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Original poster

House share student dropped out before start of tenancy

39 replies

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 18:46

Any ideas gratefully received.

My son is in year 2 going into year 3 and had found a house share for six with five friends/fellow students. They got as far as tenancy agreements being drawn up but one of the six has now dropped out (I'm not sure if they signed the agreement or not).

The remainder have been advertising and putting the word out but no luck with finding a replacement so far. It's getting stressful as the new tenancy starts on 5th September (from memory).

WWYD as a concerned parent (and guarantor!) without taking over or trying to solve the problem for them? If there are any helpful pointers I'd like to nudge them in the right direction.

TIA.

OP posts:
Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 18:49

My son has had someone drop out, but he signed his own agreement to cover his share.
Surely the one who dropped out signed his contract or the agent wouldn’t have confirmed they had the house?

Denim4ever · 15/08/2025 18:50

Whereabouts is this?

Original poster
LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 18:53

It's in Brighton @Denim4ever.

I'm not sure @Sadteacher, not sure how tenancy agreements for student lets work.

OP posts:
Dearover · 15/08/2025 18:53

First years only received their results yesterday. There will be some looking for an affordable room who got an insurance place or clearing. Get them posting on their uni SM pages and contact their accommodation office to say they need another person.

Dearover · 15/08/2025 18:56

Did you not check what you guaranteed?

Most say the missing tenant or their guarantor should pay, but it's easier to get the money from the 5 remaining in the property or their guarantors. They have probably committed to pay as a group not as individuals

Spirallingdownwards · 15/08/2025 18:57

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 18:53

It's in Brighton @Denim4ever.

I'm not sure @Sadteacher, not sure how tenancy agreements for student lets work.

Well immediately if you are guarantor get a copy of the tenancy agreement you are guaranteeing!

Original poster
LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 18:58

Did you not check what you guaranteed?

I guaranteed to cover my son's share of the rent. What was I missing?

OP posts:
Dearover · 15/08/2025 18:59

When DD had to move out of her house share, we continued to pay her share of the rent until a replacement was found. I think we paid for both her new and old rooms for around 4 months. We refused to contribute towards utilities as she wasn't using the heating etc. The landlord was happy with this.

Divebar2021 · 15/08/2025 18:59

Surely there will be kids going through clearing who won’t get into halls now?

Arlanymor · 15/08/2025 19:01

Usually the person who drops out has to find a replacement or else pay until a replacement is found. Student accommodation is at such a premium I am sure a replacement will be found through clearing if nothing else. Plus if you're only guarantor for your son's share then you've got nothing to worry about.

KnickerlessParsons · 15/08/2025 19:01

Is it an option for the remaining 5 to split the cost between them? Even just for a while?

Dearover · 15/08/2025 19:02

There is a strong chance they have joint & several liability. Did you read the contract and guarantor agreements carefully.

It's always easier to collect the full rent from those remaining in the property and their parents, rather than chasing the one who isn't there.

Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 19:03

Dearover · 15/08/2025 18:59

When DD had to move out of her house share, we continued to pay her share of the rent until a replacement was found. I think we paid for both her new and old rooms for around 4 months. We refused to contribute towards utilities as she wasn't using the heating etc. The landlord was happy with this.

From another perspective, my daughter was in a house share of 3 a few years ago. One girl dropped out and refused to pay any more towards the bills. My daughter and her housemate made the argument they signed up for a house of 3, so budgeted for a third of the bills. Why should they then have to pay half the bills ( things like broadband, standing charges don’t decrease just because someone is missing) it was quite unfair.

Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 19:04

Arlanymor · 15/08/2025 19:01

Usually the person who drops out has to find a replacement or else pay until a replacement is found. Student accommodation is at such a premium I am sure a replacement will be found through clearing if nothing else. Plus if you're only guarantor for your son's share then you've got nothing to worry about.

Totally agree, this is the case with my son too.

Dearover · 15/08/2025 19:12

Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 19:03

From another perspective, my daughter was in a house share of 3 a few years ago. One girl dropped out and refused to pay any more towards the bills. My daughter and her housemate made the argument they signed up for a house of 3, so budgeted for a third of the bills. Why should they then have to pay half the bills ( things like broadband, standing charges don’t decrease just because someone is missing) it was quite unfair.

Show quote history

In this case one of the others had moved their partner in without agreement or any contribution towards the bills, so DD had been paying more than her fair share whilst she was there. He was a nasty piece of work. It's easy to make judgements without knowing the whole story.

Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 19:18

Dearover · 15/08/2025 19:12

In this case one of the others had moved their partner in without agreement or any contribution towards the bills, so DD had been paying more than her fair share whilst she was there. He was a nasty piece of work. It's easy to make judgements without knowing the whole story.

Show quote history

I made no judgement, I literally said what happened to my daughter.

Arlanymor · 15/08/2025 19:29

Dearover · 15/08/2025 19:12

In this case one of the others had moved their partner in without agreement or any contribution towards the bills, so DD had been paying more than her fair share whilst she was there. He was a nasty piece of work. It's easy to make judgements without knowing the whole story.

Show quote history

I don't think the poster was making a judgement, she was explaining what happened to her daughter and why it was unfair - which it clearly was.

Meadowfinch · 15/08/2025 19:48

Make sure student services are aware of the vacancy. Everyone coming through clearing will be looking for somewhere to live

ZeusandClio · 15/08/2025 19:59

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 18:58

Did you not check what you guaranteed?

I guaranteed to cover my son's share of the rent. What was I missing?

Are you sure you didn't sign an agreement to be "joint and severally liable"? This means that you and the other guarantors are liable for the whole rent. IANAL but have had 2 daughters go through private student rentals where I have had to be the guarantor, and in one case we (the other parents and I) wouldn't sign until one of them paid the whole tenancy in advance as we had no faith that we wouldn't be stuck with paying his share.
Also, definitely let the SU know as there will be students desperately searching for somewhere.

FinallyHere · 15/08/2025 20:16

Dearover · 15/08/2025 19:02

There is a strong chance they have joint & several liability. Did you read the contract and guarantor agreements carefully.

It's always easier to collect the full rent from those remaining in the property and their parents, rather than chasing the one who isn't there.

This

this is how it usually works.

Original poster
LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 20:37

I'm not sure why this thread has gone down the line of who is liable for paying the missing rent Confused.

I'm actually asking for advice on finding a new tenant. The question of covering the rent wasn't raised by me.

OP posts:
bumbaloo · 15/08/2025 20:41

Arlanymor · 15/08/2025 19:01

Usually the person who drops out has to find a replacement or else pay until a replacement is found. Student accommodation is at such a premium I am sure a replacement will be found through clearing if nothing else. Plus if you're only guarantor for your son's share then you've got nothing to worry about.

Often each tenant is joint and severally liable. In other words the whole amount is guaranteed and if one doesn’t pay the LL can come after the others.
It is usually the case if the house was rented by a group.
if the house is rented to individuals by the LL on individual room tenancies rather than a group who find and rent the house as a whole then the OP will be fine.

PinkFrogss · 15/08/2025 20:42

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 20:37

I'm not sure why this thread has gone down the line of who is liable for paying the missing rent Confused.

I'm actually asking for advice on finding a new tenant. The question of covering the rent wasn't raised by me.

I think everyone assumed you were worried about money/who is liable for the rent as you’re making out this is yours/the remaining house sharers problem.

In theory it’s not your problem and nothing to be concerned about if you’re confident you and your child won’t be liable for the rent.

Arlanymor · 15/08/2025 20:43

bumbaloo · 15/08/2025 20:41

Often each tenant is joint and severally liable. In other words the whole amount is guaranteed and if one doesn’t pay the LL can come after the others.
It is usually the case if the house was rented by a group.
if the house is rented to individuals by the LL on individual room tenancies rather than a group who find and rent the house as a whole then the OP will be fine.

Show quote history

Yep and I have known both types of contracts to be fair, so it's literally dependent on whatever the OP has signed.

Sadteacher · 15/08/2025 21:12

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/08/2025 20:37

I'm not sure why this thread has gone down the line of who is liable for paying the missing rent Confused.

I'm actually asking for advice on finding a new tenant. The question of covering the rent wasn't raised by me.

well you can’t sublet / relet someone else’s room? Why do you think you can find a new tenant for someone else’s room? You really need to check the contract! I’m not sure why the other tenants have to take the role of letting agents.