New Uni starters 2015 (continued from Preparing for Uni)

[circular]

Thought we needed a new thread to continue from preparation.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2466997-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015-continues

Suspect all have arrived by now...

The photos don't show the mouldy cups and food in all the bowls! Also the work surfaces were grimy and greasy!! YUK

Hope your DS Ok Haffdonga.

That's really funny, Quietly. Strangely, kitchen in DDs flat always been tidy. Her room is another story though.

Great to have you back Mumslife. Sounds like things can only get better for you DD.

haffdonga, hope your DS is OK, and mumslife, hope things improve for your DD. Sounds like she's had a really tough time.

DD sent flowers for Mother's Day, and a lovely text. She's coming home on Friday for the Easter holidays and we are all off to Paris at the beginning of April for a few days.

She has only just had some exam results, and is still waiting for a coursework mark.

Mumslife - your poor DD I really hope things pick up for her, she sounds a really strong character to keep working to such a high level considering all she's gone through the last few months, well done to her. X

DS has just rung and asked me to "send hm a few hundred quid today" as they are about to apply for a property and will need to pay his share of the deposit. Lots of excuses about why he can't transfer the money from his savings account in time so it's easier if I sent the money to him. Have offered a LOAN pending him sending the funds back from his savings account! He will be home next week so can ensure money returned to me .

I assume most of your DCs are now sorted for next year - seems to be done mostly from March onwards where DS is. So please tell me that a) he will have chosen and carefully inspected the 5 bedroom property he is about to commit to renting with 4 other lads - of whom he only knows 2. b) He will read all the small print on the tenancy agreement and check up on any other fees involved and c) the agents he is using (who seem to be right by the Uni) will not be sharks out to take advantage of students who are complete renting virgins.

Why do I feel so uneasy about all this? Probably because he is so not streetwise (has ASD) , I am so far away and I don't know anything about the friend that DS says is sorting it all out. I'm not re-assured by DS saying "It'll be fine Mum" and I honestly don't believe that he will read never mind understand all the small print before signing - especially not if it is a long document.

Bigbluebus
My DS is renting with 3 other lads of which he only knows one. He has had to chase one of the other lads for money and to get him to fill in the relevant forms. When they went to look at the house, they were not able to inspect one of the rooms as it was locked. I have had to sign a form to be a guarantor, only knowing the house address and the rent, but not having seen a tenancy agreement.
Only redeeming features is that they are renting via the student union agency, and the house looks OK when I googled it on streetview
But I guess they will survive.
And if they are not friends to start with it doesn't matter if they end the year hating each other?

Seimum DS rang to say they are now signing the paperwork tomorrow. Asked him if he got a copy of the tenancy agreement to study overnight. He said no, he'd read it before he signs tomorrow. I am also concerned about him getting the money out of 2 of the lads as these 2 haven't even bothered to go and look at the houses - they said "just find something and we'll fill in the paperwork!"
I don't know if the agency he is using is through the Students Union or vetted by them. The house looks ok from what I can tell but you can't inspect the appliances and look for damp from agents photos.

I know it will be fine with dd2 as she gave me a summary of the small print & made a list of every feature in the house.

Not so sure about my other dc but dd1's accommodation for next year is controlled by the university so that should be ok.

bigbluebus What happens if the other 2 lads don't pay the deposit?

Take plenty of photos when he moves in just in case.

Bigblue If the agency have a website, they may have a draft ten act agreement you can look at. If you are being expected to sign as guarantor, you have a right to speak to the agents and ask to see the agreement.

Quite confident that the agents DD's group have used are OK. Not convinced they would have noticed damp and the like in their excitement.

circular DH will have to act as guarantor as I don't work. I read somewhere that guarantor has to be a homeowner and in full time employment. Not sure what happens if one of the lads parents live in rented accomodation. Will have a look on website and see if I can find a draft agreement.

Can't find much out about the agents. Reviews about them are a number of years old - but didn't make good reading. I'm hoping that the fact there are no recent reviews means that they've cleaned up their act and students don't bother writing good reviews - only bad ones.

Think it depends on the agent / landlord what they stipulate for guarantor conditions. AFAiK DDs didn't even credit search.
There was a thread on this board about tenancies, not sure how active it's been recently. Dec/Jan seemed to be the peak in many student Towns.

To be guarantor I just had to be UK resident and working (employed or self-employed). Had to give employers details so Agency could check them. No questions about home ownership.
I think I will contact the agency on Monday to ask for a copy of the tenancy agreement

DD2 home. Unpacked suitcase and ironed her clothes!

GOOD NEWS - finally after back and forth between exams office and doctors the Uni have agreed to a private room for my DD exams this year!!! And all without me having to get involved

Great Quietly Glad it worked out well.

Quietly, glad that's been sorted out for your DD.

Got a heartfelt text from DD earlier: 'Also what's everyone's plans for this weekend? Getting tired of coming home and having no one to eat dinner with. I just want a nice home family meal 😩'.

Aw, it's great to feel wanted.

muffin ahhh that's what my daughter misses - company in the evening and meal times!

Littleham at the ironing. My dd is coming home next weekend for Easter break - a whole month! She's bringing all her washing too.

DS is home on Friday. Has a month off but only staying with us for 2 wks then going to do other stuff.

DS2 is away Fri/Sat - it's a bit like a hotel here!

Hopefully we'll all be sat down for Sunday Dinner together!

Going to collect DD on Friday. She says she's looking forward to ham sandwiches, pesto pasta and roast chicken...particularly ones that she can eat whenever she fancies rather than when it is college meal times.

Trying to convince Ds that he needs to have a think about he might like to study so he can get booking some open days. Every time we have a painful conversation I am reminded of the sons talked about on here

Yep, Gypsy. Still trying to pin down DS2 re subjects he might want to study!

It's like pulling teeth!

I now have a copy of dd's tenancy agreement to look over before she signs and we agree to be guarantors. It states that each of the four students are liable for the whole amount of rent. In other words, if anyone else fails to pay, dd is expected to make up the difference. Is this right? It sounds like a big risk to sign up for that.