When to look for accommodation (Newcastle) and apply for loans

[ItStartedWithaKiss72]

Hello,
My 18 year old is currently taking a gap year but has deferred a place, at Newcastle University, to study civil engineering.
As it was obvious he was going to take a gap year I didn’t really look into when he should be applying for student loans and maintenance loans nor when to start looking into securing accommodation. We live in the southern end of County Durham so commuting is possible but I think it’d be a lot of hassle for him (I did a similar commute when I was at university at it was tough).
When do I need to start sorting stuff and applying? Does the maintenance loan tend to cover the cost of rent each year?

Good question!

Let him sort all of this out. He's the one who's going to be living there.

The loan is his, not yours, so he has to apply for it; he doesnt give them your financial details, just your contact email for sfe to ask you to provide them. If you are absolutely sure that by the time he applies next spring, he will only be entitled to the minimum loan, then there is no need for him to name you (and your DH, if you are living together) to be contacted regarding your income. However, if by then, the income of the household in which he is resident (e.g. if your DH has moved out and your income on its own doesn't cross the threshold) is at least 15% lower than it was in the relevant tax year, he should nominate you and you should ask for a current year assessment).

Ditto, the contract for accommodation will be with your DS, not you, so he needs to do the applying.

Ditto, the contract for accommodation will be with your DS, not you, so he needs to do the applying.

We paid for DD's accommodation so the contract was with us.