If I Started An Application But Have Not Submitted Nor Signed A Contract With University Housing, Am I Still Bound To The Contract?

[hollyohara98010]

Hello I am a student going to a university. Originally, I plan on living in on campus. I've started the application and had a room tentatively reserved for a period of time. The university housing has a policy that if students don't pay reservation within 48-72 hours, the reservation will be cancelled. However, due to financial changes, I am unable to afford on campus housing. I haven't paid a reservation fee nor signed/submitted a contract. But they haven't cancelled my reservation. Housing is making me pay a cancellation fee for contract termination. So my question is, if I haven't paid the reservation fee to reserve the room (which was still reserved under my account) and I haven't signed or submitted anything, am I still consider bound to the contract? Can I argue with them about not paying the cancellation fee? If they still demand me to pay, is it reasonable to sue them?

[Jackdaw33]

Are you in the UK?

If so, then the only contracts which need to be in writing are those for the sale or disposition of interests in land (Law of Property Act 1925). Otherwise, if they have offered you a room and you accepted that offer then you have entered into a binding contract, enforceable at law. I would just explain to them and hope that hey might show some lenience regarding the cancellation fee.

[SeaJayPea]

"If they still demand me to pay, is it reasonable to sue them?"

Not up to you to sue them. It's they who are out of pocket. If any sueing's to be done, it's them who'd have to sue you. If all that you put above is right, I don't think they'd have a leg to stand on.

Speak to the college authorities.