Student 'Year in Industry/Placement' - Where to live if remote working?

[Divoc2020]

DS (20) is due to start his industrial placement (between Years 2 & 3 of uni) in September. It was sorted out before Covid hit and his original plan was to move to the town where the company is based in August and rent a 2 bed flat with a friend (let's call them 'Sam') who also have a placement in the same town (different company).

They've both now been told to expect that they will be working remotely for 'several months' (no definite dates specified).
Sam doesn't have a great relationship with his family and is still keen to move. DS seems indifferent, but seems to be going along with this idea because "he doesn't want to let Sam down" having previously agreed to share.

DH & I think he's mad to move when he doesn't need to. He's going to end up paying £750 month to be holed up in a tiny flat all day and whereas previously there would have been a good social life with the other students/young people in the company, this is now unlikely to be the case.

However I also understand that perhaps DS just wants some independence again after being at home since March.

WWYD? What are anyone else's DC doing in similar circumstances?

Even if they are working remotely I assume they could be called in at very short notice for odd meetings or even back in full time. What would he do then if he did not have accommodation available?

I think it is commendable that he doesn't want to let his friend down or is letting you down gently perhaps (by not saying he really wants to move out).

Being in a new city will still be an experience for him. Lockdown has eased a bit. He can explore new places etc

I think he should talk to the company and see if they think it's necessary to move. That 750 a month could be saved for a house deposit. Not to be sniffed at. It's tough on Sam, but that's just life. It's too big a financial commitment t to take on just for the sake of not letting a mate down. He will have to find someone else to live with.

However, if he actually wants to move himself, it's his money and it's up to him.

Good points.

His company cannot tell him when, or indeed if, he will be needed in the office, but it's "many months away". It's a technology based one, and his role will be software development etc, so possible to be remote indefinitely really. They have already said they would give several months notice before any requirement to be in the office.

To be honest, it's the "not letting Sam down" comment that worried me. If he'd said "look parents, much as I love you I want to move out and get my independence again" then I'd be more relaxed, but I'm concerned that he feels he has some sort of obligation because of a conversation six months ago, pre-covid.
DS has a history of being a bit passive (IMHO) - he ended up with the worst room in his house share last year because he "didn't want to upset people when he'd have to live with them". I just don't think he's learnt how to confront awkward situations yet, so goes with the path of least resistance.

If he never ended up needing to be in the office he could say nearly £10,000 over the next year!

I don't think he should find accommodation. Sam can find a one bed or studio or house share. it will be much nicer at home and then if things change he can move at that point. That said my son has booked a post grad course in Bristol where he was at university (as his gap year travel plan is over and that was similar to your son - he left it very late to cancel the gap year which thankfully one of his friends cancelled first as he didn't want to let them down) and found a flat to rent with a friend even though his course is likely to start out on line.

DD's boyfriend was in a similar situation. He came to live with us and DD at the start of lockdown, and decided to stay with us while he did his summer internship remotely, rather than move back to his college town and spend a lot on rent and still work remotely.

It's worked out fine, helped by the fact that he's a really nice kid and we love having him here.

Is this really about saving the rent which would be half of £750 or about you and wanting your ds to be safely at home with you?
You need to be honest with yourself.
He is 20 years old and can make the decision himself, so I hope you are not pointing out all the negatives?
There is always one who will get the smaller room in a flat share, sometimes it is based on first to arrive, other times it can be decided in a draw. Usually the person in the smallest room pays less.
Despite the cost it sounds as if it would be a good experience, I do not think students weigh up decisions like this based on money saved for the future.
Yes, I have been there with two sons, both did internships in their third year. One to the US and the other in the same city where he was a student. It never occurred to me to suggest he continue sharing with his friends to save money, he was earning and it was his decision to rent on his own.
Just support whatever decision he arrives at without trying to change his mind.