driving her there.

Lottie4 · 06/01/2021 08:17

DD is able to terminate her lease, which is what she's going to do. 2/5 in her flat have already done so. It's costing her £7500 pa plus bills and she's only been there two months so far. Apparently students from abroad who couldn't go home over xmas are miserable. She's at uni in Scotland, so pretty much been locked down since return.

She was very lucky to have a lockdown job, which she took back up when she came home in November (she was struggling) and they'll keep her on for the coming months. She's got a week booked off early March, so hopefully can travel to clear her room out then.

flatcoatfan · 06/01/2021 08:17

@MajesticWhine I'm going to be driving my DD back tomorrow. She's 3rd year in private rental and for 101 reasons she needs to get back to her life away from her parents house. I'm not a rule breaker and nor is she and I'm not even sure we will be breaking any rules. I'd rather take her myself than have her use public transport. She's going to be alone in her house and can't wait to have the peace and quiet and access to decent Wi-fi to get on with her dissertation and final modules. Her part time work have just contacted her and asked her if she would be available for a few hours at short notice too, so all in all I think this is absolutely the right thing to do.

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