UEA freshers (2019 starters) part 2

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread and hope you don't mind that I set up the next thread @juicy0. Just did it to ensure that we carry on chatting seamlessly

know ds has gone through an agent called adobe. I hadn't heard of them.

Do you mean Abode? There are branches in our part of the country (South East Essex); I assumed that they were a national chain.

The letting agent DS is using is called Pearl Lettings (mixed reviews on their FB page). I can now see why MNetters strongly recommend taking all the 'before' photos to ensure their student DC don't lose deposits.

I don't recall this 'leaving house as found' being a thing when I was a student (unless of course it had been trashed). Given how much money landlords/letting agencies are making out students, it's a total con expecting them to do a 'deep clean'.

@icanbewhatiwanticanbewhatiwant has clearly got technology on her mind .

Ha ha. Yes. I did mean Abode. I'll put my specs back on. Isn't adobe something to do with software? 🤣

I don't expect to give the deposit back. But ds only had to give £100 that's £600 with all of them. With a normal letting deposit is usually a months rent in advance. That isn't a month that's less than a week for deposit. It doesn't seem that much to me. £600 is enough to give a good deep clean, I'm sure it'll need one if the others are anything like Ds!

I mean enough for the agent to pay for deep clean.

We own a few rental properties and just before a new tenant arrives a company comes in to take photos and make an inventory. We aren't meant to go in after the photos have been taken. They show it to the new tenant as they first go into the property. We all have to sign it. Then the deposit goes into a deposit scheme. By law we aren't allowed to keep it. Then when the tenant leaves they have to claim their deposit back from the scheme. The landlord has to agree to the deposit being returned. If there is a problem then they have to show evidence and compare to the inventory. Apparently the deposit scheme is usually on the tenants side.
I wonder if all this has to be done with students properties. But I know it's law that we as landlords can't hold the deposit.

I think I'm getting a garbled story from DS, so am just clarifying.

@icanbewhatiwant, using an independent company to arbitrate seems good practice but not if it's the letting agent deciding to siphon off deposit money for no good reason.

I can appreciate that students are not necessarily super tidy (or even clean!) BUT also think it sounds as if landlords/letting agents can nitpick knowing full well that #cba young people are likely to not kick up a fuss. I would though!

Can you not ask for letting agent to be present when the move-in happens so that a list can be drawn up of things that the students are n't happy with (stains on mattresses being one!) on arrival?

Yes, Adobe Acrobat is software!!!

DS is actually coming home for reading week on Saturday. At first he said he wasnt as all his hone friends would still be at various unis (no offence taken) then he said he was coming home as all his UEA crowd were going home do there would be no one at UEA. At what point should we take offence???

Yes ds is coming home Saturday. He has something on here Sunday anyway. He was planning going back to UEA Sunday afternoon but messaged to say he'd stay home. He gets bored at home though. He has several friends that didn't go to university so he usually meets up with them one evening. But at university I guess there's always someone to meet with and something to do.

DS will be staying at UEA for the week, I hope he’s not all alone (I’m feeling guilty now).
He was looking at the list of activities that are on offer, not many he’s that interested in, although he said he might try sword fencing 😂

DD is coming home tomorrow for the week and I cannot wait!! Looking forward to spending some time with her and DS in between their various social arrangements 😊

I hope those of you with dc coming home have fun! @Itscoldouthere - your ds will not be alone. My ds and his friends are all staying. He has come down with a flu type virus and despite me offering to drive to Norwich and pick him up and bring him home he has said he wants to stay. He is hoping he will feel better in a couple of days and wants to spend the time off with his friends.

UEA will still be buzzing. Some of the courses don't have reading weeks and so DS1 will be at UEA but DS2 is coming home on the train later. This is assuming Storm Dennis doesn't interrupt the rail service

On a different note, has anyone seen the Deco at the Seaside exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre? It looks interesting but it's a long drive for us if it's only a small exhibition.

I haven't seen the exhibition @sluj but thanks for pointing it out. I am in the process of setting up my next appointment with the buyer there (I sell children's books to them) so I will be sure to take a selection of seaside related books!

@MrsBartlet hope your DS gets better soon, my other DS at Bournemouth has been in bed all week with a bad cold, luckily he’s been given an extension on an essay that was due to be handed in yesterday, but he’s been feeling very sorry for himself.
I feel bad being so far away, but I don’t think I would have gone down even if I been in the UK and I’ve spoken to him most days.
I hope DS at UEA doesn’t get ill when he’s there on his own.

@Itscoldouthere - Ds was asking to come down with something as he has been burning the candle at both ends. Hopefully your ds will be fine!

DS2's last day as a teenager today. But sounds as if the plans for a big night out with his flat have hit the buffers as they are all away with the reading week , ditto for those he is particularly close to on his course. Still we are heading over to Norwich tomorrow with both his DBs to go out for a meal. Have suggested he could come home for a few days during reading week, but apparently he has commitments with a society he is very active in. Although most of them seem to be away as well.

I'm having a good old mope here , old enough to know better

Happy Birthday to your DS2 @boys3.

It sounds as if UEA is dead this coming week.

DS at home and talking 19 to the dozen with DD. They also can't agree on what to watch on TV.

Hope you are all having a lovely time with you DC at home.
DS says there are a few people staying on campus, so thankfully he’s not all alone.
He’s been having problems getting to sleep for the past few months and it’s starting to really effect him, he’s seeing someone from student services to discuss.
I think he’s ok but slightly struggling to keep on top of everything. I’m sure he’s not on top of his laundry or room.
No backpacking from me, so he will just have to cope.
Must say I’m looking forward to coming home for Easter and seeing my boys (and my dog).

@Itscoldouthere how are you doing?

You're missing damp and rainy weather over here. Hopefully it will be warmer and drier by Easter time!

DS has had a very quiet week here. It's nice having him home though.

Your poor DS having issues with sleeping properly. Sleep deprivation is terrible. Hope he manages to get on top of it with support.

Yes sleep deprivation is terrible. I hope he can get help.

Ds has stayed at home since Friday. We had to say goodbye to the dog yesterday. A difficult decision. She had stopped eating and her tummy was swelling up. We weren't sure whether to keep her going, we had no idea whether she was in pain. So we called it a day. I'm glad ds was home to see what she was like and it isn't nice to be told by text. The other dog, her daughter is missing her.

Ds isn't sure when to go back. He thinks tomorrow. I think he wants a lift back but it's cheaper on the train, probably quicker too! So we will see.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 thanks for asking, to tell you the truth it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.
It’s all very interesting and new but also tricky at times. I’m spending a lot of time on my own and sometimes feel a bit stir crazy.
It looks like we’ve finally found an apartment, it’s in a slightly different area than I expected but hoping it’s going to be ok, it’s got a good sized private roof terrace, we couldn’t find anything with more than a small balcony where we were looking and I didn’t think I could cope with that, I like to get outside, so hope we’ve made the right choice. It’s infurnished so I’m spending my time looking at beds and sofas! We get the keys on March 1st.
I am a bit worried about DS and his sleep problem, I think it’s getting him down and he’s missed a few lectures as he’s finding it hard to get up in the morning. He has tried to adapt a few things, like not drinking fizzy drinks, going out for walks, but he’s still struggling. I just hope that student services are some help, he doesn’t really listen to me, just thinks I’m nagging if I make any suggestions.

@icanbewhatiwant I’m so sorry to hear about your dog, heartbreaking, especially for her daughter, I’m sure she’ll be a bit subdued for a while.
Good that you were all there though. Hope you a feeling ok.

@icanbewhatiwant I am so sorry to hear about your dog :-(. Good that your DS was at home to say goodbye though. I hope your younger dog stops pining for her mummy.

We had cats who weren't related but had been brought up together. The one died and the other one spent the following seven years of her life miaowing plaintively in just the one bedroom of our home. I am sure she had some residual memory of her which she 'felt' every time she went in there. It was always very sad to hear.