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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Another path- the first year ......

998 replies

chopc · 13/01/2022 20:42

Apologies if I didn't tag anyone. Hopefully have inckueded all current posters

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - Biochemistry
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - Open
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -modern languages
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@Notagardener LSE
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

OP posts:
Pumpkintopf · 15/09/2022 22:45

@Notagardener did you get sorted?

I still feel I can't relax until DS has a contract signed...

Notagardener · 16/09/2022 01:05

Received contract today with several mistakes. DC has already emailed agency. Tenant fees act 2019 very useful!
Still not sure how it's going to work out with her moving in in the afternoon

Tenpastseven · 16/09/2022 08:02

Hello all. Just thought I’d pop in and say hi. Some of you may remember DS took a year out and then decided to stay and go to Uni abroad. Well he recently did a hand break turn and after much accommodation stress, has gone complete circle and is starting at Bristol with a drop off tomorrow. He only got back to UK yesterday so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least.

Chilldonaldchill · 16/09/2022 09:39

SeasonFinale · 15/09/2022 21:44

@Chilldonaldchill DS is loving life in Bristol. He can't recommend it more highly enough.

Thank you!

Notagardener · 16/09/2022 15:53

Pumpkintopf · 15/09/2022 22:45

@Notagardener did you get sorted?

I still feel I can't relax until DS has a contract signed...

Hope you have a better experience. We were all packed

Notagardener · 16/09/2022 15:54

Oh didn't finish. Packed in the morning and finally received corrected contract in the afternoon. DH and dc have left, hoping they will get to London in time ...

Longtimenewsee · 16/09/2022 16:07

Hey @Tenpastseven .. good to hear from you. Excellent news re your ds and His new plans . Good luck to him

Majaso12 · 18/09/2022 10:53

@Pumpkintopf. Has your ds had his contact signed now?

@Notagardener. How’s your dd getting on in her flat in London?

I’m glad now that dd is staying in halls with all the problems we’ve been hearing about accommodation in London for 2nd year. She was meant to be finding out tomorrow where her room is, which floor, but most likely will find out Tuesday now. She’s hoping she’s not on the ground floor again.

She’s been away on holiday with her bf and his family for a week, but been away 10 days altogether. We said we’d pick her up in London tomorrow and she’d get a train from kid to London. Then after finding out the funeral is Monday, we thought we’d make it Tuesday instead, but then decided to stick with Monday and hope for the best. We’re driving about 2.5 hours, but will take a lot longer and just hope we can get to the car park we’ve booked. I’d like to watch some of the funeral, but we won’t get there in time to get a good view. Planning on leaving at 6 am, don’t really want to leave earlier.

Notagardener · 18/09/2022 11:03

Majaso good luck with traveling. 6am ouch.
DH and dc got there just in time, with 10 min to spare...

Majaso12 · 18/09/2022 11:12

This is to bring her home. 1st October is when she’ll be going back for her 2nd year.

Notagardener · 18/09/2022 11:36

Majaso,DC says most of her friends are back in London? But I suppose start of contract will vary with private accommodation. With dc1 start date was mid Aug.
I did mention to Dc2 staying in student accommodation and she did apply but got turned down...

Majaso12 · 18/09/2022 12:01

It’s because she’s in halls, she can’t move in until 1st October.

She’s been applying for a placement year and has 4 interviews with one company so far. One she applied for is 13 months long so if she did get that one, I think she’d start in August and so would need accommodation for longer. Makes it difficult booking a holiday next year, not knowing if she’s free in August. She may not get much of a Summer holiday. She’s not getting her hopes up she’s getting one though as will be very competitive.

Oldowl · 18/09/2022 20:07

London has been tough for accommodation this year, so tough that DD has decided to commute into university for her final year rather than get into bidding wars over flats. She is only in for 3 days each week and finishes in April.

We were in London today to see the floral tributes to the Queen. It was strange to think for the last 2 years this has been move-in day and we have travelled up to London with DD and her 2 suitcases of minimalist uni packing!

Pumpkintopf · 18/09/2022 23:02

@Notagardener top tip, thanks- I have no clue what should/shouldn't be in a contract! DS has now had some form through that DH has to sign as guarantor. They seem to be jointly and severally liable for the rent, I guess that's standard.

Bills wise - have any of your (possibly older dc) used any of the bill splitting services or has it been straightforward to just set them up as standard?

Pumpkintopf · 19/09/2022 01:29

Tenpastseven my goodness! A whirlwind indeed!!! What changed his mind?

Notagardener · 19/09/2022 10:22

Pumpkintopf · 18/09/2022 23:02

@Notagardener top tip, thanks- I have no clue what should/shouldn't be in a contract! DS has now had some form through that DH has to sign as guarantor. They seem to be jointly and severally liable for the rent, I guess that's standard.

Bills wise - have any of your (possibly older dc) used any of the bill splitting services or has it been straightforward to just set them up as standard?

So I think they just used an old contract and changed (some of!!) the dates and names.
Most of it I don't understand but they wanted charging for the setting up the contract, running the reference and credit check.
There is a tenant fees act 2019 which explains it.

Notagardener · 19/09/2022 10:57

Oldowl · 18/09/2022 20:07

London has been tough for accommodation this year, so tough that DD has decided to commute into university for her final year rather than get into bidding wars over flats. She is only in for 3 days each week and finishes in April.

We were in London today to see the floral tributes to the Queen. It was strange to think for the last 2 years this has been move-in day and we have travelled up to London with DD and her 2 suitcases of minimalist uni packing!

Yes, so DC offered straight away £30/week/pp above asking price. Dc1, also London student , thought she was stupid, but afterwards he actually said the price was actually the going price , having heard about his friends ' struggle

AvocadoPlant · 19/09/2022 11:37

Notagardener · 19/09/2022 10:22

So I think they just used an old contract and changed (some of!!) the dates and names.
Most of it I don't understand but they wanted charging for the setting up the contract, running the reference and credit check.
There is a tenant fees act 2019 which explains it.

Show quote history

The agents are absolutely not allowed to make any charges to tenants for setting up the original contract or getting the references, they can ask for a holding deposit (1 weeks rent) to secure the property, but this must then be refunded or offset against the rent/deposit.
(Except if the tenant pulls out or the references come back as unsatisfactory).

Re the joint snd severally responsible, we didn’t want to be a guarantor as potentially we were looking at £50k rent for the house for the year. There are various insurance policies you can take out to limit it to just your share. I don’t know how watertight these are, but are praised in the WIWIKAU site. We chose to pay the full year upfront, so DD is still jointly responsible but we are not.
Our reasoning being it makes no sense for a LL to chase a student for outstanding rent given her assets amount to little more than her laptop and iPhone!

Notagardener · 19/09/2022 12:02

Avocadoplant, I know 🙂.but because they weren't allowed to do this, DH thought I should sign it anyway as they wouldn't be able to enforce it. And felt I was being unreasonable to insist on it being changed.
And if any of the relevant people are on Mumsnet they will now definitely know who I am in RL 😁

AvocadoPlant · 19/09/2022 13:15

What a nightmare. Really annoys me when agents (sho are supposed to enforce the rules), just don’t bother!
Hoping the move in went smoothly and she’s settled in x

bendmeoverbackwards · 23/09/2022 15:50

Tenpastseven · 16/09/2022 08:02

Hello all. Just thought I’d pop in and say hi. Some of you may remember DS took a year out and then decided to stay and go to Uni abroad. Well he recently did a hand break turn and after much accommodation stress, has gone complete circle and is starting at Bristol with a drop off tomorrow. He only got back to UK yesterday so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind to say the least.

Nice to hear from you @Tenpastseven He'll have a great time at Bristol! My dd has just started second year and really enjoying it. Which accommodation did he get?

bendmeoverbackwards · 23/09/2022 15:53

I hope everyone's drop offs went well and all dc are settling in. We took dd back to Bristol last Sunday. Left a bit later than planned (very typical for us!), helped dd unpack a bit then did a dash round Sainsbury's before it closed for the bank holiday. Never seen the shelves so bare, it was like Christmas Eve!

Dd has a lovely house opposite the downs and her room is much bigger than her halls room which is good. But there's been a bit of drama among them which is causing a bad atmosphere, not a good start.

Pumpkintopf · 24/09/2022 11:24

On our way to London to move DS into his second year student house. His gf is already there and apparently the agent has said they need to top up their electric?! The meter pics gf has sent look like prepay to me but DS has set up a direct debit with octopus - not sure they would have done that if the address was prepayment?! What a hassle.

The car (and roofbox) is bulging.

Original poster
chopc · 24/09/2022 14:18

Best wishes to all DC in their second year!

Hope after the initial stresses our DC settle in well into their new abodes and the bonds with their housemates grow stronger!

I stopped talking to my flat mate for a year after I lived with her but she is still one of my best friends!

And in your case @Tenpastseven first year! I am sure the experiences of his gap year means your DS has matured a lot and is more sure of where he is heading?

@Chilldonaldchill I wish DS had a more structured course like your DD (History). He did find the self directed learning and lack of deadlines/ marked work rather a huge adjustment which caused him great stress towards the end of the second term when he had to cram in a lot.

OP posts:
Tenpastseven · 24/09/2022 18:48

Thanks all. He realised he wanted a UK Uni experience. The Uni he was going to had a very different experience to offer and he became worried he’d be too isolated. He’s struggling to settle a little in part as he’s been so happy as part of his gap year community but trying to stay positive. It’s been such a big change (as of course it was for all your DD/DS’s last year).