How does this work for student accommodation?

[kmo0416]

If you have a fixed term tenancy occupation agreement with student accommodation but you want to leave the accommodation earlier than its end date for whatever reason, can you do so, provided you are willing to still pay the rent? In fact could you actually not live there at all and still pay the rent without breaking the agreement? Basically, do you have to live there?

No, you don't have to live there. As long as you keep paying the bills as agreed, I can't see your landlord giving you any problems. You'd have to let council tax know though.

As long as you pay the rent then I don’t suppose the landlord will be bothered as long as it’s not a 1 bed place and would therefore be entirely unoccupied for the year which would invalidate the landlord’s insurance.

once the renter’s rights bill comes in you will be able to give notice early though so that may work in your favour.

Are you in halls or private accommodation?

My dd has not been in their accommodation for several months due to illness, but there were other tenants so no worries on an empty flat. In her new lease though it has a clause to not leave flat empty for more than 3 weeks without contacting the LL. Check the lease is all I'd advise.

You'd have to let council tax know though

@BigFatBully students don't pay council tax.

No you don’t need to live there as long as you continue to pay, or you may be able to find another student to take the room over. It is not like boarding school where you are expected to stay on site unless you have permission to leave and in most cases noone will be checking on you.

How did your resits go, OP?

I don't know about his current place, because I haven't seen the lease and he hasn't mentioned, but DS2's last room in a 'not specifically student' HMO had a 2 week rule in its individual lease.

'Check your lease' is definitely the bottom line.