Paying for accommodation before A level results

[WeeMadArthur1]

DD has a conditional offer and has applied and been accepted for accommodation through Student Roost. We've had to pay a deposit to secure her place but it says we can get that refunded if she doesn't get the grades and can't go. But it also says the first installment of rent is due on 1st August which is before she'll know whether she's definitely going or not.

Does anyone know why this is and whether we'll be able to claim that back if she doesn't get in?

Will the uni be able to help? Some are having applicants' days through the next few weeks, so you could ask the accommodation team.
We've got to book and pay a deposit for my dd's at the end of this month, but it hadn't occurred to me that we would have to start paying installments before the confirmation, so I'll ask at our applicants' day.

We’ve already been to the offer holder day but I’ll email and ask. I just wondered whether this was normal for student accommodation or whether Student Roost are trying to rip us off!

It's a minefield, isn't it. I mentioned it to my dc today, and apparently their head of 6th form said you get the installment money back if you don't take up or get the place at the uni. You probably won't get the deposit back, although that's only week's rent, so not the end of the world.

I'd contact them and ask if they have a specific cancellation policy for 1st years. I used to work for one of their competitors and IIRC we would have expected the payment but would have refunded in full in line with cancel policy. Happy to look at the contract for you if you want to PM me.

Just read their policy and so long as you cancel within 3 days of her receiving her results you should get a full refund. It does say it's at their discretion but it's fairly routine for there to be a spate of cancellations & new bookings after results day. The main thing is to contact them as soon as you know and don't hang around.

Even if you get it back, it's still a damn cheek for them to have loads of students paying them rent for a couple of weeks when they don't even have the results, I bet they're raking in some interest across the country!

Thanks everyone, that's helpful to know. We'll definitely get straight onto them and cancel if she doesn't get her grades. It is a cheek though, £250 deposit and then £450 at the beginning of August when she doesn't even know if she'll be living there!

This happened to us last year(different accommodation company).
I emailed them to clarify what would happen in the case of us cancelling, and that we would get the money back, just in case there were any issues. It was in the terms and conditions but I just wanted to have it in clarified. The stated that the deposit would be refunded as long as we cancelled before the stated date, which was after results day.
It is very cheeky, but gave my DS piece of mind re his accommodation.

Late this party, but would appreciate your wisdom please. My daughter accepted a Student Roost offer but 13 days instead of 3 days later. Crucially, I hadn't sent the guarantor form and they were chasing to say they would cancel without this. Now saying we are liable for whole year's rent, unless we find a replacement! I am sure this must be wrong as we didn't send guarantor form and under the Unfair Contract Terms Act. What shysters! And they have been incredibly rude and unhelpful- so I'm glad my daughter won't be going there.

Any advice / experience/ wisdom please? I will not be letting this one rest till it's resolved...

Thanks

I mean she rejected it 13 days after accepting it, sorry.