Moving out of student houses sooner rather than later?

[Pebbles574]

DS is at uni 300 miles away. He came home a week ago with stuff for the Easter holidays but since then his uni has confirmed all teaching and exams will be online for summer term, so unlikely he will be going back.
I’ve said to him we should drive up there asap and bring all his stuff back/ hand over the keys. He’s doing a year out next year in a different town, so not going back in September.

Is this what others are doing too?

This really resonates for me. My husband was made redundant last year but re-trained as an electrician. Since April last year he's been on apprentice wages - less than half a 'normal' electricians wage Ann's he's 49, but at least he's got a job. Except that now he's been furloughed as they can't go into people's houses.

I'd been working at an independent shop for 9 years last year and in August was offered the chance to buy it. Managed to borrow the money from family and took over on Xmas Eve. So I owe a pretty large amount of cash and had only been trading 11 weeks when i had to close - not enough to have saved anything substantial and not enough to repay my start-up costs.

Eldest child graduated last year but had been saving her part time job earnings etc for years and is currently doing an MA.

Middle child in 2nd year at uni 170 miles from home, had been working at Student's Union to help cover her costs. Both dc on almost the highest possible student loan because of our low incomes. Both came home early so there are now 5 mouths instead of 3 to feed.

Middle child in rented private house with 4 friends contacted landlord to ask for a reduction on rent. Each student pays an amount of about £500 a month which includes £80 a month for utilities. Landlord referred them to estate agent. Estate agent said no, no reduction and not even for utilities since they are provided by "an external company and there is a 12 month contract so they have to pay it". Let me be perfectly honest. I have no issue with the rent part of it - after all the landlord cannot claim any rates relief with their possessions still in the house, and he can't rent it out to another person either. However, dc had negotiated to stay in the house for 2020-2021 as well, so his costs have been reduced as he won't have to spruce the house up this year for new tenants. And there will now be £400 a month coming in until the beginning of October JUST towards utilities, for which only the fixed charge will be payable by him - never mind the £1700 a month rental only portion. I just think this is profiteering on the part of the estate agent and landlord and I'm disgusted by it.

Anyone else have experience of this? I've written to my MP for advice but don't know where else to turn.