Student accommodation problems

[clopper]

My DD has signed an agreement to rent a house with two other girls at the university. One girl says she will have to drop out as her loan is less than she thought it would be for the 2nd year ( plus I think she wants to leave uni). Not sure how this leaves us as we have to guarantee the rent, which the three parent guarantors have.

After having bad experiences with flatmates in halls during the first year, both girls left do not want to live with a random unknown. The leaving girl just says ‘get someone else’ which is not easy to do.

The letting agent has amended the contract several times and a few days ago sent another contract to sign ( each time just changing the moving in and out dates by 1 or two days!) I am wondering where we stand with this now as they have issued another contract a few days ago, changing the dates again? Could DD and her friend get out of the contract because of this. I am so worried about my daughter, she had such a terrible time in senior school being bullied and ostracised and then her flat at hall was drugs and party central, not her scene at all. She is remarkably resilient but this is breaking us.

Is it that the agent can change the contract but we have to abide by it ? It will financially cripple us if I had to pay 2 lots of rent. I suspect they will pursue me as I am the higher earner of the two girls remaining. The whole issue of student tenancies seems to stink to me. I would appreciate any advice about this, many thanks.

Suggest a post-grad student. They don't tend to be party animals - they're only there for a year and need to study! Some overseas female students also would like a female household so if they advertised (FB uni group, uni accommodation office) that they should be able to find someone who they'd be comfortable with.

titchy thanks good ideas there. I will suggest them.

It looks like you've had good advice - good idea to support DD to speak with uni welfare team who will be experienced in housing matters or they can refer you/DD to an experienced housing advice agency if they are unable to- in U.K. shelter gives great housing advice for private rentals, if there isn't an alternative local housing advice agency that Uni suggest
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

I just wanted to respond to your comment
It seemed such hard work when they were babies and toddlers but I felt like I could protect them better. The emotional stresses of teens and young adults seem so much worse.
This ^^
I completely agree and empathise. I have a uni age DC and one about to go.

You sound like a lovely parent - I hope you are able to support DD to get this resolved.

On MN it's common for people to say 'well she's an adult ' once our children are over 18 but it's not that simple "Green (newbie) adult" students away from home with very limited student income for extra unanticipated costs do need support to navigate very adult scary financial issues and are vulnerable to feeling quickly overwhelmed.

Please Keep telling DD she is not alone and you will support her to find out what can be done to resolve it.

Ime student 3 and parents 3 can't sign tenancy and then walk away without there being a case you could raise in small claims court if ultimately you are out of pocket and have been unable to replace her/ mitigate your losses, if LL does chase you and parent 2 for student3's share of rent. It very much does depend on liability stipulated on contract you all signed as guarantors.

ikeptgoing thanks for your support and lovely comment, it really means a lot.
I have two much older DC and I never seemed to worry about them in the same way. I am so biased but she really is a lovely, thoughtful and hardworking girl. It is hard to see her becoming so anxious again.

you are right about prevailing opinion that ‘she is 18 so an adult’ . To be honest, she mostly sorts things out herself, the thing is I am obliged to be involved as a guarantor and also to financially support her through uni.

Also with covid and the dreadful isolating bullying at school, she has not had those teenage experiences that many have had. She is very resilient really and I am proud of the way she has overcome her difficulties and tries to push out of her comfort zone in a limited way.