Are these the normal terms and conditions for accepting university accommodation

[fortyfifty]

DD has applied for accommodation with grades in hand. They've offered her an accommodation (not yet a specific building or room); she has a week to accept and then it is legally binding to pay for the whole year ahead. She's still got a few apprenticeship applications in the pipeline. These are a shot in the dark but still, it would be painful if she instead got a job and still had to pay the best part of £8000 if she doesn't ever enrol at the university.

There's no accommodation shortage where she is going. I'd assumed she would be able to pull out right up to the date of enrolment or at least up to the A level results period, when other students might be changing their mind on whether they go or not.

I can understand why they are doing it, I'm just wondering if it has always been like this and if it is like this in other universities.

Is this actual uni owned halls or a private company? If uni owned has she firmed her choice? As she has grades in hand so her offer is unconditional, that might make a difference- obvs if she was awaiting results and missed grades she would still be able to pull out?

I wouldn’t want to commit tbh unless I knew which accommodation it was! Can you at least pin them down to that?

It's university owned accommodation.

They've named the halls. I just mean she's not been told the building or room number. Whereas when DD1 was offered her accommodation after A level results day, she was told the room. She was accepting a specific allocated room.

Oh I get it. Well then assuming she has firmed, she has a commitment to going there. Is there a timescale?

It might be worth calling hte university When my first one went to university owned catered halls there was no single room place but they said turn up on day 1 fora shared room and it was very likely someone would have pulled out (which is exactly what happened so the single room was indeed available).. They said every year people pull out to do a gap year, change of mind, illness etc etc. I got the impression those people pulling out did not pay but perhaps they were just deferring to the year after so the university did not mind.

You could accept and then if she gets an apprenticeship after results day defer which would break the accommodation contract and then after the deferral has been accepted you are free and clear to decline the place at any time until next September. Might also be useful to keep the deferred place in case she doesn’t enjoy the apprenticeship.

My understanding is that once they've signed a contract for accommodation then they are liable for the full year. Unless they don't yet have grades and then don't meet the requirements in which case the contract is broken. Which won't the case for your DD. If there is plenty of accommodation and she's not sure yet if she'll go, best to wait before signing a contract.